87R3490 BRG-D

By: Eckhardt S.B. No. 309

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to an annual state budget and legislative budget sessions in even-numbered years and to political contributions made during a legislative session.

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

SECTION 1. Section 301.001, Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 301.001. TIME AND PLACE OF MEETING. (a) In each odd-numbered year, the [The] legislature shall convene at the seat of government in regular session at 12 noon on the second Tuesday in January [of each odd-numbered year].

(b) In each even-numbered year, the legislature shall convene at the seat of government in budget session at 12 noon on the second Tuesday in January.

SECTION 2. Section 316.001, Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 316.001. LIMIT. The rate of growth of appropriations in a state fiscal year [biennium] from state tax revenues not dedicated by the constitution may not exceed the estimated rate of growth of the state's economy.

SECTION 3. Sections 316.002(a), (b), and (e), Government Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a) Before the Legislative Budget Board submits the budget as prescribed by Section 322.008(c), the board shall establish:

(1) the estimated rate of growth of the state's economy from the current fiscal year [biennium] to the next fiscal year [biennium];

(2) the level of appropriations for the current fiscal year [biennium] from state tax revenues not dedicated by the constitution; and

(3) the amount of state tax revenues not dedicated by the constitution that could be appropriated for the next fiscal year [biennium] within the limit established by the estimated rate of growth of the state's economy.

(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), the board shall determine the estimated rate of growth of the state's economy by dividing the estimated Texas total personal income for the next fiscal year [biennium] by the estimated Texas total personal income for the current fiscal year [biennium]. Using standard statistical methods, the board shall make the estimate by projecting through the fiscal year [biennium] the estimated Texas total personal income reported by the United States Department of Commerce or its successor in function.

(e) In the absence of an action by the Legislative Budget Board to adopt a spending limit as provided in Subsections (a) and (b), the estimated rate of growth in the state's economy from the current fiscal year [biennium] to the next fiscal year [biennium] shall be treated as if it were zero, and the amount of state tax revenues not dedicated by the constitution that could be appropriated within the limit established by the estimated rate of growth in the state's economy shall be the same as the level of appropriations for the current fiscal year [biennium].

SECTION 4. Section 316.004, Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 316.004. PUBLIC HEARING. Not later than December 1 of each [even-numbered] year, the Legislative Budget Board shall hold a public hearing to solicit testimony regarding the proposed items of information and the methodology used in making the calculations required by Section 316.002.

SECTION 5. Section 316.008(a), Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) Unless the legislature adopts a resolution under Article VIII, Section 22(b), of the Texas Constitution raising the proposed limit on appropriations, the proposed limit is binding on the legislature with respect to all appropriations for the next fiscal year [biennium] made from state tax revenues not dedicated by the constitution.

SECTION 6. Section 316.009, Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 316.009. SUBMISSION OF BILL BY GOVERNOR. The governor may prepare a general appropriation bill and submit printed copies of it to the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and each member of the legislature. The bill must be submitted not later than:

(1) the 30th day of the legislature's regular session, except that if a person is inaugurated as governor who was not governor preceding the inauguration, the bill must be submitted not later than the 20th day after the date of that inauguration; or

(2) the 30th day of the legislature's budget session.

SECTION 7. Section 316.045, Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 316.045. REDUCTION IN CERTAIN AGENCY FEES. (a) Each state agency that sets the fees charged by that agency in amounts that are reasonable and necessary to cover the administrative costs of the agency shall review the amounts charged as fees on an annual [a biennial] basis. The agency shall review the fees before the beginning of each state fiscal year [biennium] and incorporate its recommendations based on that review in its budget request submitted to the Legislative Budget Board and the budget division of the governor's office.

(b) If the agency determines that the fees are set at a level that exceeds the administrative costs of the agency as of the date of the review, the agency shall reduce the amount of the affected fees to the appropriate level and shall charge the reduced fees during the subsequent fiscal year [biennium]. Each agency shall give specific recognition to reductions in salary expenses resulting from statutorily directed employee attrition.

SECTION 8. Section 316.092(a), Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) For the purposes of adjusting the allocations of transfers in accordance with Section 49-g(c-2), Article III, Texas Constitution, and Section 316.093 for a state fiscal year [biennium], the comptroller shall determine and adopt for the state fiscal year [biennium] an amount equal to seven percent of the certified general revenue-related appropriations made for that state fiscal year [biennium].

SECTION 9. Sections 316.093(a), (b), and (c), Government Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a) Before the comptroller makes transfers for a state fiscal year in accordance with Section 49-g(c), Article III, Texas Constitution, the comptroller shall determine whether the sum of the balance of the fund on the preceding August 31, any projected transfer to the fund under Section 49-g(b) of that article, and any projected transfer to the fund under Section 49-g(c) of that article in accordance with the allocations for the transfer as provided by Section 49-g(c-1) of that article is less than the amount determined under Section 316.092 for that state fiscal year [biennium].

(b) If the sum described by Subsection (a) is less than the amount determined under Section 316.092 for that state fiscal year [biennium], the comptroller shall reduce the allocation to the state highway fund provided by Section 49-g(c), Article III, Texas Constitution, and increase the allocation to the economic stabilization fund, in an equal amount, until the amount determined under Section 316.092 for that state fiscal year [biennium] would be achieved by the transfer to the fund or the total amount of the sum described by Section 49-g(c), Article III, Texas Constitution, is allocated to the fund, whichever occurs first.

(c) For the purposes of Section 49-g(c-2), Article III, Texas Constitution, the comptroller shall adjust the allocation provided by Section 49-g(c-1) of that article of amounts to be transferred to the fund and to the state highway fund under Section 49-g(c) of that article in a state fiscal year beginning on or after September 1, 2035, so that the total of those amounts is transferred to the economic stabilization fund, except that the comptroller shall reduce a transfer made under this subsection as necessary to prevent the amount in the fund from exceeding the limit in effect for that fiscal year [biennium] under Section 49-g(g) of that article.

SECTION 10. Section 317.003(a), Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) The governor or Legislative Budget Board may make a proposal at any time except during a [regular or special] session of the legislature. A proposal may apply to an appropriation that has been made for any specified fiscal year that has not ended at the time the proposal is made.

SECTION 11. Section 317.007, Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 317.007. EXPIRATION OF PROPOSAL OR CONTINGENT ORDER. A proposal made by the governor or board under this chapter expires if the other entity does not adopt an order ratifying or changing the proposal before the 31st day after the date the proposal is published in the Texas Register. A contingent order adopted by the governor or board under this chapter expires if the other entity does not approve the order before the 31st day after the date the proposal on which the order is based is published in the Texas Register. A proposal or contingent order of either entity also expires if a regular, budget, or special session of the legislature begins before, respectively, the other entity has ratified the proposal or has approved the contingent order.

SECTION 12. Section 317.008(b), Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

(b) An order adopted under this chapter expires at the end of the fiscal year to which by its terms it applies, except that an order may specify an earlier expiration date [or a later date that does not extend beyond the end of the biennium containing each fiscal year to which the order applies].

SECTION 13. Section 317.052(c), Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

(c) After the hearing, if any, the board shall determine whether the application shows to the satisfaction of the board that:

(1) the necessity of the computer equipment was reasonably unforeseen when the current General Appropriations Act was being considered and passed, or that sufficient appropriations to purchase the equipment were inadvertently or erroneously omitted from that Act;

(2) the applicant's current appropriations are inadequate or unavailable to purchase the equipment;

(3) the applicant has obtained the approvals required by law; and

(4) the applicant will not be required to make any payments during the current state fiscal year [biennium] on the interest and principal of the obligations issued by the Texas Public Finance Authority.

SECTION 14. Sections 322.008(a), (c), and (d), Government Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a) The director, under the direction of the board, shall prepare the general appropriations bill for introduction at each regular and budget [legislative] session of the legislature.

(c) Not later than the fifth day after a regular or budget [legislative] session convenes, the director shall transmit a copy of the budget of estimated appropriations prepared by the director to the governor and each member of the legislature.

(d) Not later than the seventh day after a regular or budget [legislative] session convenes, the director shall transmit a copy of the general appropriations bill to the governor and each member of the legislature.

SECTION 15. Chapter 322, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 322.021 to read as follows:

Sec. 322.021. STUDY TO IMPLEMENT ANNUAL BUDGET. (a) The board, with the assistance of the Texas Legislative Council, shall examine the laws and operations of state government to determine how the implementation of annual state budgets may affect those laws and operations and shall adopt recommendations for legislative and administrative action necessary to implement an annual budget as effectively as practicable.

(b) The board shall make its initial recommendations under this section not later than November 1, 2022.

SECTION 16. Section 403.121(a), Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) In the statement required by Article III, Section 49a, of the Texas Constitution the comptroller shall list outstanding appropriations that may exist after the end of the current fiscal year but may not deduct them from the cash condition of the treasury or the anticipated revenues of the next fiscal year [biennium] for the purpose of certification. The comptroller shall base the reports, estimates, and certifications of available funds on the actual or estimated cash condition of the treasury and shall consider outstanding and undisbursed appropriations at the end of each fiscal year [biennium] as probable disbursements of the succeeding fiscal year [biennium] in the same manner that earned but uncollected income of a current fiscal year [biennium] is considered in probable receipts of the succeeding fiscal year [biennium]. The comptroller shall consider as probable disbursements warrants that will be issued by the state before the end of the fiscal year.

SECTION 17. The heading to Section 253.034, Election Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 253.034. RESTRICTIONS ON CONTRIBUTIONS DURING AND FOLLOWING REGULAR OR BUDGET [LEGISLATIVE] SESSION OF LEGISLATURE.

SECTION 18. Section 253.034, Election Code, is amended by amending Subsections (a), (b), and (c) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:

(a) During the period beginning on the 30th day before the date a regular [legislative] session of the legislature convenes and continuing through the 20th day after the date of final adjournment of that regular session, a person may not knowingly make a political contribution to:

(1) a statewide officeholder;

(2) a member of the legislature; or

(3) a specific-purpose committee for supporting, opposing, or assisting a statewide officeholder or member of the legislature.

(a-1) During a budget session of the legislature, a person may not knowingly make a political contribution to:

(1) the governor or lieutenant governor;

(2) a member of or a candidate for election to the legislature; or

(3) a specific-purpose committee for supporting, opposing, or assisting the governor, the lieutenant governor, or a member of or a candidate for election to the legislature.

(b) A statewide officeholder, a member of or a candidate for election to the legislature, or a specific-purpose committee for supporting, opposing, or assisting a statewide officeholder or a member of or a candidate for election to the legislature may not knowingly accept a political contribution, and shall refuse a political contribution that is received, during an applicable [the] period prescribed by Subsection (a) or (a-1). A political contribution that is received and refused during that period shall be returned to the contributor not later than the 30th day after the date of receipt. A contribution made by United States mail or by common or contract carrier is not considered received during a [that] period if it was properly addressed and placed with postage or carrier charges prepaid or prearranged in the mail or delivered to the contract carrier before the beginning of the period. The date indicated by the post office cancellation mark or the common or contract carrier documents is considered to be the date the contribution was placed in the mail or delivered to the common or contract carrier unless proven otherwise.

(c) This section does not apply to a political contribution that was made and accepted with the intent that it be used:

(1) in an election held or ordered during a [the] period prescribed by Subsection (a) or (a-1) in which the person accepting the contribution is a candidate if the contribution was made after the person appointed a campaign treasurer with the appropriate authority and before the person was sworn in for that office;

(2) to defray expenses incurred in connection with an election contest; or

(3) by a person who holds a state office or a member of the legislature or by a specific-purpose political committee that supports or assists only that person or member if the contribution was made during the period prescribed by Subsection (a) and the person or member was defeated at the general election held immediately before the regular session is convened [or by a specific-purpose political committee that supports or assists only that person or member].

SECTION 19. The heading to Section 253.0341, Election Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 253.0341. RESTRICTIONS ON CONTRIBUTIONS TO LEGISLATIVE CAUCUSES DURING AND FOLLOWING REGULAR OR BUDGET [LEGISLATIVE] SESSION OF LEGISLATURE.

SECTION 20. Sections 253.0341(a) and (b), Election Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a) During the period beginning on the 30th day before the date a regular [legislative] session of the legislature convenes and continuing through the 20th day after the date of final adjournment, or at any time during a budget session of the legislature, a person not a member of the caucus may not knowingly make a contribution to a legislative caucus.

(b) A legislative caucus may not knowingly accept from a nonmember a contribution, and shall refuse a contribution from a nonmember that is received, during a [the] period prescribed by Subsection (a). A contribution that is received and refused during a [that] period prescribed by Subsection (a) shall be returned to the contributor not later than the 30th day after the date of receipt. A contribution made by United States mail or by common or contract carrier is not considered received during a [that] period if it was properly addressed and placed with postage or carrier charges prepaid or prearranged in the mail or delivered to the contract carrier before the beginning of the period. The date indicated by the post office cancellation mark or the common or contract carrier documents is considered to be the date the contribution was placed in the mail or delivered to the common or contract carrier unless proven otherwise.

SECTION 21. Section 317.010, Government Code, is repealed.

SECTION 22. The changes in law made by this Act do not affect the validity of an appropriation made before September 1, 2023, for any part of the two consecutive state fiscal years ending August 31, 2025.

SECTION 23. (a) This Act takes effect as provided by Subsection (b) of this section, but only if the constitutional amendment proposed by the 87th Legislature, Regular Session, 2021, providing for an annual state budget and annual legislative sessions for budget purposes is approved by the voters. If that proposed constitutional amendment is not approved by the voters, this Act has no effect.

(b) This section and Section 322.021, Government Code, as added by this Act, take effect January 1, 2022. The other provisions of this Act take effect September 1, 2023.