HBA-NLM C.S.S.B. 1386 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.S.B. 1386
By: Shapleigh
Appropriations
5/12/1999
Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

There is concern that current state funding formulas for certain programs
may be outdated or ineffective.  C.S.S.B. 1386 requires the comptroller of
public accounts to review and study the effects of formulas for state
funding on programs and institutions among Texas counties. 

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. Requires the comptroller of public accounts (comptroller) to:

_review the formulas used to determine state funding of programs and
institutions among Texas counties and how the funding is distributed under
those formulas; 

_study how state funding of programs and institutions under the formulas
affects economic development efforts and assists or hinders residents and
businesses in sustaining the financial burdens that result from global
economic competition; and  

_report the results of the required study to the governor, the lieutenant
governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives, before September
1, 2000. 

SECTION 2. Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

C.S.S.B. 1386 modifies the original in the caption by deleting text
providing that the review and study relates to the effects "in the national
border area." 

C.S.S.B. 1386 modifies the original in SECTION 1, to require the
comptroller of public accounts (comptroller) to review the formulas used to
determine state funding of programs and institutions among Texas counties,
rather than counties that share a border with the United Mexican States,
and how the funding is distributed under those formulas.  The substitute
removes text relating to the study of state funding of programs and
institutions in border counties under the formulas, as compared to other
areas of the state.  In addition, the substitute removes text requiring the
comptroller to study how state funding of programs and institutions in
certain counties assists or hinders residents and businesses in those
counties in sustaining the financial burdens that result from trade
agreements between the United States and the United Mexican States.  The
substitute clarifies that the provision relates to possible financial
burdens that result from global competition.  The substitute makes
conforming changes.  The substitute removes the requirement for the
comptroller to report the results of the required study to the
commissioners court of each county that shares a border with the United
Mexican States.