HBA-CCH, KDB H.B. 1436 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1436 By: Capelo County Affairs 3/18/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Uniformity in accounting systems and financial reporting is a long-standing government goal. The Government Accounting Standards Board has set forth guidelines that will require many cities and counties to completely overhaul their accounting systems. Currently, each Texas county uses its own accounting system. Until all counties report their finances using the same method, the state cannot make useful comparisons or create benchmarks for measuring the success of a particular program. House Bill 1436 requires the comptroller to adopt a uniform chart of accounts for all 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. ANALYSIS House Bill 1436 amends the Local Government Code to require the comptroller to adopt a uniform chart of accounts to be used by a county for keeping and stating the accounts of the officials and authorizes but does not require a county to use the uniform chart of accounts in reporting financial data or other pertinent information to the state. The bill deletes the provision that requires the comptroller to prescribe forms that the comptroller considers will meet the needs of different sized counties. The bill requires the comptroller to adopt the uniform chart of accounts as soon as practicable after September 1, 2001, but not later than January 1, 2002. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.