By: Huffman S.B. No. 2213

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to state fiscal matters related to general government.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

ARTICLE 1. REDUCTION OF EXPENDITURES AND IMPOSITION OF CHARGES

GENERALLY

SECTION 1.01. This article applies to any state agency that receives an appropriation under Article I of the General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 1.02. Notwithstanding any other statute of this state, each state agency to which this article applies is authorized to reduce or recover expenditures by:

(1) consolidating any reports or publications the agency is required to make and filing or delivering any of those reports or publications exclusively by electronic means;

(2) extending the effective period of any license, permit, or registration the agency grants or administers;

(3) entering into a contract with another governmental entity or with a private vendor to carry out any of the agency's duties;

(4) adopting additional eligibility requirements for persons who receive benefits under any law the agency administers to ensure that those benefits are received by the most deserving persons consistent with the purposes for which the benefits are provided;

(5) providing that any communication between the agency and another person and any document required to be delivered to or by the agency, including any application, notice, billing statement, receipt, or certificate, may be made or delivered by e-mail or through the Internet; and

(6) adopting and collecting fees or charges to cover any costs the agency incurs in performing its lawful functions.

ARTICLE 2. STATE DEBT

SECTION 2.01. Chapter 1231, Government Code, is amended by adding Subchapter G to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER G. LIMIT ON STATE DEBT PAYABLE FROM GENERAL REVENUE FUND

Sec. 1231.151. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:

(1) "Maximum annual debt service" means the limitation on annual debt service imposed by Section 49-j(a), Article III, Texas Constitution.

(2) "State debt payable from the general revenue fund" has the meaning assigned by Section 49-j(b), Article III, Texas Constitution.

(3) "Unissued debt" means state debt payable from the general revenue fund that has been authorized but not issued.

Sec. 1231.152. COMPUTATION OF DEBT LIMIT. In computing the annual debt service in a state fiscal year on state debt payable from the general revenue fund for purposes of determining whether additional state debt may be authorized without exceeding the maximum annual debt service, the board may employ any assumptions related to unissued debt that the board determines are necessary to reflect common or standard debt issuance practices authorized by law, including assumptions regarding:

(1) interest rates;

(2) debt maturity; and

(3) debt service payment structures.

Sec. 1231.153. REPORT ON COMPUTATION. (a) The board shall publish during each state fiscal year a report providing a detailed description of the method used to compute the annual debt service in that fiscal year on state debt payable from the general revenue fund for purposes of determining whether additional state debt may be authorized. The report must describe:

(1) the debt service included in the computation, including debt service on issued and unissued debt;

(2) the assumptions on which the debt service on unissued debt was based; and

(3) any other factors required by law that affect the computation.

(b) The board may publish the report required by this section as a component of any other report required by law, including the annual report required by Section 1231.102, or as an independent report. The board shall make the report available to the public.

SECTION 2.02. The Bond Review Board shall publish the initial report required by Section 1231.153, Government Code, as added by this article, during the state fiscal year beginning September 1, 2017.

SECTION 2.03. This article takes effect immediately if this Act receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this article takes effect September 1, 2017.

ARTICLE 3. FISCAL MATTERS RELATING TO MAIL

SECTION 3.01. Subchapter A, Chapter 2176, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 2176.007 to read as follows:

Sec. 2176.007. COMPTROLLER STUDY ON MAIL OPERATIONS. (a) The comptroller shall conduct a study on the mail operations of each state agency in the executive branch of state government that receives an appropriation made under ARTICLE I of the General Appropriations Act. The study must identify provisions of law relating to the mailing requirements for the agency that impede the efficient transmission and receipt of documents by the agency.

(b) In conducting the study, the comptroller shall collaborate with other state agencies to consider the needs or concerns specific to those agencies.

(c) Not later than November 1, 2018, the comptroller shall post the findings of the study conducted under this section on the comptroller's Internet website.

(d) This section expires September 1, 2019.

SECTION 3.02. This article takes effect immediately if this Act receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this article takes effect September 1, 2017.

ARTICLE 4. FISCAL MATTERS CONCERNING INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

SECTION 4.01. Section 2054.380(b), Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

(b) Revenue derived from the collection of fees imposed under Subsection (a) may be appropriated to the department for:

(1) developing statewide information resources technology policies and planning under this chapter and Chapter 2059; and

(2) providing shared information resources technology services [under this chapter].

SECTION 4.02. Section 2157.068(d), Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

(d) The department may charge a reasonable administrative fee to a state agency, political subdivision of this state, or governmental entity of another state that purchases commodity items through the department in an amount that is sufficient to recover costs associated with the administration of this section. Revenue derived from the collection of fees imposed under this subsection may be appropriated to the department for:

(1) developing statewide information resources technology policies and planning [under Chapters 2054 and 2059]; and

(2) providing shared information resources technology services [under Chapter 2054].

SECTION 4.03. Section 2170.057(d), Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

(d) The department shall maintain in the revolving fund account sufficient amounts to pay the bills of the consolidated telecommunications system and the centralized capitol complex telephone system. The department shall certify amounts that exceed this amount to the comptroller, and the comptroller shall transfer the excess amounts to the credit of the general revenue fund.

SECTION 4.04. This article takes effect immediately if this Act receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this article takes effect September 1, 2017.

ARTICLE 5. EFFECTIVE DATE

SECTION 5.01. Except as otherwise provided by this Act, this Act takes effect September 1, 2017.