BILL ANALYSIS S.B. 1070 By: Harris Administration 3-23-95 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND In March 1991, the staff of the Texas Legislative Council concluded a study of anticipated space needs for the legislature and legislative agencies. The study concluded that, by the time the Capitol restoration and extension projects were completed, space available in the Capitol Complex would be inadequate for the needs of the governmental entities housed there. The 73rd Legislature secured the former State Board of Insurance Building and authorized $46 million in bonds for the purchase and renovation of the Texas Employment Commission Buildings near the complex for legislative use. Funds were also authorized for remodeling of the Sam Houston Building. Following the 73rd Legislature, the lieutenant governor and speaker designated representatives of their staffs to work with legislative council and legislative budget board staff as a legislative space-management working group to make recommendations to address space needs of the legislature and legislative agencies housed in the complex. The group identified a need for at least 225,000 additional usable square feet of office space in close proximity to the Capitol Complex over the next 25 years. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 1070 authorizes the approval of space to be allocated by the legislature for the use by the legislature and legislative agencies. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 4.01(b-1), Article 601b, V.T.C.S. (State Purchasing and General Services Act), as follows: (b-1) Allocates the space in the old State Board of Insurance State Office Building, located on San Jacinto Street between 11th and 12th streets in Austin, the Sam Houston Building, and the John H. Reagan Building to the legislature and legislative agencies for their use. Allocates, upon written notice signed by both presiding officers (officers) and delivered to the General Services Commission (commission), the Lorenzo de Zavala State Library and Archives Building, Stephen F. Austin Building, Lyndon B. Johnson Building, and William B. Travis Building to the legislature and legislative agencies to the extent described in the notice. Requires the commission to begin immediately to undertake the relocation of agencies occupying space in buildings allocated to legislative use. Requires the space to be made available for legislative use on a date determined by the presiding officers. Requires the officers of each house of the legislature to jointly decide the allocation of the space within each building. SECTION 2. Amends Section 27, Article 601d, V.T.C.S., as follows: Sec. 27. (a) Approves the estimated cost of $46,000,000 for the construction of a legislative services office building and parking facilities and authorizes bonds to be issued to finance the construction in accordance with Section 10 of this Act. Deletes requirements for the Texas Employment Commission to sell to the commission office buildings and parking facilities in its possession in or near the Capitol Complex. (b) Allocates the space in the office building and parking facilities to the legislature and legislative agencies for their use. Deletes existing Subsection (b) which authorizes the commission to renovate the facilities as necessary for occupancy in accordance with the allocation of space within the building and the commission's requirement to consider the cost to the Texas Employment Commission of alternative space outside the Capitol Complex. SECTION 3. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.