Texas Senate Bill SB62

Texas 2019 - 86th Regular

Caption

Relating to the creation and duties of the unfunded mandates interagency work group.

Impact

If passed, SB62 would affect how the state government interacts with local governing bodies regarding mandates. It would require the interagency work group to publish an advisory list of unfunded mandates following each legislative session, which would include mandates enacted without state reimbursement. This oversight could lead to a change in how legislators consider the financial implications of new laws on local governments, ensuring that mandates are more closely aligned with available funding, thereby potentially alleviating some of the financial strain experienced by these subdivisions.

Summary

SB62 aims to establish an unfunded mandates interagency work group tasked with identifying and managing mandates that local political subdivisions are required to comply with but for which the state has not provided corresponding funding. This initiative reflects a growing concern regarding the financial burdens placed on local governments when state legislatures impose new requirements without any attached funding. The bill's intent is to create an advisory list of such mandates that can inform future legislative discussions and budgetary decisions, ultimately providing local governments with clarity on their fiscal responsibilities.

Contention

Significant points of contention may arise around the bill's definition of 'mandates' and how they are evaluated for reimbursement eligibility. Oponents may argue that the stringent definitions could limit local government's ability to fulfill certain essential functions if they are unable to obtain necessary funding. Furthermore, discussions may center on the effectiveness of the interagency work group's recommendations and their actual impact on legislative action and funding allocations, raising concerns about whether it will lead to genuine reform or simply serve as a bureaucratic formality.