HBA-KDB S.B. 228 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 228
By: Shapleigh
State Affairs
5/18/2001
Engrossed



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 by the resources necessary to fulfill the mandates.  Senate
Bill 228 requires certain state agencies 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

Senate Bill 228 requires certain state agencies to study the state and
federal mandates affecting the region of the state near the border with
Mexico.  The bill  requires the office of the attorney general to study
judicial and law enforcement issues; the office of the comptroller of
public accounts (comptroller) to study the impact of federal law
enforcement on the taxes of border residents and the funding this state
receives from the United States Department of Transportation compared to
the volume of trade traffic on Texas highways; the Texas Department of
Banking (department) to study financial policies; the Texas Natural
Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) to study environmental policies;
the Texas Department of Health (TDH) to study the adverse health effects of
pollution on border residents; the Texas Department of Transportation
(TxDOT) to study the transportation infrastructure; and the Texas Workforce
Commission (TWC) to study issues relating to the North American Free Trade
Agreement.  The bill establishes December 15, 2002, as the deadline by
which the office of the attorney general, the comptroller, the department,
TNRCC, TDH, TxDOT, and TWC are required to file a written report with the
lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of representatives that
details the results and states the findings of each agency's 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.