VERNON'S CIVIL STATUTES

TITLE 70. HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS

CHAPTER 7. INTERGOVERNMENTAL COOPERATION



This article was amended by the 84th Legislature. Pending publication of the current statutes, see S.B. 1296, 84th Legislature, Regular Session, for amendments affecting this section.

Art. 4413(32e). JOINT ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS.

Sec. 1. PURPOSE. The purpose of this Act is to promote the economical delivery of the services provided by state government by means of a comprehensive review of governmental structure and administration.

Sec. 2. DEFINITIONS. In this Act:

(1) "Committee" means the Joint Advisory Committee on Government Operations.

(2) "Departments and Agencies" means all departments, bureaus, agencies, boards, commissions, and other instrumentalities of the executive branch of the state government.

Sec. 3. CREATION OF COMMITTEE. There is created the Joint Advisory Committee on Government Operations.

Sec. 4. MEMBERSHIP. (a) The committee consists of the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, the secretary of state, and other members appointed as provided by this section.

(b) The governor shall appoint nine persons, none of whom may be members of the house or of the senate.

(c) The lieutenant governor shall appoint three members of the senate.

(d) The speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint three members of the house of representatives.

Sec. 5. TERMS AND VACANCIES. (a) The initial members of the committee shall take office within 30 days after the effective date of this Act and shall serve until the expiration of the committee.

(b) Vacancies among the appointed members shall be filled for the unexpired terms in the same manner as the original appointments were made.

Sec. 6. COMPENSATION. (a) Legislative members of the committee shall serve without additional compensation. Each member shall be reimbursed from the appropriate fund of the member's respective house for travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred in performing the duties of the committee.

(b) Persons appointed pursuant to Section 4(b) of this Act shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses from appropriations made by the legislature to the committee.

(c) The duties to be performed by each public official or employee appointed to the committee shall be considered duties in addition to those otherwise required by that person's office.

Sec. 7. OFFICERS. The lieutenant governor shall serve as chairman of the committee. The speaker of the house of representatives shall serve as vice-chairman of the committee.

Sec. 8. QUORUM. Ten members of the committee shall constitute a quorum for the conduct of business.

Sec. 9. DUTIES. The committee shall:

(1) examine and evaluate the organization and methods of operation of the departments and agencies of state government;

(2) develop proposals for improving the structure and administration of state government in order to assure the delivery of governmental services at the lowest possible cost;

(3) recommend policies and programs to minimize creation of new departments and agencies of state government and to control the growth of existing departments and agencies; and

(4) recommend suspension of government programs and services that duplicate and exceed in cost those same services offered by private business.

Sec. 10. POWERS. The committee or any subcommittee of its membership designated by the chairman may:

(1) appoint and fix the compensation of necessary staff, including the retention of independent auditors;

(2) hold open hearings, take testimony, and administer oaths or affirmations to witnesses;

(3) secure directly from any department or agency of state government any information deemed necessary for the implementation of this Act;

(4) make findings and issue reports in the execution of the duties imposed by Section 9 of this Act.

Sec. 11. APPROPRIATIONS; PRIVATE FUNDS. The legislature shall appropriate money necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act in the General Appropriations Act for the biennium ending August 31, 1977, or in special appropriation acts for the purpose. Private funds including public or private foundation funds may be used to defray the cost of conducting any of the affairs of the committee upon authorization by the committee.

Sec. 12. COOPERATION OF OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES. (a) The Texas Legislative Council, the Legislative Budget Board, the Legislative Audit Committee, the Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations, and the Division of Planning Coordination shall, through their respective administrative officers, furnish staff assistance to the committee upon request.

(b) Each department and agency of state government is directed to furnish assistance and information to the committee upon request.

Sec. 13. REPORTS; RECOMMENDATIONS; DISSOLUTION. The committee may make an interim report on its progress, together with any specific recommendations it may deem desirable, to any session of the 64th Legislature, and shall make its final report to the 65th Legislature not later than 30 days after that legislature is organized. Unless extended by the 65th Legislature, the committee is dissolved on May 31, 1977.

Acts 1975, 64th Leg., p. 949, ch. 357, eff. June 19, 1975.