Texas Senate Bill SB123

Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

• Filed: 11/10/08

Caption

Relating to dedicating money in the system benefit fund to certain purposes.

Impact

The passage of SB123 amends existing provisions regarding the management of the system benefit fund, effectively re-creating it as a separate account in the general revenue fund. This critical change indicates a stronger dedication of state resources towards specified purposes associated with the fund. By emphasizing the unique nature of the fund, the bill seeks to enhance transparency and accountability in how money is used, ideally improving financial management by the state over utility-related programs.

Summary

SB123 relates to the dedication of funds within the system benefit fund for specific purposes. The bill proposes amendments to Section 39.903(a) of the Utilities Code, which outlines the handling and use of the system benefit fund as it pertains to general state revenue. This legislation clarifies how the funds within this account can be appropriated and ensures that they are used solely for the intended purposes described in the section without interference from other laws.

Contention

While the document does not provide specific points of contention, typical discussions around bills like SB123 may focus on the adequacy of funding for utilities and the impact of dedicated funds on the broader financial context of state budgeting. Stakeholders might question how effectively these dedicated funds would support utility programs and whether this re-allocation limits the flexibility of the state's financial resources for other pressing needs.