By: Huffman S.B. No. 2213               A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to state fiscal matters related to general government.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:   ARTICLE 1.  REDUCTION OF EXPENDITURES AND IMPOSITION OF CHARGES   GENERALLY          SECTION 1.01.  This article applies to any state agency that   receives an appropriation under Article I of the General   Appropriations Act.          SECTION 1.02.  Notwithstanding any other statute of this   state, each state agency to which this article applies is   authorized to reduce or recover expenditures by:                (1)  consolidating any reports or publications the   agency is required to make and filing or delivering any of those   reports or publications exclusively by electronic means;                (2)  extending the effective period of any license,   permit, or registration the agency grants or administers;                (3)  entering into a contract with another governmental   entity or with a private vendor to carry out any of the agency's   duties;                (4)  adopting additional eligibility requirements for   persons who receive benefits under any law the agency administers   to ensure that those benefits are received by the most deserving   persons consistent with the purposes for which the benefits are   provided;                (5)  providing that any communication between the   agency and another person and any document required to be delivered   to or by the agency, including any application, notice, billing   statement, receipt, or certificate, may be made or delivered by   e-mail or through the Internet; and                (6)  adopting and collecting fees or charges to cover   any costs the agency incurs in performing its lawful functions.   ARTICLE 2.  STATE DEBT          SECTION 2.01.  Chapter 1231, Government Code, is amended by   adding Subchapter G to read as follows:   SUBCHAPTER G. LIMIT ON STATE DEBT PAYABLE FROM GENERAL REVENUE FUND          Sec. 1231.151.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:                (1)  "Maximum annual debt service" means the limitation   on annual debt service imposed by Section 49-j(a), Article III,   Texas Constitution.                (2)  "State debt payable from the general revenue fund"   has the meaning assigned by Section 49-j(b), Article III, Texas   Constitution.                (3)  "Unissued debt" means state debt payable from the   general revenue fund that has been authorized but not issued.          Sec. 1231.152.  COMPUTATION OF DEBT LIMIT. In computing the   annual debt service in a state fiscal year on state debt payable   from the general revenue fund for purposes of determining whether   additional state debt may be authorized without exceeding the   maximum annual debt service, the board may employ any assumptions   related to unissued debt that the board determines are necessary to   reflect common or standard debt issuance practices authorized by   law, including assumptions regarding:                (1)  interest rates;                (2)  debt maturity; and                (3)  debt service payment structures.          Sec. 1231.153.  REPORT ON COMPUTATION. (a) The board shall   publish during each state fiscal year a report providing a detailed   description of the method used to compute the annual debt service in   that fiscal year on state debt payable from the general revenue fund   for purposes of determining whether additional state debt may be   authorized. The report must describe:                (1)  the debt service included in the computation,   including debt service on issued and unissued debt;                (2)  the assumptions on which the debt service on   unissued debt was based; and                (3)  any other factors required by law that affect the   computation.          (b)  The board may publish the report required by this   section as a component of any other report required by law,   including the annual report required by Section 1231.102, or as an   independent report. The board shall make the report available to   the public.          SECTION 2.02.  The Bond Review Board shall publish the   initial report required by Section 1231.153, Government Code, as   added by this article, during the state fiscal year beginning   September 1, 2017.          SECTION 2.03.  This article takes effect immediately if this   Act 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 article takes effect September 1, 2017.   ARTICLE 3.  FISCAL MATTERS RELATING TO MAIL          SECTION 3.01.  Subchapter A, Chapter 2176, Government Code,   is amended by adding Section 2176.007 to read as follows:          Sec. 2176.007.  COMPTROLLER STUDY ON MAIL OPERATIONS. (a)   The comptroller shall conduct a study on the mail operations of each   state agency in the executive branch of state government that   receives an appropriation made under ARTICLE I of the General   Appropriations Act. The study must identify provisions of law   relating to the mailing requirements for the agency that impede the   efficient transmission and receipt of documents by the agency.          (b)  In conducting the study, the comptroller shall   collaborate with other state agencies to consider the needs or   concerns specific to those agencies.          (c)  Not later than November 1, 2018, the comptroller shall   post the findings of the study conducted under this section on the   comptroller's Internet website.          (d)  This section expires September 1, 2019.           SECTION 3.02.  This article takes effect immediately if   this Act 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 article takes effect September 1, 2017.   ARTICLE 4.    FISCAL MATTERS CONCERNING INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY          SECTION 4.01.  Section 2054.380(b), Government Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (b)  Revenue derived from the collection of fees imposed   under Subsection (a) may be appropriated to the department for:                (1)  developing statewide information resources   technology policies and planning under this chapter and Chapter   2059; and                (2)  providing shared information resources technology   services [under this chapter].          SECTION 4.02.  Section 2157.068(d), Government Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (d)  The department may charge a reasonable administrative   fee to a state agency, political subdivision of this state, or   governmental entity of another state that purchases commodity items   through the department in an amount that is sufficient to recover   costs associated with the administration of this section. Revenue   derived from the collection of fees imposed under this subsection   may be appropriated to the department for:                (1)  developing statewide information resources   technology policies and planning [under Chapters 2054 and 2059];   and                (2)  providing shared information resources technology   services [under Chapter 2054].          SECTION 4.03.  Section 2170.057(d), Government Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (d)  The department shall maintain in the revolving fund   account sufficient amounts to pay the bills of the consolidated   telecommunications system and the centralized capitol complex   telephone system. The department shall certify amounts that exceed   this amount to the comptroller, and the comptroller shall transfer   the excess amounts to the credit of the general revenue fund.          SECTION 4.04.  This article takes effect immediately if this   Act 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 article takes effect September 1, 2017.   ARTICLE 5.  EFFECTIVE DATE          SECTION  5.01.  Except as otherwise provided by this Act,   this Act takes effect September 1, 2017.