Changes to Article IX of the GAA and Other Bills of Interest to State Agencies

This section contains the numerical listing of all classified positions by class number, position title, salary schedule (A, B or C) and salary group number. The listing includes classified titles that have been added and/or have title changes for the biennium. The State Auditor’s office (SAO) has provided agencies with a conversion manual for these changes. The job classifications are designated to the appropriate pay group in the proper salary schedule (A, B or C).

This section adds separate schedules for appropriation year (AY) 2024 and AY 2025 to account for the salary increase authorized under Section 17.16 (Appropriation for a Salary Increase for General State Employees).

Paragraph (c) adds the chief administrative officer of a state agency to the list of entities that may request to set the rate of compensation provided for an agency's respective exempt position(s).

This section sets the state salary schedules for classified positions for a council of government.

This section directs the SAO to assign appropriate Schedule C salary classifications for new park police positions.

The section removes council of governments and a further clarification of a “state agency” from the definitions.

Paragraph (l) is new. If the Comptroller determines employee benefit amounts are disproportionally paid from General Revenue Fund (GR) appropriations, on notification to the SAO, the Comptroller will reimburse GR appropriations of the agency or institution from other methods of finance of the agency or institution.

Paragraph (a) adds “institutions” to the entities that will not expend appropriated funds after November 20 following the close of the fiscal year (FY) unless an annual financial report (AFR) has been filed.

Paragraph (b) adds that a “contract” does not include a contract paid for exclusively using federal grant monies if all parties to the contract and the terms of the contract have been determined by the federal government.

Paragraphs (g) and (h) are new. These paragraphs add clarifying language for the Legislative Budget Board (LBB) to follow for contracts that are found in violation of this section.

This section clarifies when HUB reporting from each agency and institution is due.

Paragraph (a) provides a new informational listing of the estimated amounts appropriated for border security for several agencies. Paragraph (b) changes the definition of what is considered a “border security activity.” Paragraphs (c) and (d) provide additional reporting requirements for expended amounts and performance indicator results for border security.

Paragraph (e) adds that except for a contract paid for exclusively using federal grant monies if all parties to the contract and the terms of the contract have been determined by the federal government, a state agency or institution of higher education receiving an appropriation under the GAA will provide notice of a contract pursuant to this section.

This section adds reporting requirements for the Comptroller to follow when it receives funds from opioid-related litigation and for other state agencies/institutions to follow that receive funds from the opioid abatement account or trust fund.

This language comes from the 87th GAA, Article IX, Section 17.12.

This section requires a state agency or institution of higher education to report on any activities in collaboration with, directed by or financed by the World Health Organization to the Health and Human Services Commission by the end of each fiscal year.

Paragraph (b) is new. This language comes from the 87th GAA, Article IX, Section 8.16.

This section consolidates definitions applicable to the rest of the section.

Paragraph (b) changes the language from “equal to or greater than $10 million” to “exceeds $10 million.”

This section details changes to the Statewide Behavioral Health Coordinating Council and the Statewide Behavioral Health Strategic Plan.

Paragraph (d) further defines what qualifies as a “major information resources project,” including changing the qualifying threshold to projects estimated to exceed $5 million.

Paragraph (h) states that the “health and human services agency” referenced in the section includes the Health and Human Services Commission and the agencies named under Government Code, Section 531.001.

Paragraph (g) is new. It defines “aircraft” to have a meaning consistent with the rules adopted by the Comptroller.

This section requires that all agencies participate in the Master Lease Purchase Program (MLPP) to the extent that the MLPP would be the most cost-effective type of financing when using a lease purchase method to acquire capital assets.

This section removes the language that specifically excluded from appropriation funds received from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (public law 117-2) for the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund except for funds appropriated through Section 603, Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund of the same act, Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund, and any federal funds made available under the American Jobs Act or similar federal legislation enacted after the 87th Legislature, Regular Session, adjourned.

This section changes the language from “greater than or equal to $1 billion” to “greater than $1 billion.”

Paragraph (a) adds “in deference to Section 14.04” (Disaster Related Transfer Authority) to when an appropriation contained in this act may be transferred from one appropriation item to another.

Paragraph (c) adds “transfers made under Section 14.04” to situations that the restrictions in this section do not apply to.

Paragraph (d) changes the definition of a “capital budget” to expenditures for assets with a biennial project cost or unit cost over $500,000. Three new categories are included: data center/shared technology services; the Centralized Accounting and Payroll/Personnel System (CAPPS) statewide enterprise resource planning (ERP) system; and cybersecurity projects.

Paragraph (h) adds “in deference to Section 14.04” to the list of ways an agency may transfer capital budget items.

Paragraphs (h) and (l) add “shared technology services” to the definition of services provided by the Department of Information Resources (DIR) in accordance with Government Code, Chapter 2054.

Paragraphs (b) and (c) add “capital budget items” as an appropriation category state agencies may transfer between.

This section provides an appropriation and guidance for a salary increase for state agency employees in AY 2024 and AY 2025. See Appropriations for the Salary Increase Allocation for Certain State Positions (FPP A.009).