HBA-KDB, JEK H.B. 641 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 641 By: Flores State Affairs 2/26/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The Texas-Mexico border region has been the subject of many state and federal mandates. There is concern that these mandates may not have been accompanied with the resources necessary to fulfill the mandates. House Bill 641 requires the comptroller of public accounts to study state and federal mandates affecting the border region and to report the findings of the study to the legislature. 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 641 requires the comptroller of public accounts (comptroller) to study the state and federal mandates affecting the region of the state near the border with Mexico. The bill provides that the study must include an examination of judicial and law enforcement issues, financial policies, environmental policies, transportation infrastructure issues, and the North American Free Trade Agreement. The bill establishes December 15, 2002 as the deadline by which the comptroller is required to file a written report with the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of representatives regarding the results of the study. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2001. This Act expires February 1, 2003.