HBA-ALS H.B. 2835 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2835
By: Turner, Sylvester
State Affairs
3/26/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

There is no provision under current law requiring state agencies to post on
the Internet uniform information about the agency. The purpose of this bill
is to provide the public with greater access to information about state
agencies. 

H.B. 2835 requires a state agency with a budget exceeding $175 million to
post on its Internet website specified information regarding its
expenditures, governing body, contracts, duties, and links to its rules and
hearing procedures. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter F, Chapter 2054, Government Code, by adding
Section 2054.121, as follows: 

Sec. 2054.121. REQUIRED POSTING OF INFORMATION ON INTERNET. Requires a
state agency which receives appropriations under the General Appropriations
Act exceeding $175 million for a state fiscal biennium, to post during the
biennium specified information regarding the agency's expenditures,
governing officer or governing body, contracts with vendors, duties, and
electronic links to its rules and hearing procedures on a generally
accessible Internet site maintained by or for the agency. 
 
SECTION 2.Effective date: October 1, 1999.

SECTION 3.Emergency clause.