HBA-NLM H.B. 3557 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3557 By: Heflin Appropriations 4/16/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Article VIII, Section 22 (Restriction on Appropriations), Texas Constitution, was proposed by the 65th Texas Legislature and adopted by the voters at an election held in 1978 as an attempt to adjust the rate of growth in state spending by tying it to the rate of growth in the economy. H.B. 3557 prohibits the rate of growth of expenditures, rather than appropriations, in a biennium from state revenues not dedicated by the constitution from exceeding the estimated rate of growth of the state's economy. 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 the heading of Subchapter A, Chapter 316, Government Code, as follows: SUBCHAPTER A. New title: LIMIT ON GROWTH OF EXPENDITURES SECTION 2. Amends Sections 316.001, 316.002, 316.007, and 316.008, Government Code, as follows: Sec. 316.001. LIMIT. Prohibits the rate of growth of expenditures, rather than appropriations, in a biennium from state revenues not dedicated by the constitution from exceeding the estimated rate of growth of the state's economy. Sec. 316.002. DUTIES OF LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD. Makes conforming changes. Sec. 316.007. TRANSMISSION OF RECOMMENDATIONS. Makes conforming changes. Sec. 316.008. EFFECT OF LIMIT; ENFORCEMENT. Makes nonsubstantive and conforming changes. SECTION 3. Effective date: January 1, 2000. SECTION 4. Emergency clause.