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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a review of state laws requiring an action or proceeding |
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to be brought in Travis County or a Travis County court. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 325, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 325.0235 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 325.0235. REVIEW OF CERTAIN STATE LAWS. (a) The |
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commission shall review the laws of this state to identify each |
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statute and state agency rule that requires an action or proceeding |
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to be brought or considered in Travis County, a Travis County |
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district or statutory county court, or the Court of Appeals for the |
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Third Court of Appeals District. |
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(b) For each statute or state agency rule identified under |
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Subsection (a), the commission shall make recommendations on |
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whether: |
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(1) the location of the action or proceeding serves a |
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legitimate state purpose, other than the convenience of the state |
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agency, that supersedes the interests of persons required to travel |
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to Travis County to attend or participate in the action or |
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proceeding; or |
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(2) the identified statute or rule should be revised |
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to authorize an action or proceeding to be brought or considered in |
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another county in this state. |
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(c) If the commission recommends authorization of an action |
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or proceeding in another county under Subsection (b)(2), the |
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commission shall estimate any additional costs to this state that |
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would be incurred in implementing the revision. |
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(d) The commission shall: |
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(1) prepare a report on the statutes and state agency |
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rules identified under Subsection (a), the recommendations made |
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under Subsection (b), and the costs determined under Subsection |
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(c); and |
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(2) not later than December 1, 2018, post the report |
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prepared under Subdivision (1) on the commission's Internet website |
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and submit an electronic copy of the report to the governor, |
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lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives. |
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(e) The Texas Legislative Council shall assist the |
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commission in identifying the statutes and state agency rules |
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described by Subsection (a). The Legislative Budget Board shall |
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assist the commission in estimating under Subsection (c) any |
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additional costs to this state that would be incurred in |
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implementing the recommendations made under Subsection (b)(2). |
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(f) This section expires September 1, 2019. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |