SB1594 - Relating to renaming the Sunset Advisory Commission as the Sunset Legislative Initiative for Cost Efficiency Advisory Commission and the duties of that commission.

  89R11991 BCH-D     By: Hancock S.B. No. 1594       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to renaming the Sunset Advisory Commission as the Sunset   Legislative Initiative for Cost Efficiency Advisory Commission and   the duties of that commission.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  The heading to Chapter 325, Government Code, is   amended to read as follows:   CHAPTER 325. SUNSET LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVE FOR COST EFFICIENCY   (SLICE) LAW          SECTION 2.  Section 325.001, Government Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 325.001.  SHORT TITLE.  This chapter may be cited as the   Texas Sunset Legislative Initiative for Cost Efficiency (SLICE)   Act.          SECTION 3.  Section 325.002(3), Government Code, is amended   to read as follows:                (3)  "Commission" means the Sunset Legislative   Initiative for Cost Efficiency Advisory Commission.          SECTION 4.  The heading to Section 325.003, Government Code,   is amended to read as follows:          Sec. 325.003.  SUNSET LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVE FOR COST   EFFICIENCY ADVISORY COMMISSION.          SECTION 5.  Section 325.003(a), Government Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (a)  The Sunset Legislative Initiative for Cost Efficiency   Advisory Commission is a legislative agency that consists of five   members of the senate and one public member appointed by the   lieutenant governor and five members of the house of   representatives and one public member appointed by the speaker of   the house.  The lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house may   serve as one of the legislative appointees.          SECTION 6.  Chapter 325, Government Code, is amended by   adding Section 325.0035 to read as follows:           Sec.   325.0035.     REFERENCES IN LAW. (a)   A reference in law   to the Sunset Advisory Commission is a reference to the Sunset   Legislative Initiative for Cost Efficiency Advisory Commission.           (b)     A reference in law to the Texas Sunset Act is a reference   to the Texas Sunset Legislative Initiative for Cost Efficiency   (SLICE) Act.          SECTION 7.  Section 325.011, Government Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 325.011.  CRITERIA FOR REVIEW.  The commission and its   staff shall consider the following criteria in determining whether   a public need exists for the continuation of a state agency or its   advisory committees or for the performance of the functions of the   agency or its advisory committees:                (1)  the efficiency and effectiveness with which the   agency or the advisory committee operates , including:                       (A)     an assessment of efficiency in delivering   programs and services to entities and other persons; and                       (B)     an assessment of appropriated funds and   spending to determine potential spending efficiencies and identify   waste in the delivery of programs and services ;                (2)(A)  an identification of the mission, goals, and   objectives intended for the agency or advisory committee and of the   problem or need that the agency or advisory committee was intended   to address; and                      (B)  the extent to which the mission, goals, and   objectives have been achieved and the problem or need has been   addressed;                (3)(A)  an identification of any activities of the   agency in addition to those granted by statute and of the authority   for those activities; and                      (B)  the extent to which those activities are   needed;                (4)  an assessment of authority of the agency relating   to fees, inspections, enforcement, and penalties;                (5)  whether less restrictive or alternative methods of   performing any function that the agency performs could adequately   protect or provide service to the public;                (6)  the extent to which the jurisdiction of the agency   and the programs administered by the agency overlap or duplicate   those of other agencies, the extent to which the agency coordinates   with those agencies, and the extent to which the programs   administered by the agency can be consolidated with the programs of   other state agencies;                (7)  the promptness and effectiveness with which the   agency addresses complaints concerning entities or other persons   affected by the agency, including an assessment of the agency's   administrative hearings process;                (8)  an assessment of the agency's rulemaking process   and the extent to which the agency has encouraged participation by   the public in making its rules and decisions and the extent to which   the public participation has resulted in rules that benefit the   public;                (9)  the extent to which the agency has complied with:                      (A)  federal and state laws and applicable rules   regarding equality of employment opportunity and the rights and   privacy of individuals; and                      (B)  state law and applicable rules of any state   agency regarding purchasing guidelines and programs for   historically underutilized businesses;                (10)  the extent to which the agency issues and   enforces rules relating to potential conflicts of interest of its   employees;                (11)  the extent to which the agency complies with   Chapters 551 and 552 and follows records management practices that   enable the agency to respond efficiently to requests for public   information;                (12)  the effect of federal intervention or loss of   federal funds if the agency is abolished;                (13)  the extent to which the purpose and effectiveness   of reporting requirements imposed on the agency justifies the   continuation of the requirement; and                (14)  an assessment of the agency's cybersecurity   practices using confidential information available from the   Department of Information Resources or any other appropriate state   agency.          SECTION 8.  (a)  Effective January 1, 2026:                (1)  the name of the Sunset Advisory Commission is   changed to the Sunset Legislative Initiative for Cost Efficiency   Advisory Commission, and all powers, duties, rights, and   obligations of the Sunset Advisory Commission are the powers,   duties, rights, and obligations of the Sunset Legislative   Initiative for Cost Efficiency Advisory Commission;                (2)  a member of the Sunset Advisory Commission is a   member of the Sunset Legislative Initiative for Cost Efficiency   Advisory Commission; and                (3)  any appropriation to the Sunset Advisory   Commission is an appropriation to the Sunset Legislative Initiative   for Cost Efficiency Advisory Commission.          (b)  Effective January 1, 2026, a reference in law to the   Sunset Advisory Commission is a reference to the Sunset Legislative   Initiative for Cost Efficiency Advisory Commission.          (c)  The Sunset Legislative Initiative for Cost Efficiency   Advisory Commission is the successor to the Sunset Advisory   Commission in all respects. All personnel, equipment, data,   documents, facilities, contracts, items, other property, rules,   decisions, and proceedings of or involving the Sunset Advisory   Commission are unaffected by the change in the name of the   commission.          (d)  The Sunset Advisory Commission shall adopt a timetable   for phasing in the change of the commission's name so as to minimize   the fiscal impact of the name change. Until January 1, 2026, to   allow for phasing in the change of the commission's name and in   accordance with the timetable established as required by this   section, the commission may perform any act authorized by law for   the Sunset Advisory Commission as the Sunset Advisory Commission or   as the Sunset Legislative Initiative for Cost Efficiency Advisory   Commission. Any act of the Sunset Advisory Commission acting as the   Sunset Legislative Initiative for Cost Efficiency Advisory   Commission on or after the effective date of this Act and before   January 1, 2026, is an act of the Sunset Advisory Commission.          SECTION 9.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.