Sec. 401.043.  BUDGET HEARINGS.  (a)  After receiving the appropriation requests, the governor shall hold one or more public hearings concerning the requests.  The governor shall preside at each hearing, except that the governor may authorize any employee of the executive branch to preside and represent the governor in the governor's absence.
(b)  The head of a state agency that is seeking appropriations is entitled to speak at a hearing under this section at which the appropriation request is considered.  The governor may require the head or any employee of a state agency seeking appropriations to appear at the hearing and present information about the appropriations.  A taxpayer is entitled to participate in the discussion at a hearing under this section of any item proposed to be included in the budget under consideration.
(c)  In this section, "state agency" means a board, commission, department, or other agency in the executive or judicial branch of state government.
Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 268, Sec. 15, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.