Sunset Advisory Commission
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| Formation | 1977 |
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| Type | Legislative commission |
| Purpose | Review of state agencies |
| Headquarters | 1501 N. Congress Ave, 6th Floor Austin, Texas 78701 |
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Region served
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State of Texas |
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Chair
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Larry Gonzales (2016-2017) |
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Main organ
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Commission of ten state legislators & two members of the public |
| Website | www |
The Sunset Advisory Commission is an agency of the Texas Legislature that makes recommendations to the Legislature on whether to continue various state agencies. It is headquartered in the Robert E. Johnson State Office Building in Austin.
As of the 84th Legislative Session in 2015, the commission has abolished 83 state agencies. Of that total, 37 agencies were completely abolished and 46 had their functions transferred to existing or newly created agencies.
The Commission was created in 1977 under the auspices of the Texas Sunset Act (now codified as Chapter 325 of the Texas Government Code).
The Commission consists of twelve members, ten of whom are legislators and the remaining two are members of the general public. The leader of each chamber of the Legislature (the Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives and the Lieutenant Governor of Texas, who presides over the Texas Senate) each appoint five legislators and one public member to serve on the Commission. The chair and vice-chair rotate annually between the two chambers. The Commission appoints a director, who hires staff to carry out agency duties.
Under the Act, every state agency (excluding universities, courts, agencies mandated under the Texas Constitution, or those specifically exempted by other Legislative action) has a specific date on which it will automatically be abolished, unless the Legislature passes specific legislation continuing the agency's existence. This issue came into play during the 2009 Legislative session, when the session adjourned without the Legislature providing for the continued existence of several agencies (among them the Texas Department of Transportation, the state's largest), thus requiring the Governor to call a special session.
Prior to the scheduled cessation date of an agency, the agency's functions are scheduled for review by the Commission. Each agency provides to the Commission a Self-Evaluation Report; the Commission staff prepares its recommendations (coordinating with other state oversight agencies, such as the State Auditor's Office and the Legislative Budget Board) and takes public comments. A final public hearing is held prior to the Commission making its final recommendations to the Legislature. The final recommendation can be any of the following:
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