HBA-KDB H.B. 2147 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2147
By: Uher
House Administration
3/4/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the Texas Legislature hosts two ceremonial days: "governor for a
day,"  to honor a senator for his or her service to the state, and
"speaker's reunion day," to honor former members of the house of
representatives for their service to the state.  House Bill 2147 increases
the amount of money that a contributor may contribute for the speaker's
reunion day ceremony, and authorizes  the outstanding balance of the
expenditures for the ceremonies to be placed in an account designed for the
exclusive purpose of hosting these two days. 

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 2147 amends the Government Code to increase the limit from $100
to $500 of the aggregate cash or value amount that a contributor can
contribute to the speaker's reunion day ceremony. 

The bill  requires that the outstanding balance for expenditures for
governor for a day and speaker's reunion day ceremonies be placed in an
account designed for the exclusive purpose of hosting the ceremonial days.
The bill requires the account balance to be combined with contributions
received for the succeeding governor for a day or speaker's reunion day
ceremony, as appropriate, and authorizes that it only be spent for purposes
reasonably related to conducting the governor for a day or speaker's
reunion day ceremonies, including fund raising.  The bill removes the
provision that requires the outstanding balance be distributed by the
chairman of the ceremony to one or more charities designated by the
president pro tempore of the senate or the speaker of the house of
representatives. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

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