H.B. No. 3714

	AN ACT
	relating to the creation of the Office of Small Business Assistance
	Advisory Task Force.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 481, Government Code, is
	amended by adding Section 481.00681 to read as follows:
	Sec. 481.00681.  OFFICE OF SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE
	ADVISORY TASK FORCE. (a)  In this section:
	(1)  "Small business" means a business that employs at
	least 25 but not more than 250 individuals.
	(2)  "Task force" means the Office of Small Business
	Assistance Advisory Task Force.
	(b)  The Office of Small Business Assistance shall establish
	the task force.
	(c)  The task force is composed of seven members appointed as
	follows:
	(1)  three members appointed by the governor;
	(2)  two
	members appointed by the speaker of the house
	of representatives; and
	(3)  two members appointed by the lieutenant governor.
	(d)  A task force member serves a two-year term.  A task force
	member may be reappointed for additional terms.
	(e)  Task force members serve without compensation but are
	entitled to reimbursement for reasonable and necessary expenses
	incurred in the discharge of their duties.
	(f)  The task force shall meet as often as necessary but
	shall meet at least once a year.
	(g)  The task force shall:
	(1)  advise and assist the Office of Small Business
	Assistance with its duties under Section 481.0068(b) to the extent
	that they relate to small businesses;
	(2)  advise and assist the governor, the lieutenant
	governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives with
	issues that relate to small businesses; and
	(3)  provide information in plain language to the
	public on issues related to small businesses, including:
	(A)  environmental permitting and compliance;
	(B)  local regulations;
	(C)  construction permitting;
	(D)  the duties of the comptroller to the extent
	that the duties relate to small businesses; and
	(E)  the formation of business entities.
	(h)  Not later than January 1 of each odd-numbered year, the
	task force shall submit to the legislature a report that:
	(1)  describes issues related to small businesses; and
	(2)  proposes legislation to assist small businesses.
	SECTION 2.  As soon as practicable after the effective date
	of this Act, the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker
	of the house of representatives shall appoint the members of the
	Office of Small Business Assistance Advisory Task Force as required
	by Section 481.00681, Government Code, as added by this Act.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
	Act takes effect September 1, 2013.
	______________________________	______________________________
	President of the Senate	Speaker of the House
	I certify that H.B. No. 3714 was passed by the House on May 8,
	2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 133, Nays 14, 2 present, not
	voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
	No. 3714 on May 23, 2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 134, Nays 6,
	2 present, not voting.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House
	I certify that H.B. No. 3714 was passed by the Senate, with
	amendments, on May 21, 2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 27, Nays
	4.
	______________________________
	Secretary of the Senate
	APPROVED: __________________
	Date
	__________________
	Governor