HBA-MPM H.B. 936 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 936 By: Solis, Jim Economic Development 7/25/2001 Enrolled BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Local workforce development boards (board) were not specifically designated as either governmental entities or political subdivisions when the boards were created under the Workforce and Economic Competitiveness Act. Consequently, it is not always clear under current law whether the boards are subject to specific statutes applicable to governmental entities and political subdivisions. House Bill 936 makes the boards subject to certain laws applicable to governmental entities and political subdivisions and requires board members to avoid the appearance of conflict of interest when voting in board decisions. 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 936 amends the Government and Local Government codes to provide that a local workforce development board (board) is subject to the Interagency Cooperation Act and to provisions relating to open meetings, public information, state cooperation in local purchasing programs, and surplus and salvage property. The bill requires a board member to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest by not voting in or participating in any decision by the board regarding the provision of services by the board member or any organization that member directly represents, or on any matter that would provide direct financial benefit to the member, the member's family, or any organization the member represents. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.