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House Bill 3647 |
House Author: Kolkhorst |
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Effective: Vetoed |
Senate Sponsor: Lucio |
House Bill 3647 requires the attorney general to conduct a study to determine whether state law or legislative authority is directly affected by certain compacts, international organizations, or international bodies acting in connection with a compact and to investigate and report whether any of the entities have attempted to directly affect the law or policy of this state or the authority of any state or local governmental body in this state. The bill requires the attorney general to include certain entities and agreements in the study and to prepare a report of the findings not later than December 1, 2008.
Reason Given for Veto: "House Bill No. 3647 would require the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) to study whether international laws or agreements can impact or preempt Texas law or the authority of the Texas Legislature. This legislation is objectionable for several reasons. The international laws and agreements under scrutiny are federal law. As the State of Texas, we live under the umbrella of federal law and intend for our state laws to comply with it. If we believe federal law impacts Texas in an undesirable way, we should work with Congress and the president to remedy those concerns. There is no need for the OAG to spend state resources and time deciphering whether federal law preempts state law when it is the objective of the State of Texas to act in accordance with these laws."