HBA-EDN H.B. 2439 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2439 By: Goolsby House Administration 7/17/2001 Enrolled BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE There is an inaugural fund in the state treasury which, prior to the 77th Legislature, was used only for expenditures reasonably related to conducting inaugural ceremonies and related events. After the inauguration, the inaugural committee delivered to the state treasurer all unexpended non-appropriated funds, which were then deposited in the state treasury to the credit of the inaugural fund. Since money in the fund could only be used for inaugural ceremonies, there was a standing account balance that could only serve Texans every four years. House Bill 2439 creates the inaugural endowment fund from the surplus balance of the inaugural fund exceeding $100,000, plus any amounts necessary to cover fund obligations, and allows this money to be used for certain preservation projects and for grants to public schools, public libraries, and other charitable causes. 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 2439 amends the Government Code to require the balance of the inaugural fund, to the extent that the balance exceeds $100,000 plus the amount necessary to cover fund obligations, to be transferred to an account in the general revenue fund known as the inaugural endowment fund (fund) on the date the inaugural committee is dissolved. The bill authorizes the fund to be expended for decorating, furnishing, preserving, or improving the Capitol, the Governor's Mansion, or other state property of historical significance or for grants in support of public schools, public libraries, or other charitable causes at the discretion of the inaugural endowment fund committee (committee). The bill provides that the committee is composed of the chair of the Texas Historical Committee, and one person each appointed by the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives. The bill requires the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives to make initial appointments to the committee not later than March 1, 2003, and requires the committee to file an expenditure report, not later than October 1 of each year, with the secretary of state to be published in the Texas Register. The bill provides that the committee is a governmental body for provisions relating to open meetings and public information but is not subject to the Administrative Procedure Act. Operations of the committee may not be conducted at state expense or through the use of state personnel or equipment. The bill sets forth provisions relating to the appointment and operations of the committee. The bill also provides that provisions relating to governmental use of excess dedicated revenue do not apply to the fund. EFFECTIVE DATE February 1, 2003.