HBA-ATS H.J.R. 80 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.J.R. 80
By: Kuempel
County Affairs
4/17/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Nine counties have recently transferred the duties of their county
treasurers to other offices within their counties.  These transfers have
led to reduced spending because similar county duties are not duplicated by
two separate county offices, thereby  paring staff requirements.  The
transfer of the county treasurer's office may be an effective alternative
to rasing taxes for counties that are struggling to meet the needs of their
growing populations.  As proposed, H.J.R. 80 requires the submission to the
voters of a constitutional amendment abolishing the office of county
treasurer in Comal County. 

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 Section 44, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, by adding
Subsection (i), as follows: 

(i) Abolishes the office of County Treasurer in Comal County.  Authorizes
the Commissioners Court of Comal County to employ or contract with a
qualified person or designate another county officer to perform the county
treasurer's functions.  Provides that the office of County Treasurer is
abolished only if, at the statewide election at which this amendment is
submitted to the voters, a majority of the voters of Comal County voting on
the question at that election favor the amendment. 

SECTION 2.  The following temporary provision is added to the Texas
Constitution: 

TEMPORARY PROVISION.   Provides that the abolition of the office of County
Treasurer in Comal County under the constitutional amendment proposed by
the 76th Legislature, Regular Session, 1999, providing for the abolition of
that office takes effect January 1, 2000, if the conditions of Section
44(i) (County Treasurer and County Surveyor), Article XVI, of this
constitution, as added by that constitutional amendment, are met.
Establishes January 2, 2000, as the expiration date of this provision. 

SECTION 3.  Requires this proposed constitutional amendment to be submitted
to the voters at an election to be held on November 2, 1999.  Sets forth
the required language of the ballot.