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(c) Section 402.032, Government Code, is repealed.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(b) Section 411.0197, Government Code, is repealed.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repealed by this section, is abolished.
(b) Section 2113.301(h), Government Code, is repealed.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