83R1988 KJM-D
 
  By: White H.B. No. 568
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the creation of a select committee to evaluate the
  effects of reduction in or elimination of federal funding on the
  state budget due to federal fiscal policy.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subtitle C, Title 10, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Chapter 2116 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 2116. SELECT COMMITTEE ON BUDGET DEPENDENCE ON FEDERAL
  FUNDING
         Sec. 2116.001.  DEFINITION. In this chapter, "committee"
  means the Select Committee on Budget Dependence on Federal Funding.
         Sec. 2116.002.  COMPOSITION. (a) The committee is composed
  of:
               (1)  four members of the senate, including members from
  different political parties, appointed by the lieutenant governor
  based on seniority;
               (2)  four members of the house of representatives,
  including members from different political parties, appointed by
  the speaker of the house of representatives based on seniority;
               (3)  a representative of a nonprofit or charitable
  organization appointed by the governor;
               (4)  a representative of an advocacy organization
  focused on state and federal fiscal matters appointed by the
  governor;
               (5)  a representative of the Legislative Budget Board
  appointed by the Legislative Budget Board; and
               (6)  a representative of the comptroller's office,
  appointed by the comptroller.
         (b)  The committee shall elect a presiding officer from among
  its members.
         Sec. 2116.003.  COMPENSATION. A committee member serves
  without compensation but is entitled to reimbursement for actual
  and necessary expenses incurred in performing functions as a
  committee member, subject to any applicable limitation on
  reimbursement provided by general law or the General Appropriations
  Act.
         Sec. 2116.004.  COMMITTEE DUTIES. The committee shall:
               (1)  meet at the call of the presiding officer;
               (2)  conduct a study on:
                     (A)  the percentage of the state budget that is
  funded by federal money; and
                     (B)  the effects on the state budget if federal
  fiscal policy necessitates a significant reduction in or
  elimination of federal funding for state governments; and
               (3)  create a plan to address the loss of federal money,
  including federal Medicaid matching money and federal social
  security payments, and maintain benefit programs and other
  essential state services if federal fiscal policy necessitates a
  significant reduction in or elimination of federal funding for
  state governments.
         Sec. 2116.005.  REPORT.  Not later than September 1, 2014,
  the committee shall submit a report based on its findings to:
               (1)  the governor;
               (2)  the lieutenant governor; and
               (3)  the speaker of the house of representatives.
         Sec. 2116.006.  EXPIRATION. This chapter expires and the
  committee is abolished December 1, 2014.
         SECTION 2.  (a) Not later than October 1, 2013, the
  lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives,
  the governor, the comptroller of public accounts, and the
  Legislative Budget Board shall make the appointments and
  designations required by Section 2116.002(a), Government Code, as
  added by this Act.
         (b)  Not later than November 1, 2013, the governor shall call
  the first meeting of the Select Committee on Budget Dependence on
  Federal Funding to permit the committee to elect a presiding
  officer as required by Section 2116.002(b), Government Code, as
  added by this Act.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.