TDLR met on September 10 to discuss and approve the agencies LAR request for FY 2022-2023 and receive public comment. The agenda can be found here, and a video of the meeting can be found here.
The HillCo report below is a summary of remarks intended to give you an overview and highlight of the discussions on the various topics discussed. This report is not a verbatim transcript; it is based upon what was audible or understandable to the observer and the desire to get details out as quickly as possible with few errors or omissions.
Agenda Item 1: Discussion and approval of agency’s Legislative Appropriations Request for Fiscal Years 2022-2023 including update from the Sunset, Strategic Plan, Legislative Appropriations Request Work Group
- Francis – Provides an overview of the LAR for the next biennium and the administrator’s statement
- Francis – Went through a 5% budget reduction as requested by the Governor due to COVID-19; outlined what has been cut at a previous meeting
- Francis – Have a section for COVID-19 that outlines TDLR’s response
- Francis – Currently in the Sunset Review process
- Francis – One section provides a plan on how TDLR could lower their fees
- Francis – Exceptional Items in order of importance:
- Funding for phase II of the IT system (build an inspection component, would eliminate one-time legacy systems)
- Asking legislature to restore some of the 5% reduction for key areas (Texas occupational licensing is falling behind; need to continue those efforts and ensure support of military personnel)
- Recently froze 6 of the 9 positions; asking l to restore funding for three of those positions tied to the Motorcycle Safety Program
- MSP is funded by the revenue generated by motorcycle license renewals; asking for $750,000 a year to fund education elements, awareness campaigns, etc.
- Asking legislature to give us funding to anticipate any retirements we could have in 2022-2023 (determined 30-40% of 60 employees plan to retire in that time period)
- Arismendez – Provides an overview of the budget summary
- Arismendez – In FY 2019 and FY 2020, base request was more than $85 million
- Arismendez – Now requesting more than $86 million for FY 2022 and FY 2023
- Arismendez – For the exceptional items, requesting more than $4.2 million
- Arismendez – The base total plus exceptional items: requesting approximately $91.1 million
- Arismendez – Provides an overview of the LAR riders
- Arismendez – Have not allocated any monies for committee members to be reimbursed, but updated rider to include all committees to be eligible for travel expenses reimbursement
- Arismendez – Changed elevator appropriated receipts rider to be able to take excess money from the program and use it for elevator-related expenditures
- Arismendez – Removed the rider that requires human trafficking FTEs and appropriations to be used for inspections and enforcement actions
- Arismendez – Added rider to obtain funding to pay retirement payouts in 2022-2023
- Arismendez – Added rider to allow grant funding allocated for 2022 but not spent to be available in 2023
- Members unanimously approved the LAR request as presented
Agenda Item 2: Public Comment
Dan Hart, Self
- Discusses how TDLR should protect Texans from unlicensed property tax consultants
Angela Freestone, Cosmetology Educators of Texas
- Wanted to address the Sunset recommendation to eliminate certain cosmetology instructor licenses
- These licenses and classes are necessary for the field
Andrew Alexander, Self
- Raised previous concerns about certain TDLR electronic communication systems that are not working
Agenda Item 3: Planning for Future Commission Meetings
- Next meeting is September 29