HBA-NLM H.B. 3557 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3557
By: Heflin
Appropriations
4/16/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Article VIII, Section 22 (Restriction on Appropriations), Texas
Constitution, was proposed by the 65th Texas Legislature and adopted by the
voters at an election held in 1978 as an attempt to adjust the rate of
growth in state spending by tying it to the rate of growth in the economy.
H.B. 3557 prohibits the rate of growth of expenditures, rather than
appropriations, in a biennium from state revenues not dedicated by the
constitution from exceeding  the estimated rate of growth of the state's
economy. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends the heading of Subchapter A, Chapter 316, Government
Code, as follows: 

SUBCHAPTER A.  New title: LIMIT ON GROWTH OF EXPENDITURES

SECTION 2. Amends Sections 316.001, 316.002, 316.007, and 316.008,
Government Code, as follows: 

Sec. 316.001. LIMIT. Prohibits the rate of growth of expenditures, rather
than appropriations, in a biennium from state revenues not dedicated by the
constitution from exceeding  the estimated rate of growth of the state's
economy. 

Sec. 316.002. DUTIES OF LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD.  Makes conforming changes.

Sec. 316.007.  TRANSMISSION OF RECOMMENDATIONS.  Makes conforming changes.

Sec. 316.008. EFFECT OF LIMIT; ENFORCEMENT. Makes nonsubstantive and
conforming changes. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date:  January 1, 2000.

SECTION 4.  Emergency clause.