HBA-CCH H.B. 1161 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1161
By: Eiland
Human Services
3/4/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The Business Enterprises Program (BEP) is a federally funded,
state-administered program that provides opportunities for blind and
visually impaired individuals to operate food services and other BEP
selected businesses in public and private facilities.  The 76th Legislature
established a trust fund in the state treasury for the BEP retirement
program.  Currently, the BEP retirement fund only grows at a rate of about
5 percent each year.  If, however, a professional management service
managed the retirement fund, it could increase the fund's profits.  House
Bill 1161 authorizes the Texas Commission for the Blind to contract with a
professional management service to manage the BEP trust fund.  

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. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 1161 amends the Human Resources Code to authorize the Texas
Commission for the Blind to contract with a professional management service
to administer the operations of the Business Enterprises Program trust
fund. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001.