CHAPTER 7. INTERGOVERNMENTAL COOPERATION
VERNON'S CIVIL STATUTES
TITLE 70. HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS
CHAPTER 7. INTERGOVERNMENTAL COOPERATION
Art. 4413(32e). JOINT ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT
OPERATIONS.
Purpose
Sec. 1. The purpose of this Act is to promote the economical
delivery of the services provided by state government by means of
a comprehensive review of governmental structure and
administration.
Definitions
Sec. 2. In this Act:
(1) "Committee" means the Joint Advisory Committee on Government
Operations.
(2) "Departments and Agencies" means all departments, bureaus,
agencies, boards, commissions, and other instrumentalities of the
executive branch of the state government.
Creation of Committee
Sec. 3. There is created the Joint Advisory Committee on
Government Operations.
Membership
Sec. 4. (a) The committee consists of the lieutenant governor,
the speaker of the house of representatives, the secretary of
state, and other members appointed as provided by this section.
(b) The governor shall appoint nine persons, none of whom may be
members of the house or of the senate.
(c) The lieutenant governor shall appoint three members of the
senate.
(d) The speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint
three members of the house of representatives.
Terms and Vacancies
Sec. 5. (a) The initial members of the committee shall take
office within 30 days after the effective date of this Act and
shall serve until the expiration of the committee.
(b) Vacancies among the appointed members shall be filled for the
unexpired terms in the same manner as the original appointments
were made.
Compensation
Sec. 6. (a) Legislative members of the committee shall serve
without additional compensation. Each member shall be reimbursed
from the appropriate fund of the member's respective house for
travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred in
performing the duties of the committee.
(b) Persons appointed pursuant to Section 4(b) of this Act shall
serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for travel,
subsistence, and other necessary expenses from appropriations
made by the legislature to the committee.
(c) The duties to be performed by each public official or
employee appointed to the committee shall be considered duties in
addition to those otherwise required by that person's office.
Officers
Sec. 7. The lieutenant governor shall serve as chairman of the
committee. The speaker of the house of representatives shall
serve as vice-chairman of the committee.
Quorum
Sec. 8. Ten members of the committee shall constitute a quorum
for the conduct of business.
Duties
Sec. 9. The committee shall:
(1) examine and evaluate the organization and methods of
operation of the departments and agencies of state government;
(2) develop proposals for improving the structure and
administration of state government in order to assure the
delivery of governmental services at the lowest possible cost;
(3) recommend policies and programs to minimize creation of new
departments and agencies of state government and to control the
growth of existing departments and agencies; and
(4) recommend suspension of government programs and services that
duplicate and exceed in cost those same services offered by
private business.
Powers
Sec. 10. The committee or any subcommittee of its membership
designated by the chairman may:
(1) appoint and fix the compensation of necessary staff,
including the retention of independent auditors;
(2) hold open hearings, take testimony, and administer oaths or
affirmations to witnesses;
(3) secure directly from any department or agency of state
government any information deemed necessary for the
implementation of this Act;
(4) make findings and issue reports in the execution of the
duties imposed by Section 9 of this Act.
Appropriations; Private Funds
Sec. 11. The legislature shall appropriate money necessary to
carry out the provisions of this Act in the General
Appropriations Act for the biennium ending August 31, 1977, or in
special appropriation acts for the purpose. Private funds
including public or private foundation funds may be used to
defray the cost of conducting any of the affairs of the committee
upon authorization by the committee.
Cooperation of Other Departments and Agencies
Sec. 12. (a) The Texas Legislative Council, the Legislative
Budget Board, the Legislative Audit Committee, the Advisory
Commission on Intergovernmental Relations, and the Division of
Planning Coordination shall, through their respective
administrative officers, furnish staff assistance to the
committee upon request.
(b) Each department and agency of state government is directed to
furnish assistance and information to the committee upon request.
Reports; Recommendations; Dissolution
Sec. 13. The committee may make an interim report on its
progress, together with any specific recommendations it may deem
desirable, to any session of the 64th Legislature, and shall make
its final report to the 65th Legislature not later than 30 days
after that legislature is organized. Unless extended by the 65th
Legislature, the committee is dissolved on May 31, 1977.
Acts 1975, 64th Leg., p. 949, ch. 357, eff. June 19, 1975.