Bill

HB 1929

84(R) - 2015
House County Affairs
House County Affairs
County Affairs
Dallas County

Vote Recommendation

No
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Negative
  • Neutral

Author(s)

Toni Rose

Bill Caption

Relating to the payment in certain counties of expenses associated with the transportation of county residents and visitors for civic, community, educational, and recreational activities.

Fiscal Notes

No significant fiscal implication to the State.

Local Government Impact

Because the bill would not have statewide impact on units of local government of the same type or class, no comment from this office is required by the rules of the House/Senate as to its probable fiscal implication on units of local government.

Bill Analysis

HB 1929 would amend the code to lower the county population bracket required to allow counties to use general use funds to pay for transportation of senior citizens (along with any nurses, caregivers, or visitors who live within the county) to events in the county.  The bill would reduce the threshold from 3.3 million to 2.2 million.

Vote Recommendation Notes

This bill would abridge the principle of limited governing by broadly expanding the statutory definition of how a county can spend funds on transportation for tourism and entertainment purposes, and expands the number of counties that can do so. 

HB 1929 would subsidize the transportation of "county residents and visitors for civic, community, educational, and recreational activities within and outside the county if a majority of the costs and expenses paid are for the transportation of senior citizens."

While honoring our elderly should be a priority for all Texans, it is not an appropriate function of government to shuttle them -- and any county residents who may accompany them, for that matter -- to nonessential activities. We oppose HB 1929.