HBA-EDN, MPM H.B. 932 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 932
By: Solis, Jim
Economic Development
2/25/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, Texas lacks a statewide economic development planning process to
guide and improve longterm economic development.  Although the state's
Strategic Economic Development Plan set forth some broad goals, the plan
did not outline the long-term implications of current programs or its
recommendations for future programs.  A statewide economic development
report could potentially help communities to improve allocation and use of
economic development incentives.  In addition, the report could serve to
illustrate the effects that state economic development efforts may have on
the educational system, in improving per capita income and income
distribution, in raising employee skill levels and increasing wages, and on
the availability of health insurance and child care.  House Bill 932
requires the comptroller of public accounts and the Texas Department of
Economic Development to report to the legislature prior to each session on
certain economic development efforts in the state. 

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 932 amends the Government Code to require the comptroller of
public accounts, before each regular session of the legislature, to submit
to the legislature and governor a report describing all economic
development activities or projects: 

_developed or engaged in by each state agency, corporation created under
the Development Corporation Act of 1979 or by an institution of higher
education other than a public junior college; or 

_financed with money from the Texas growth fund or any state fund
authorized to make investments directly related to the creation, retention,
or expansion of employment opportunity and economic growth in Texas. 

The bill sets forth provisions regarding the contents of the report.  The
bill provides that the report must cover the six-year period ending on the
last day of the fiscal biennium during which the report is submitted. The
bill authorizes the comptroller to request information needed to complete
the report from an entity created under the Development Corporation Act of
1979, an institution of higher education other than a public junior
college, the board of trustees of the Texas growth fund, and any other
appropriate agency. The bill requires each entity or agency to provide the
information. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

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