87R9315 MLH-D
By: Campos H.B. No. 3102
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the duties of the Texas Economic Development and
Tourism Office's business permit office.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 481.123, Government Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 481.123. DUTIES. The permit office shall:
(1) provide comprehensive information on permits
required for business enterprises in the state and make that
information available to applicants and other persons;
(2) assist applicants in obtaining timely and
efficient permit review and in resolving issues arising from the
review;
(3) facilitate contacts between applicants and state
agencies responsible for processing and reviewing permit
applications;
(4) assist applicants in the resolution of outstanding
issues identified by state agencies, including delays experienced
in permit review;
(5) develop comprehensive application procedures to
expedite the permit process;
(6) compile a comprehensive list of all permits
required of a person desiring to establish, operate, or expand a
business enterprise in the state;
(7) encourage and facilitate the participation of
federal and local government agencies in permit coordination;
(8) make recommendations for eliminating,
consolidating, simplifying, expediting, or otherwise improving
permit procedures affecting business enterprises by requesting
that the state auditor, with the advice and support of the permit
office, initiate a business permit reengineering review process
involving all state agencies;
(9) develop and implement an outreach program to
publicize and make small business entrepreneurs and others aware of
services provided by the permit office;
(10) adopt rules, procedures, instructions, and forms
required to carry out the functions, powers, and duties of the
permit office under this subchapter; [and]
(11) except as provided in Section 481.129, complete
the implementation of the business permit review process on or
before September 1, 1994, and provide all recommended statutory
changes as needed to the legislature on or before January 1, 1995;
and
(12) conduct the biennial review required under
Section 481.130.
SECTION 2. Subchapter H, Chapter 481, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 481.130 to read as follows:
Sec. 481.130. BIENNIAL REVIEW OF PERMIT APPLICATION
PROCESS. At least once every two years, the permit office shall:
(1) conduct a formal review to evaluate the permit
application process, including:
(A) creating a flowchart of the process to assist
in identifying deficiencies in the process; and
(B) identifying ways in which the process can be
simplified or expedited; and
(2) based on the findings of the review:
(A) make recommendations for state agencies to
improve the permit application process; and
(B) revise the comprehensive application
procedure under 481.124 and any information prepared by the permit
office, including the handbook under Section 481.125, as necessary
to make the procedure and information more user-friendly.
SECTION 3. Not later than December 1, 2022, the Texas
Economic Development and Tourism Office's business permit office
shall complete the first review required by Section 481.130,
Government Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.