By: Alvarado, Kolkhorst S.B. No. 799

(In the Senate - Filed February 12, 2019; March 1, 2019, read first time and referred to Committee on Business & Commerce; April 8, 2019, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 9, Nays 0; April 8, 2019, sent to printer.) Click here to see the committee vote

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the creation of a business advisory council to provide advice on economic recovery following a disaster.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 418, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 418.054 to read as follows:

Sec. 418.054. BUSINESS ADVISORY COUNCIL. (a) In this section, "advisory council" means the business advisory council established under this section.

(b) The business advisory council is established to provide advice and expertise on actions state and local governments can take to assist businesses in recovering from a disaster.

(c) The advisory council is composed of 12 members who represent business in this state appointed as follows:

(1) four members appointed by the governor;

(2) four members appointed by the lieutenant governor; and

(3) four members appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(d) Members of the advisory council serve staggered four-year terms.

(e) An advisory council member is not entitled to compensation but is entitled to reimbursement for travel expenses incurred by the member while conducting the business of the advisory council.

(f) The advisory council members shall elect a presiding officer from among the members.

(g) The advisory council shall:

(1) advise the division on policies, rules, and program operations to assist businesses in recovering from a disaster; and

(2) propose solutions to address inefficiencies or problems in the state or local governmental disaster response with respect to impact on businesses and the economy.

(h) The advisory council shall meet at the times and locations determined by the presiding officer, not to exceed four meetings each year.

(i) Not later than November 1 of each even-numbered year, the advisory council shall submit a report on the advisory council's activities, advice, and proposed solutions to the division, the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives.

(j) The division shall provide administrative support to the advisory council.

(k) Chapter 2110 does not apply to the advisory council.

SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint members to the business advisory council, as required by Section 418.054, Government Code, as added by this Act, as follows:

(1) the governor shall appoint two members to terms expiring February 1, 2021, one member to a term expiring February 1, 2022, and one member to a term expiring February 1, 2023;

(2) the lieutenant governor shall appoint one member to a term expiring February 1, 2021, two members to terms expiring February 1, 2022, and one member to a term expiring February 1, 2023; and

(3) the speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint one member to a term expiring February 1, 2021, one member to a term expiring February 1, 2022, and two members to terms expiring February 1, 2023.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.

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