HBA-BSM H.B. 2259 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2259 By: Coleman State Affairs 3/21/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Texas is one of the fastest growing states in the nation. The 2000 federal census determined that Texas has a population of approximately 21 million. Additionally, Texas is a diverse state geographically, economially, and in terms of the racial and ethnic characteristics of its people. Determining the size and distribution, the characteristics, and the implications of Texas' population change is of clear importance for Texas government as it plans for the future of the state. House Bill 2259 creates the position of state demographer. 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 2259 amends the Government and Education codes relating to the designation and functions of a state demographer. This bill requires the lieutenant governor to designate an employee or officer of a state agency as the state demographer. A person is ineligible for this position unless they have a graduate degree with specialization in demography or a closely related field of study and extensive experience in employing demographic and related socioeconomic data for use by legislative, public, and private entities. The bill requires the agency employing the state demographer to provide staff necessary for the state demographer to perform the demographer's duties, and to also provide the main office for the state demographer. The bill requires the Texas Legislative Council to provide office space and other support in Austin necessary for the state demographer to perform the demographer's duties for the legislature. The bill also requires the state demographer to: _disseminate demographic and related socioeconomic data to the public; _provide annual population estimates for all counties and municipalities in the state; _provide biennial population projections for the state and all counties of the state; _provide information to the legislature relating to the impact that demographic and socioeconomic changes in the population of the state have on the demand for state services; and _evaluate the type and quality of data needed to adequately monitor demographic and socioeconomic changes in the population of the state, and assess the effectiveness of delivery of state services. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.