HBA-BSM H.B. 838 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 838 By: Hinojosa State Affairs 4/19/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, there is concern regarding the accountability of private nonprofit economic development corporations that receive grant money from public funds for the express purpose of attracting businesses and creating job opportunities. Several of these private groups each receive hundreds of thousands of dollars annually from local tax funds, with some receiving as much as $1 million annually in local public funds. However, these entities are not subject to statutes covering public information and open meetings regarding the use of public funds, which may allow decisions to be made without public knowledge, or opportunity for input by or consent of the public. House Bill 838 subjects a nonprofit economic development corporation that receives public funds to open meetings and public information laws. 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 838 amends the Government Code to add the governing board of an economic development corporation that receives public funds and is established under any law of this state to the definition of a "governmental body." The change subjects the governing board to open meetings and public information laws. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.