BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2535

By: Flynn

Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The Texas Military Preparedness Commission advises the governor and the legislature on defense and military issues and is subject to the Texas Sunset Act. H.B. 2535 provides for the continuation of the commission and the implementation of certain recommendations of the Sunset Advisory Commission.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 2535 amends the Government Code to postpone from September 1, 2021, to September 1, 2023, the date on which the military base realignment and closure task force is abolished and related provisions expire. The bill revises the criteria on which the defense economic adjustment assistance panel is required to evaluate each grant application for a grant for local governmental entities affected by an anticipated, planned, announced, or implemented action of the U.S. Department of Defense to realign defense worker jobs or facilities to require the panel to make the evaluations based on the significance of the adverse or positive effect within the local governmental entity and any other criteria established by the Texas Military Preparedness Commission.

H.B. 2535 repeals Section 436.207, Government Code, which establishes that a defense community that contains or is in proximity to more than one military base is considered an adversely affected defense community if the local governmental entity is applying for a grant for a project relating to the military base that is closed or whose operations are significantly reduced.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.