By: Bell of Kaufman, Canales, Hull, Kitzman, H.B. No. 1545       Shaheen, et al.     A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the sunset review process and certain governmental   entities subject to that process.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:   ARTICLE 1. ENTITIES GIVEN 2029 SUNSET DATE          SECTION 1.01.  TEXAS OPTOMETRY BOARD. Section 351.004,   Occupations Code, is amended to read as follows:          Sec. 351.004.  SUNSET PROVISION. The Texas Optometry Board   is subject to Chapter 325, Government Code (Texas Sunset Act).   Unless continued in existence as provided by that chapter, the   board is abolished and this chapter expires September 1, 2029   [2033].   ARTICLE 2.  ENTITIES GIVEN 2031 SUNSET DATE          SECTION 2.01.  CREDIT UNION DEPARTMENT. Section 15.212,   Finance Code, is amended to read as follows:          Sec. 15.212.  SUNSET PROVISION. The Credit Union Department   and the Credit Union Commission are subject to Chapter 325,   Government Code (Texas Sunset Act). Unless continued in existence   as provided by that chapter, the department and commission are   abolished September 1, 2031 [2035].          SECTION 2.02.  STATE OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS.   Section 2003.023, Government Code, is amended to read as follows:          Sec. 2003.023.  SUNSET PROVISION.  The State Office of   Administrative Hearings is subject to review under Chapter 325   (Texas Sunset Act), but is not abolished under that chapter.  The   office shall be reviewed during the periods in which state agencies   abolished in 2031 [2027] and every 12th year after 2031 [2027] are   reviewed.          SECTION 2.03.  TEXAS JUVENILE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT. (a)     Section 202.010, Human Resources Code, is amended to read as   follows:          Sec. 202.010.  SUNSET PROVISION. The Texas Juvenile Justice   Board and the Texas Juvenile Justice Department are subject to   Chapter 325, Government Code (Texas Sunset Act).  Unless continued   in existence as provided by that chapter, the board and the   department are abolished September 1, 2031 [2027].          (b)  Notwithstanding Section 202.010, Human Resources Code,   as amended by this Act, the Sunset Advisory Commission shall   conduct a limited-scope review of the Texas Juvenile Justice   Department for the 90th Legislature.          (c)  In conducting the limited-scope review under this   section, the Sunset Advisory Commission staff evaluation and report   must be limited to assessing the Texas Juvenile Justice   Department's administration of its regionalization duties aimed at   prioritizing the use of local levels of the juvenile justice system   over placement or commitment to secure facilities operated by the   Texas Juvenile Justice Department.          (d)  The Sunset Advisory Commission may not review the office   of independent ombudsman of the Texas Juvenile Justice Department   as part of the limited-scope review conducted under this section.          (e)  The Sunset Advisory Commission's recommendations to the   90th Legislature may include any recommendation the commission   considers appropriate based on the limited-scope review conducted   under this section.          (f)  The Texas Juvenile Justice Department shall submit a   report not later than September 1, 2026, to the Sunset Advisory   Commission, the speaker of the house of representatives, the   lieutenant governor, and the standing committees of each house of   the legislature with primary jurisdiction over juvenile justice   that includes information about:                (1)  the status of the United States Department of   Justice's investigation into the Texas Juvenile Justice Department   and the Texas Juvenile Justice Department's progress in addressing   findings as detailed in the United States Department of Justice's   report titled "Investigation of the Texas Juvenile Justice   Department," published on August 1, 2024;                (2)  the waitlist of youth committed to the Texas   Juvenile Justice Department awaiting transfer to state secure   facilities from county facilities;                (3)  the Texas Juvenile Justice Department's staffing   and turnover at state facilities for each fiscal year since fiscal   year 2016; and                (4)  the progress on construction of additional state   juvenile correctional facilities for which the legislature   appropriated funding in the 2024-2025 biennium.   ARTICLE 3.  ENTITIES GIVEN 2033 SUNSET DATE          SECTION 3.01.  STATE BOARD OF VETERINARY MEDICAL EXAMINERS.   Section 801.003, Occupations Code, is amended to read as follows:          Sec. 801.003.  APPLICATION OF SUNSET ACT.  The State Board of   Veterinary Medical Examiners is subject to Chapter 325, Government   Code (Texas Sunset Act).  Unless continued in existence as provided   by that chapter, the board is abolished September 1, 2033 [2027].          SECTION 3.02.  TEXAS PHARMACEUTICAL INITIATIVE. Section   2177.010, Government Code, is amended to read as follows:          Sec. 2177.010.  SUNSET PROVISION [EXPIRATION OF CHAPTER].   The Texas Pharmaceutical Initiative is subject to Chapter 325   (Texas Sunset Act). Unless continued in existence as provided by   that chapter, the Texas Pharmaceutical Initiative is abolished and   this [This] chapter expires September 1, 2033 [2025].   ARTICLE 4.  ENTITIES GIVEN 2035 SUNSET DATE          SECTION 4.01.  STATE SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION BOARD.   Section 12, Chapter 358 (S.B. 1424), Acts of the 88th Legislature,   Regular Session, 2023, is repealed.   ARTICLE 5.  AMENDMENTS TO THE TEXAS SUNSET ACT          SECTION 5.01.  SUNSET ADVISORY COMMISSION. Section   325.003(a-1), Government Code, is amended to read as follows:          (a-1)  A public member acts on behalf of the legislature when   participating on the commission in furtherance of the legislature's   duty to provide oversight of state [executive branch] agencies'   implementation of legislative priorities.          SECTION 5.02.  AGENCY REPORT TO COMMISSION. Section   325.007(a), Government Code, is amended to read as follows:          (a)  Before September 1 of the odd-numbered year before the   year in which a state agency subject to this chapter is abolished or   reviewed, the agency shall report to the commission:                (1)  information regarding the application to the   agency of the criteria in Section 325.011; and                (2)  any other information that the agency considers   appropriate or that is requested by the commission.          SECTION 5.03.  REPORTING REQUIREMENTS OF AGENCY BEING   REVIEWED. Section 325.0075, Government Code, is amended to read as   follows:          Sec. 325.0075.  REPORTING REQUIREMENTS OF AGENCY BEING   REVIEWED.  Before September 1 of the odd-numbered year before the   year in which a state agency subject to this chapter is abolished or   reviewed, the agency shall submit to the commission, the governor,   the lieutenant governor, and each member of the legislature a   report that:                (1)  lists each report that the agency is required by a   statute to prepare; and                (2)  evaluates the need for each report listed in   Subdivision (1) based on whether factors or conditions have changed   since the date the statutory requirement to prepare the report was   enacted.          SECTION 5.04.  COMMISSION DUTIES. Section 325.008(a),   Government Code, is amended to read as follows:          (a)  Before January 1 of the year in which a state agency   subject to this chapter and its advisory committees are abolished   or reviewed, the commission shall:                (1)  review and take action necessary to verify the   reports submitted by the agency under Section 325.007;                (2)  consult the Legislative Budget Board, the   Governor's Budget, Policy, and Planning Division, the State   Auditor, and the comptroller of public accounts, or their   successors, on the application to the agency of the criteria   provided in Section 325.011;                (3)  conduct a review of the agency based on the   criteria provided in Section 325.011 and prepare a written report;   and                (4)  review the implementation of commission   recommendations contained in the reports presented to the   legislature during the preceding legislative session and the   resulting legislation.          SECTION 5.05.  PUBLIC HEARINGS. Section 325.009(a),   Government Code, is amended to read as follows:          (a)  Before February 1 of the year a state agency subject to   this chapter and its advisory committees are abolished or reviewed,   the commission shall conduct public hearings concerning but not   limited to the application to the agency of the criteria provided in   Section 325.011.          SECTION 5.06.  REVIEW OF CERTAIN AGENCIES. Sections   325.0125(a) and (b), Government Code, are amended to read as   follows:          (a)  In the two-year period preceding the date scheduled for   the abolition or review of a state agency under this chapter, the   commission may exempt certain agencies from the requirements of   this chapter relating to staff reports, hearings, and reviews.          (b)  The commission may only exempt agencies that have been   inactive for a period of two years preceding the date the agency is   scheduled for abolition or review, that have been rendered inactive   by an action of the legislature, or that the commission determines   are unable to participate in the review due to a declared disaster.          SECTION 5.07.  REVIEW OF CERTAIN MULTISTATE COMPACTS.   Chapter 325, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 325.026   to read as follows:          Sec. 325.026.  REVIEW OF CERTAIN MULTISTATE COMPACTS,   RECIPROCITY AGREEMENTS, AND OTHER SIMILAR AGREEMENTS. (a) During   a review of a state agency that is responsible for administering,   implementing, or enforcing a multistate compact, reciprocity   agreement, or other similar agreement to which this state is a   party, the commission shall review the compact or agreement as part   of the review of the state agency.          (b)  If a multistate compact, reciprocity agreement, or   other similar agreement to which this state is a party is not   administered, implemented, or enforced by a state agency, or is   administered, implemented, or enforced by a state agency that is   not subject to review under this chapter, the commission shall   establish a review schedule to ensure that the compact or agreement   is reviewed every 10 years.          (c)  The commission shall consult with the office of the   governor in determining whether a state agency is responsible for   administering, implementing, or enforcing a multistate compact,   reciprocity agreement, or other similar agreement to which this   state is a party.          (d)  Not later than the 90th day after the date the state   enters into a multistate compact, reciprocity agreement, or other   similar agreement, the commission shall identify the state agency   responsible for administering, implementing, or enforcing the   compact or other agreement. If the compact or other agreement is   not administered, implemented, or enforced by a state agency or the   state agency that implements, administers, or enforces the compact   or agreement is not subject to review under this chapter, the   commission shall add the compact or agreement to the review   schedule under Subsection (b).          (e)  The commission shall publish on the commission's   Internet website a list of each multistate compact, reciprocity   agreement, or other similar agreement to which this state is a   party, including:                (1)  the state agency responsible for administering,   implementing, or enforcing the compact or agreement and the year   the state agency will be reviewed under this chapter; or                (2)  the year the compact or other agreement will be   reviewed under the schedule required by Subsection (b).          (f)  Not later than January 1, 2026, the commission shall   review each multistate compact, reciprocity agreement, or other   similar agreement to which this state is a party and identify the   state agency that is responsible for administering, implementing,   or enforcing the compact or agreement. If the commission   determines there is no state agency responsible for administering,   implementing, or enforcing a compact or agreement, or that a   compact or agreement is administered, implemented, or enforced by a   state agency that is not subject to review under this chapter, the   commission shall include the compact or agreement in the review   schedule required by Subsection (b). This subsection expires   September 1, 2027.   ARTICLE 6.  EFFECTIVE DATE          SECTION 6.01.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  This Act takes effect   immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members   elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas   Constitution.  If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for   immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2025.