VERNON'S TEXAS CIVIL STATUTES

CHAPTER 7. INTERGOVERNMENTAL COOPERATION




Art. 4413(32e). Joint Advisory Committee on Government Operations             

Purpose

Sec. 1. 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.

Definitions

Sec. 2. 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.

Creation of Committee

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

Membership

Sec. 4. (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.

Terms and Vacancies

Sec. 5. (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.

Compensation

Sec. 6. (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.

Officers

Sec. 7. 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.

Quorum

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

Duties

Sec. 9. 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.

Powers

Sec. 10. 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.

Appropriations;  Private Funds

Sec. 11. 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.

Cooperation of Other Departments and Agencies

Sec. 12. (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.

Reports;  Recommendations;  Dissolution

Sec. 13. 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.