By:AANelson, et al.

S.B.ANo.A53

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT

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relating

programs.

to

strategic

fiscal

reviews

of

state

agencies

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTIONA1.AAChapter

322,

Government

Code,

is

amended

and

by

adding Section 322.0175 to read as follows:

Sec.A322.0175.AASTRATEGIC FISCAL REVIEW OF STATE AGENCIES

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AND PROGRAMS.

(a)AAThe board shall perform a strategic fiscal

review

state

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for

all

agencies

currently

the

subject

of

Sunset

Advisory Commission review under Chapter 325, Government Code.

(b)AAThe

and

fiscal

submit

review

by

report

of

September

even-numbered years to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker

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of the house, Senate Finance Committee, and House Appropriations

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Committee.

of

(c)AAThe strategic fiscal review report will contain:

(1)AAa description of the discrete activities the state

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agency is charged with conducting or performing together with:

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(A)AAa

justification

for

each

activity

by

reference to a statute or other legal authority; and

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(B)AAan

evaluation
agency s

of

the

effectiveness

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efficiency

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affairs, and operations in relation to each activity;

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the

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strategic

prepare

findings

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the

shall

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of

board

of

the

(2)AAfor

state

each

activity

policies,

identified

management,

under

and

fiscal

Subdivision

S.B.ANo.A53
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(1), a quantitative estimate of any adverse effects that reasonably

may

together with a description of the methods by which the adverse

effects were estimated;

be

expected

to

(3)AAfor

result

each

if

the

activity

activity

were

identified

discontinued,

under

Subdivision

(1), an itemized account of expenditures required to maintain the

activity at the minimum level of service or performance required by

the

statement of the quantity and quality of service or performance

statute

or

other

legal

authority,

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required at that minimum level;

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(4)AAfor

each

activity

together

identified

with

under

concise

Subdivision

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(1), an itemized account of expenditures required to maintain the

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activity at the current level of service or performance, together

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with a concise statement of the quantity and quality of service or

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performance provided at that current level;

(5)AAa

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ranking

of

activities

identified

under

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Subdivision (1) that illustrates the relative importance of each

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activity to the overall goals and purposes of the state agency at

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current service or performance levels; and

(6)AArecommendations

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to

the

legislature

regarding

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whether

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identified under Subdivision (1) and, if so, at what level.

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the

legislature

(d)AAThe

should

legislature

continue

may

consider

funding

the

each

activity

strategic

fiscal

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review reports in connection with the legislative appropriations

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process.

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(e)AAUntil the board has completed a strategic fiscal review

under

this

section,

all

information,

documentary

or

otherwise,

S.B.ANo.A53
1

prepared or maintained in conducting the strategic fiscal review or

preparing

intra-agency

strategic fiscal review report, or portions of those drafts, is

excepted from required public disclosure as audit working papers

under Section 552.116.

information

excepted from required public disclosure under a law other than

Section 552.116.

the
and

strategic

fiscal

interagency

described

review

communications

report,
and

including

drafts

of

the

This subsection does not affect whether

by

this

subsection

is

confidential

or

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SECTIONA2.AAThis Act takes effect immediately if it receives

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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as

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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.

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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this

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Act takes effect September 1, 2015.

If this