Enrolled Bill Summary

            House Bill 733 amends State Purchasing and General Services Act provisions relating to leasing space in state-owned buildings to private tenants and certain governmental entities. The act requires the General Services Commission to include in its master facilities plan an inventory of all state-owned space available for private lease, determine the feasibility of leasing to private tenants, and examine the extent to which leasing maximizes building use. The commission may not include contract provisions in a private lease that diminishes the value of lease space of neighboring private property.

            House Bill 733 authorizes state agencies with charge and control of state buildings to enter into lease agreements with federal entities, state entities, and political subdivisions of the state. The act removes some limitations on the amount, location, and use of leased space and extends to state agencies with management control of state buildings authority to determine the amount of lease space available and the types of tenant activities allowed. The act also provides immunity from liability for the commission in relation to a private tenant lease, establishes provisions for short-term leases, and provides for half of the money from short-term leases to be deposited in the general revenue fund.

            In addition, House Bill 733 establishes a pilot program for leasing state-owned parking facilities in the city of Austin in the area around the 4th Street entertainment district. The commission is required to contract with a private parking vendor to manage the commercial use of state-owned parking facilities, pilot program proceeds go to the general revenue fund, and state employees who work other than regular office hours retain their parking privileges. The pilot program is exempt from the 15 percent cap placed on private lease space in state-owned facilities.