HBA-MSH H.B. 564 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 564 By: Noriega Transportation 4/27/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE In 1977, the Texas Legislature created the Sunset Advisory Commission (commission) to identify and eliminate waste, duplication, and inefficiency in government agencies. The commission questions the need for each agency, looks for potential duplication of other public services or programs, and considers new and innovative changes to improve each agency's operations and activities. The Port of Houston (port) ranks first in the United States in foreign tonnage and second in total tonnage of goods that are moved through the port. The port is funded through taxes as well as from revenue generated by port business, which generated $7.7 million in revenue in 1997. Given the large impact of the port on the economy and environment of Texas, it may be beneficial to subject the port authority to the sunset process in order to eliminate waste and inefficiency in its operations. House Bill 564 subjects the port authority to review by the commission, but prohibits its abolition through that review. 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 564 amends law to provide that the Port of Houston Authority is subject to review by the Sunset Advisory Commission, but prohibits the authority from being abolished under the Texas Sunset Act. The bill requires the review to be conducted as if the authority were scheduled to be abolished September 1, 2003, and September 1 of every 12th subsequent year. The bill requires the authority to pay for the costs of the review. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.