85R13130 CJC-F
By: Cook H.B. No. 3770
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of the Texas First Center to study and
provide advice to the legislature on the effective use of state
resources.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle B, Title 10, Government Code, is
amended by adding Chapter 2061 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 2061. TEXAS FIRST CENTER
Sec. 2061.0001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Board" means the Texas First Center Board.
(2) "Center" means the Texas First Center.
(3) "State agency" means a department, commission,
board, office, or other agency in the executive or judicial branch
of state government that is created under the constitution or a
statute of this state. The term includes an institution of higher
education as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code.
Sec. 2061.0002. TEXAS FIRST CENTER. (a) The Texas First
Center is created as an independent policy center for the primary
purpose of advising this state's legislature.
(b) The center shall represent the interests of the
residents of this state by studying the effect of resource
allocation on the performance of state agencies and other public
institutions using applicable state and national data.
(c) In performing the duties assigned by this chapter, the
center shall work directly with:
(1) the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the
house of representatives, and members of the legislature; and
(2) state agencies and other public institutions.
Sec. 2061.0003. CENTER DUTIES. (a) The center shall use
analytics standards used by business, finance, public policy, and
other interests considered appropriate by the center to determine
the relationship between resource allocation and performance
outcomes of state agencies and other public institutions.
(b) The center shall develop a schedule so that each year
the center evaluates the performance of selected state agencies and
other public institutions and provides a progress report on those
agencies and institutions to:
(1) the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of
the house of representatives; and
(2) responsible parties at each agency or institution
being evaluated.
(c) The center may assist the legislature with policy
studies related to the center's duties. The center may participate
in collaborative studies with a foundation or organization inside
or outside this state related to the center's duties.
(d) The center shall seek information, data, and best
practices from state, regional, and national sources to use in
performing the center's duties under this chapter.
(e) The center may contract with independent experts,
academic scholars, and other appropriate professionals in
performing the center's duties under this chapter.
Sec. 2061.0004. TEXAS FIRST CENTER BOARD. (a) The Texas
First Center Board is created as the primary policy-making body of
the center.
(b) The board is composed of three members appointed by the
governor.
(c) Board members must include individuals in the private
sector who have an interest in improving the performance of state
agencies and other public institutions and significant experience
in organizational management, finance, or business. A board member
may not have a financial relationship with a vendor who provides
goods or services to an agency or institution of this state.
(d) Board members serve four-year terms.
(e) Board members shall annually elect one member as the
presiding officer.
(f) A board member may not receive a salary for services as a
board member but shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred in
attending board meetings.
Sec. 2061.0005. BOARD DUTIES. (a) In addition to the
evaluation and report required under Section 2061.0003(b), the
board shall study effective and efficient systems for the operation
of state agencies and other public institutions and make
recommendations to:
(1) improve the performance of agencies and
institutions to meet the demands of the current century;
(2) improve this state's ability to compete with other
states and countries; and
(3) provide the legislature and the public with
information on the performance of agencies and institutions.
(b) The board shall provide a report of the board's study
and recommendations under Subsection (a) to:
(1) the Legislative Budget Board at least once each
year; and
(2) the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of
the house of representatives not later than December 1 of each
even-numbered year.
Sec. 2061.0006. SUPPORT FOR PERFORMANCE OF DUTIES. (a)
State agencies and other public institutions shall fully cooperate
with and assist the center at the board's request.
(b) Data and information necessary to perform the center's
duties under this chapter shall be provided at the board's request
in a timely manner. The board and center shall maintain
confidentiality and other security measures for any requested data
and information.
Sec. 2061.0007. FUNDING. The center may be funded by
donations, grants, and legislative appropriations.
SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, the governor shall appoint the initial members of the
Texas First Center Board under Section 2061.0004, Government Code,
as added by this Act, to serve terms beginning January 1, 2018.
SECTION 3. The first reports required under Sections
2061.0003(b) and 2061.0005(b)(1), Government Code, as added by this
Act, are due not later than December 1, 2018.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.