85R8215 MCK-D By: Meyer H.B. No. 1387 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the membership, powers, and duties of the Sunset Advisory Commission. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Chapter 325, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 325.0025 to read as follows: Sec. 325.0025. PURPOSE OF SUNSET ADVISORY COMMISSION. The primary purpose of the commission is to review state agencies to evaluate the need for the agency and determine whether the agency or the agency's functions should be abolished or consolidated in order to reduce the cost of state government operations. SECTION 2. Sections 325.003(a) and (j), Government Code, are amended to read as follows: (a) The Sunset Advisory Commission consists of five members of the senate and two [one] public members [member] appointed by the lieutenant governor, [and] five members of the house of representatives and two [one] public members [member] appointed by the speaker of the house, and one public member appointed by the governor who may only vote on the commission's recommendations that do not require a statutory change. The lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house may serve as one of the legislative appointees. (j) Eight [Seven] members of the commission constitute a quorum. A final action or recommendation may not be made unless approved by a record vote of a majority of members appointed by the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house. All other actions by the commission shall be decided by a majority of the members present and voting. SECTION 3. Section 325.015(a), Government Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) During the regular session immediately before the abolition of a state agency and its [or an] advisory committees [committee] that are [is] subject to this chapter, the legislature by law may continue the agency and any [or] advisory committee of the agency for a period not to exceed: (1) eight years for an agency and any advisory committee of the agency if the agency has 200 or more full-time equivalent employees; and (2) 10 [12] years for an agency and any advisory committee of the agency if the agency has less than 200 full-time equivalent employees. SECTION 4. The governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives, as soon as possible after the effective date of this Act, shall appoint public members to serve initial terms on the Sunset Advisory Commission under Section 325.003, Government Code, as amended by this Act. SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.