By: Kolkhorst S.B. No. 398
(In the Senate - Filed December 21, 2016; February 1, 2017,
read first time and referred to Committee on Administration;
April 6, 2017, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 7,
Nays 0; April 6, 2017, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a study conducted by the State Auditor's Office to
compare the projected cost estimate attached to certain bills and
resolutions to the actual cost to the state of the bills and
resolutions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 321, Government Code, is amended by
adding Section 321.0139 to read as follows:
Sec. 321.0139. STUDY ON ACTUAL COST OF BILLS AND
RESOLUTIONS. (a) The State Auditor shall conduct a study to
compare the probable cost estimate in fiscal notes prepared by the
Legislative Budget Board and attached to bills or resolutions in
accordance with Chapter 314 with the actual cost to the state of the
bills or resolutions.
(b) In conducting the study under this section, the State
Auditor shall:
(1) select for cost comparison a random sample set
consisting of 10 percent of fiscal notes prepared by the
Legislative Budget Board from the preceding five regular
legislative sessions that:
(A) projected a cost to the state; and
(B) were attached to bills or resolutions that
took effect; and
(2) develop a system to determine the actual cost to
the state associated with a bill or resolution that took effect.
(c) Not later than September 1, 2018, the State Auditor
shall deliver the results of the study conducted under this section
to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house
of representatives, the House Appropriations Committee, and the
Senate Finance Committee.
(d) This section expires December 31, 2018.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
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