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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to measures in anticipation of federal legislation that |
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would recognize the sovereignty of the states by providing each |
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state with autonomy in determining whether and to what extent |
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certain federal programs or mandates would apply in that state. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subtitle C, Tile 3, Government Code, is amended |
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by adding Chapter 329 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 329. STATE IMPLEMENTATION OF FEDERAL LAW |
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RECOGNIZING STATE SOVEREIGNTY |
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Sec. 329.001. PURPOSE OF CHAPTER. The purpose of this |
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chapter is to examine the manner in which the legislature and this |
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state would exercise their rights, and to recommend any changes in |
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state law required for that purpose, in the event that the United |
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States Congress enacts federal legislation that: |
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(1) would grant the individual states the authority to |
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choose whether to participate in any federal grant program that |
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imposes requirements as a condition of the receipt of a federal |
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grant or whether to modify the conditions under which the state |
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would receive a grant, such as the proposed Restoration of State |
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Sovereignty Act of 2010 (H.R. 5903), that was introduced in the |
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111th Congress, Second Session; or |
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(2) in any other manner would give the individual |
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states the right or authority to determine whether or to what extent |
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any federal program or federal mandate would apply to that state. |
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Sec. 329.002. STATE SOVEREIGNTY OVERSIGHT WORK GROUP. (a) |
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For purposes of this chapter, the lieutenant governor and the |
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speaker of the house of representatives may jointly establish the |
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state sovereignty oversight work group composed of members of each |
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house of the legislature and any additional members those officers |
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jointly determine appropriate. For that purpose, those officers |
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may designate one or more standing committees of each house to be |
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included in the work group. |
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(b) The work group shall identify, monitor, and analyze any |
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pending or enacted federal legislation described by Section 329.001 |
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in order to: |
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(A) provide officials and other citizens of this |
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state with information necessary to communicate effectively with |
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Congress regarding the legislation and its implementation by this |
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state; |
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(B) help public officials of this state to |
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anticipate and prepare for the possible implementation of the |
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legislation; and |
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(C) identify or recommend changes in law that |
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would be necessary for the effective exercise by this state of any |
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rights and authority that may be granted by that legislation. |
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(c) The work group may request the assistance of state |
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agencies in identifying programs that may be affected by that |
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legislation and the potential fiscal or administrative |
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ramifications of that legislation. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |