HBA-NRS S.B. 648 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 648 By: Lucio Transportation 4/1/2001 Engrossed BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The Automobile Theft Prevention Authority has established advisory committees even though there is currently no specific statutory authorization of this practice. The attorney general has issued a letter opinion stating that the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation may not create an advisory committee absent specific statutory authority. This opinion has called into question the ability of other agencies to establish advisory committees. Senate Bill 648 specifically authorizes the Automobile Theft Prevention Authority to establish advisory committees. 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 648 amends law to authorize the Automobile Theft Prevention Authority (authority) to establish advisory committees to advise it on any matter under its jurisdiction. The bill provides that provisions relating to the duration of advisory committees do not apply to an authority advisory committee if it is: _established for a specific and immediate need; and _dissolved before the first anniversary of the date the committee is created. The bill prohibits the authority from compensating a member of an advisory committee for committee service, but the member is entitled to reimbursement for certain expenses incurred in the performance of that service. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2001.