BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 2169

By: Ellis

Urban Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The State of Texas does very little planning to encourage smart growth or growth that encourages wise use of land and resources.

S.B. 2169 establishes the work group on smart growth policy composed of representatives of 11 state agencies who are required to work with metropolitan planning organizations, councils of government, and federal agencies to develop a plan to be submitted to the legislature to prepare for the projected population growth in the state.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 2169 amends the Government Code to create the work group on smart growth policy, to be composed of a representative from the following agencies appointed by the executive head of the agency: the office of the comptroller of public accounts, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, the Department of State Health Services (DSHS), the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), the Texas Workforce Commission, the General Land Office, the Office of Rural Community Affairs, the Railroad Commission of Texas, the Department of Agriculture, the Texas Education Agency, and other state or regional agencies considered necessary by the co-presiding officers of the work group. The bill requires the representatives from TxDOT, TCEQ, and DSHS to serve as co-presiding officers of the work group.

S.B. 2169 requires the work group to hold regular meetings and to collaborate and develop a comprehensive smart growth plan for Texas to prepare for the projected population growth in Texas. The bill requires the work group, in developing the plan, to consider and develop policies for addressing the quality of community life; the design of municipalities, counties, and regions; economic issues; environmental issues; health issues; housing issues; transportation issues; mixed land use; gentrification; development decisions that are predictable, fair, and cost-effective; and the encouragement of community and stakeholder collaboration in development decisions.

S.B. 2169 requires the work group to coordinate with councils of government, regional mobility organizations, metropolitan planning associations, and smart growth experts in the public and private sectors, including the United States Environmental Protection Agency and planning departments in other states, and to solicit and obtain input from relevant stakeholders. The bill requires the work group to submit a report to the legislature on the smart growth plan and policies developed by the work group not later than January 1 of each odd-numbered year. The bill requires the executive head of each agency included on the work group to appoint a representative to the work group not later than November 1, 2009. The bill defines "work group."

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2009.