HBA-KDB C.S.H.B. 2147 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.H.B. 2147
By: Uher
House Administration
0333/15/2001
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the Texas Legislature hosts two ceremonial days: "Governor for a
day,"  to honor a senator for service to the state; and  "Speaker's reunion
day," to honor former members of the house of representatives for service
to the state.  C.S.H.B. 2147 increases the amount of money that a
contributor may contribute for the speaker's reunion day ceremony, and
authorizes  the outstanding balance of the expenditures for the ceremonies
to be either distributed to one or more charities or to be placed in an
account designed for the exclusive purpose of hosting the ceremonial days. 

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

C.S.H.B. 2147 amends the Government Code to increase from $100 to $500 the
limit of the aggregate cash or value amount that a contributor may
contribute to the speaker's reunion day ceremony. 

The bill provides that the outstanding balance for expenditures for
governor for a day and speaker's reunion day ceremonies (ceremonial days)
may be either distributed to one or more charities designated by the
president pro tempore of the senate or the speaker of the house of
representatives, as appropriate, or placed in an account designed for the
exclusive purpose of hosting the ceremonial days.  The bill requires the
outstanding balance, if it is placed in the account for the ceremonial
days,  to be combined with contributions received for the succeeding
governor for a day or speaker's reunion day ceremony, as appropriate, and
provides that it may be spent only for purposes reasonably related to
conducting the governor for a day or speaker's reunion day ceremonies,
including fund-raising.  

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001. 

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 2147 modifies the original bill by making the retention of the
balance in an account for  governor for a day  and speaker's reunion day
ceremonies (ceremonial days) optional and by providing for the combination
of funds in the account with contributions received for succeeding
ceremonial days if the funds are retained.