S.B. No. 526         AN ACT   relating to the abolishment of certain advisory committees and   other state entities.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE FRAUD TASK FORCE. (a)  The   residential mortgage fraud task force is abolished.          (b)  Section 402.033, Government Code, is amended by   amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (d) to read as   follows:          (b)  If a person determines or reasonably suspects that   fraudulent activity has been committed or is about to be committed,   the person shall report the information to an authorized   governmental agency. If a person reports the information to the   attorney general, the attorney general shall notify an appropriate   law enforcement agency with jurisdiction to investigate the   fraudulent activity [each agency with representation on the   residential mortgage fraud task force under Section 402.032]. If a   financial institution or person voluntarily or pursuant to this   section reports fraudulent activity to an authorized governmental   agency, the financial institution or person may not notify any   person involved in the fraudulent activity that the fraudulent   activity has been reported, and the authorized governmental agency   who has any knowledge that such report was made shall not disclose   to any person involved in the fraudulent activity that the   fraudulent activity has been reported.  Any financial institution   or person that makes a voluntary report of any possible violation of   law or regulation to an authorized governmental agency shall not be   liable to any person under any law or regulation of the state or the   United States for such report.          (d)  An authorized governmental agency may share   confidential information or information to which access is   otherwise restricted by law with one or more other authorized   governmental agencies. Except as provided by this subsection,   confidential information that is shared under this subsection   remains confidential and legal restrictions on access to the   information apply.          (c)  Section 402.032, Government Code, is repealed.          SECTION 2.  ADVISORY OVERSIGHT COMMUNITY OUTREACH   COMMITTEE. (a)  The Advisory Oversight Community Outreach   Committee is abolished.          (b)  Section 411.0197, Government Code, is repealed.          SECTION 3.  RAIN HARVESTING AND WATER RECYCLING TASK FORCE.   (a)  The task force under Section 2113.301(h), Government Code, as   repealed by this section, is abolished.          (b)  Section 2113.301(h), Government Code, is repealed.          SECTION 4.  STATE COGENERATION COUNCIL. (a)  The State   Cogeneration Council is abolished.  All rules adopted by the State   Cogeneration Council are abolished.          (b)  Section 2302.024, Government Code, is amended to read as   follows:          Sec. 2302.024.  AUTHORITY TO SELL POWER.  A [(a)     After the   council has approved the application to construct or operate a   cogeneration facility, a] cogenerating state agency may contract in   the same manner as a qualifying facility for the sale to an electric   utility of firm or nonfirm power produced by the state agency   cogeneration facility that exceeds the agency's power   requirements.          [(b)     A cogenerating state agency may consult with the   council about the price or other terms of a contract entered under   this section.]          (c)  The following provisions of the Government Code are   repealed:                (1)  Section 2302.001(3);                (2)  Sections 2302.002, 2302.003, 2302.004, 2302.005,   2302.006, and 2302.007;                (3)  Section 2302.021(a); and                (4)  Section 2302.022.          SECTION 5.  INFORMATION RESOURCES STEERING COMMITTEE.   (a)  The information resources steering committee is abolished.          (b)  Section 231.013, Family Code, is repealed.          SECTION 6.  PREMARITAL EDUCATION HANDBOOK ADVISORY   COMMITTEE. (a)  The advisory committee under Section 2.014(d),   Family Code, as repealed by this section, is abolished.          (b)  Section 2.014(d), Family Code, is repealed.          SECTION 7.  INDEPENDENT REVIEW ORGANIZATION ADVISORY GROUP.   (a)  The advisory group under Section 4202.011, Insurance Code, as   repealed by this section, is abolished.          (b)  Section 4202.011, Insurance Code, is repealed.          SECTION 8.  VEHICLE PROTECTION PRODUCT WARRANTOR ADVISORY   BOARD. (a)  The Vehicle Protection Product Warrantor Advisory   Board is abolished.          (b)  Subchapter C, Chapter 2306, Occupations Code, is   repealed.          SECTION 9.  ALTERNATIVE FUELS COUNCIL. (a)  The Alternative   Fuels Council is abolished.          (b)  On the effective date of this Act, a rule, form, policy,   procedure, or decision of the Alternative Fuels Council continues   in effect as a rule, form, policy, procedure, or decision of the   comptroller of public accounts until superseded or repealed by an   act of the comptroller.          (c)  A vehicle or other property to which Section 113.290,   Natural Resources Code, as repealed by this section, applied may be   transferred to another person.          (d)  Section 1232.106, Government Code, is amended to read as   follows:          Sec. 1232.106.  EVALUATION OF APPLICATION FOR ASSISTANCE   WITH ALTERNATIVE FUEL PROJECTS. (a)  The comptroller [Alternative   Fuels Council] shall evaluate an application by an eligible entity   for the financing under Section 1232.104 of the acquisition,   construction, or improvement of alternative fuels infrastructure   and shall determine whether the proposed project will increase   energy or cost savings to the applicant.          (b)  The authority may not issue an obligation under Section   1232.104 unless the comptroller [Alternative Fuels Council]   certifies that the proposed project will increase energy or cost   savings to the applicant.          (c)  The comptroller [Alternative Fuels Council] by rule may   adopt procedures and standards for the evaluation of an application   for the financing of a proposed project under Section 1232.104.          (e)  Subchapter J, Chapter 113, Natural Resources Code, is   repealed.          SECTION 10.  QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL LAND AND QUALIFIED   TIMBER LAND PROPERTY TAX VALUATION MANUALS APPROVAL COMMITTEES.   (a)  The committees under Sections 23.52(d) and 23.73(b), Tax Code,   before amendment by this section, are abolished.          (b)  Section 23.52(d), Tax Code, is amended to read as   follows:          (d)  The comptroller by rule shall develop and distribute to   each appraisal office appraisal manuals setting forth this method   of appraising qualified open-space land, and each appraisal office   shall use the appraisal manuals in appraising qualified open-space   land. The comptroller by rule shall develop and the appraisal   office shall enforce procedures to verify that land meets the   conditions contained in Subdivision (1) of Section 23.51 [of this   code]. The rules, before taking effect, must be approved by the   comptroller with the review and counsel of the Department of   Agriculture [a majority vote of a committee comprised of the   following officials or their designees: the governor, the   comptroller, the attorney general, the agriculture commissioner,   and the Commissioner of the General Land Office].          (c)  Section 23.73(b), Tax Code, is amended to read as   follows:          (b)  The comptroller by rule shall develop and distribute to   each appraisal office appraisal manuals setting forth this method   of appraising qualified timber land, and each appraisal office   shall use the appraisal manuals in appraising qualified timber   land. The comptroller by rule shall develop and the appraisal   office shall enforce procedures to verify that land meets the   conditions contained in Section 23.72 [of this code]. The rules,   before taking effect, must be approved by the comptroller with the   review and counsel of the Texas A&M Forest Service [majority vote of   a committee comprised of the following officials or their   designees: the governor, the comptroller, the attorney general, the   agriculture commissioner, and the Commissioner of the General Land   Office].          SECTION 11.  COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS ADVISORY COMMITTEE.   (a)  The Communities in Schools advisory committee is abolished.          (b)  Section 16, Chapter 1156 (H.B. 2879), Acts of the 77th   Legislature, Regular Session, 2001, is repealed.          SECTION 12.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  This Act takes effect   September 1, 2017.             ______________________________ ______________________________      President of the Senate Speaker of the House                 I hereby certify that S.B. No. 526 passed the Senate on   April 19, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0; and that   the Senate concurred in House amendment on May 27, 2017, by the   following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.       ______________________________   Secretary of the Senate                I hereby certify that S.B. No. 526 passed the House, with   amendment, on May 24, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 146,   Nays 0, two present not voting.       ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House            Approved:     ______________________________                Date       ______________________________              Governor