Guide to the Sunset Review Process in Texas -- Understanding How State Agencies' Fates are Determined

Recently, I have spent alot of time and space discussing the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission's staff recommendation to abolish the Texas Residential Construction Commission. To fully appreciate the significance of this recommendation, you should know a little about the Sunsetters, and their function and procedures.

The Sunset Advisory Commission defines itself as follows:

In 1977, the Texas Legislature created the Sunset Advisory Commission to identify and eliminate waste, duplication, and inefficiency in government agencies. The 12-member Commission is a legislative body that reviews the policies and programs of more than 150 government agencies every 12 years. The Commission questions the need for each agency, looks for potential duplication of other public services or programs, and considers new and innovative changes to improve each agency's operations and activities. The Commission seeks public input through hearings on every agency under Sunset review and recommends actions on each agency to the full Legislature. In most cases, agencies under Sunset review are automatically abolished unless legislation is enacted to continue them.

For a more detailed review of the Sunset Review Process, read this Gudie to the Sunset Review Process published by the Commission, itself.

If you have an experience with the TRCC that you would like to share with the members of the Sunset Advisory Commission (all elected Legislators), I highly encourage you to do so before the next Legislative Session, which begins in January 2009. Comments directed to the Sunset Commission can be submitted electronically by clicking here.