Bill Text: TX HB541 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to the constitutional limit on the rate of growth of appropriations.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 3-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-02-20 - Referred to Appropriations [HB541 Detail]

Download: Texas-2017-HB541-Introduced.html
  85R952 CJC-F
 
  By: Metcalf H.B. No. 541
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the constitutional limit on the rate of growth of
  appropriations.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Sections 316.001, 316.002, 316.003, and 316.004,
  Government Code, are amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 316.001.  LIMIT. (a) The rate of growth of
  appropriations [in a biennium] from state tax revenues not
  dedicated by the constitution from one state fiscal biennium to the
  next state fiscal biennium may not exceed the lesser of the
  following rates:
               (1)  a rate equal to the sum of the estimated rates of:
                     (A)  increase or decrease in the state's
  population during the current state fiscal biennium; and
                     (B)  monetary inflation or deflation in the state
  during the current state fiscal biennium; or
               (2)  the estimated rate of growth of the state's economy
  as determined under Section 316.002.
         (b)  If the lesser of the rates described by Subsection (a)
  is a negative number, the amount of appropriations from state tax
  revenues not dedicated by the constitution for the next state
  fiscal biennium may not exceed the amount of appropriations from
  those revenues in the current state fiscal biennium reduced by the
  product of that amount and the additive inverse of that negative
  number.
         Sec. 316.002.  DUTIES OF LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD.
  (a)  Before the Legislative Budget Board transmits [submits] the
  budget for the next state fiscal biennium as prescribed by Section
  322.008(c), the board shall determine [establish]:
               (1)  the estimated rate of growth of the state's economy
  from the current state fiscal biennium to the next state fiscal 
  biennium;
               (2)  a rate equal to the sum of the estimated rates of:
                     (A)  increase or decrease in the state's
  population during the current state fiscal biennium; and
                     (B)  monetary inflation or deflation in the state
  during the current state fiscal biennium;
               (3)  the amount [level] of appropriations for the
  current state fiscal biennium from state tax revenues not dedicated
  by the constitution; and
               (4) [(3)]  the amount of appropriations of state tax
  revenues not dedicated by the constitution that could be
  appropriated for the next state fiscal biennium within the limit
  established by Section 316.001 [the estimated rate of growth of the
  state's economy].
         (b)  Except as provided by Subsection (c), the board shall
  determine the estimated rate of growth of the state's economy by
  dividing the estimated Texas total personal income for the next
  state fiscal biennium by the estimated Texas total personal income
  for the current state fiscal biennium. Using standard statistical
  methods, the board shall make the estimate by projecting through
  the state fiscal biennium the estimated Texas total personal income
  reported by the United States Department of Commerce or its
  successor in function.
         (c)  If a more comprehensive definition of the rate of growth
  of the state's economy is developed and is approved by the committee
  established under [by] Section 316.005, the board may use that
  definition in calculating the limit on appropriations.
         (d)  To ensure compliance with Section 22, Article VIII,
  [Section 22, of the] Texas Constitution, the Legislative Budget
  Board may not transmit in any form to the governor or the
  legislature the budget as prescribed by Section 322.008(c) or the
  general appropriations bill as prescribed by Section 322.008(d)
  until the limit on the rate of growth of appropriations for the next
  state fiscal biennium has been adopted as required by this
  subchapter.
         (e)  In the absence of an action by the Legislative Budget
  Board to adopt a rate of growth of appropriations for the next state
  fiscal biennium [spending limit] as provided by this section, that
  rate [in Subsections (a) and (b), the estimated rate of growth in
  the state's economy from the current biennium to the next biennium]
  shall be treated as if it were zero, and the amount of state tax
  revenues not dedicated by the constitution that could be
  appropriated for the next state fiscal biennium is [within the
  limit established by the estimated rate of growth in the state's
  economy shall be] the same as the amount [level] of appropriations
  from those revenues for the current state fiscal biennium.
         Sec. 316.003.  PUBLICATION. Before the Legislative Budget
  Board approves the items of information required by Section
  316.002, the board shall publish in the Texas Register the proposed
  items of information and a description of the methodology and
  sources used in the determinations [calculations].
         Sec. 316.004.  PUBLIC HEARING. Not later than December 1 of
  each even-numbered year, the Legislative Budget Board shall hold a
  public hearing to solicit testimony regarding the proposed items of
  information and the methodology used in making the determinations
  [calculations] required by Section 316.002.
         SECTION 2.  Section 316.008(a), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  Unless the legislature adopts a resolution under
  Section 22, Article VIII, [Section 22(b), of the] Texas
  Constitution, raising the proposed limit on appropriations for the
  next state fiscal biennium, the proposed limit is binding on the
  legislature with respect to all appropriations for the next state
  fiscal biennium made from state tax revenues not dedicated by the
  constitution.
         SECTION 3.  (a)  The changes in law made by this Act apply
  only in relation to appropriations made for the state fiscal
  biennium beginning September 1, 2019, and subsequent state fiscal
  bienniums.
         (b)  Appropriations for the state fiscal biennium that
  begins September 1, 2017, are governed by Subchapter A, Chapter
  316, Government Code, as that subchapter provided immediately
  before the effective date of this Act, and the former law is
  continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect on the effective date of
  the constitutional amendment proposed by the 85th Legislature,
  Regular Session, 2017, regarding the limitation on the rate of
  growth of appropriations. If that amendment is not approved by the
  voters, this Act has no effect.
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