How is an Agency Scheduled for Review Under Sunset?
About 150 state agencies are subject to the Texas Sunset Act. The Sunset Act, which became effective in August 1977, specifies each agency’s review date. Agencies under Sunset typically undergo review once every twelve years. Certain agencies, such as universities and courts, are not subject to the Sunset Act. Some constitutionally created agencies, such as the Board of Pardons and Paroles and the Board of Trustees of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas, are subject to Sunset review but not abolishment. Generally, the Legislature groups and schedules agencies for review by function to allow the examination of all major state policies related to a particular function at once, such as health and human services, natural resources, and financial regulation. About 20 to 30 agencies go through the Sunset process each legislative session. The Legislature may change the review schedule to enable a close look at certain agencies. By using the Sunset process to examine agencies that are of sp
