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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the duties of the Texas Economic Development and |
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Tourism Office's business permit office. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 481.123, Government Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 481.123. DUTIES. The permit office shall: |
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(1) provide comprehensive information on permits |
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required for business enterprises in the state and make that |
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information available to applicants and other persons; |
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(2) assist applicants in obtaining timely and |
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efficient permit review and in resolving issues arising from the |
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review; |
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(3) facilitate contacts between applicants and state |
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agencies responsible for processing and reviewing permit |
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applications; |
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(4) assist applicants in the resolution of outstanding |
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issues identified by state agencies, including delays experienced |
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in permit review; |
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(5) develop comprehensive application procedures to |
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expedite the permit process; |
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(6) compile a comprehensive list of all permits |
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required of a person desiring to establish, operate, or expand a |
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business enterprise in the state; |
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(7) encourage and facilitate the participation of |
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federal and local government agencies in permit coordination; |
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(8) make recommendations for eliminating, |
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consolidating, simplifying, expediting, or otherwise improving |
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permit procedures affecting business enterprises by requesting |
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that the state auditor, with the advice and support of the permit |
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office, initiate a business permit reengineering review process |
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involving all state agencies; |
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(9) develop and implement an outreach program to |
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publicize and make small business entrepreneurs and others aware of |
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services provided by the permit office; |
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(10) adopt rules, procedures, instructions, and forms |
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required to carry out the functions, powers, and duties of the |
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permit office under this subchapter; [and] |
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(11) except as provided in Section 481.129, complete |
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the implementation of the business permit review process on or |
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before September 1, 1994, and provide all recommended statutory |
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changes as needed to the legislature on or before January 1, 1995; |
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and |
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(12) conduct the biennial review required under |
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Section 481.130. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter H, Chapter 481, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 481.130 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 481.130. BIENNIAL REVIEW OF PERMIT APPLICATION |
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PROCESS. At least once every two years, the permit office shall: |
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(1) conduct a formal review to evaluate the permit |
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application process, including: |
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(A) creating a flowchart of the process to assist |
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in identifying deficiencies in the process; and |
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(B) identifying ways in which the process can be |
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simplified or expedited; and |
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(2) based on the findings of the review: |
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(A) make recommendations for state agencies to |
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improve the permit application process; and |
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(B) revise the comprehensive application |
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procedure under 481.124 and any information prepared by the permit |
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office, including the handbook under Section 481.125, as necessary |
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to make the procedure and information more user-friendly. |
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SECTION 3. Not later than December 1, 2022, the Texas |
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Economic Development and Tourism Office's business permit office |
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shall complete the first review required by Section 481.130, |
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Government Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |