Guest Blog: The Sunset Process
Amy Trost
Senior Policy Analyst, Sunset Advisory Commission
April 25, 2014
Since its creation by the Texas Legislature in 1977, the Sunset Advisory Commission's purpose has been to look closely at the performance of state agencies. Through the Sunset process, a date is set on which an agency will be abolished – hence the name Sunset – unless legislation is passed to continue its functions. This creates a unique opportunity for the Legislature to look closely at each agency and make fundamental changes if needed.
The Commission is composed of five state senators, five state representatives, and two public members, and employs a staff of 32. About 130 agencies go through the Sunset process, typically every 12 years.
The process has three main steps:
- Sunset staff performs extensive research and analysis to evaluate the need for, performance of, and improvements to the agency under review.
- The Sunset Commission conducts a public hearing to take testimony on the staff report and the agency overall. Later, the Commission meets again to vote on which changes to recommend to the full Legislature.
- The full Legislature considers Sunset recommendations and makes final determinations.
Over its history, the Sunset process has abolished 79 agencies, including 37 that were completely abolished and 42 that were abolished with certain functions transferred to other agencies. Sunset has a return of $25 for each dollar spent reviewing agencies.
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What's happening right now with Sunset? Since early October 2013, Sunset staff has been busy researching Texas’ five health and human services agencies – the Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS), Department of State Health Services (DSHS), Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS), and the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). As part of its research, staff sent a survey to more than 2,000 stakeholders, and has also been evaluating information from extensive interviews with agency personnel, performance reports, operational data, and other sources. Critical dates for the public to give input and stay informed are:
- May 22- Sunset staff plans to release reports on the first four agencies listed above.
- June 24 & 25 (tentative)- A Sunset Commission hearing on these reports and agencies is tentatively scheduled in Austin. The hearing is open to the public, and the Commission welcomes testimony.
- August 13 (tentative)- The Commission is scheduled to make decisions on recommendations affecting the agencies. This hearing is also open to the public, but the Commission will not be taking testimony.
- October (dates to be finalized)- After release of the May reports, Sunset staff will continue researching the HHSC, along with any issues that affect more than one agency in the health and human services system. Staff will release this report in October to be followed by public hearings later in the fall.
More information about the Sunset process, including how to participate and important hearing dates, can be found at www.sunset.texas.gov.
About Amy
Amy Trost is a Senior Policy Analyst at the Sunset Advisory Commission where she has worked since August 2000. She holds an MPA from the University of Pittsburgh and a BA from Mount Holyoke College. She can be reached at amy.trost@sunset.state.tx.us.
