BILL ANALYSIS


                                                    C.S.S.B. 1295
                                                     By: Montford
                                                    State Affairs
                                                          4-23-95
                                   Committee Report (Substituted)
BACKGROUND

The Travel & Transportation Division (now the Inter-Agency Services
Division) was created as part of the General Services Commission
through S.B. 115, 70th Legislature.  This statute has resulted in
only nine travel agencies receiving state contracts, and hundreds
of others being left out of the opportunity to handle state
business.

PURPOSE

As proposed, C.S.S.B. 1295 authorizes the use of the open market
purchase procedure for certain travel services.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is granted
to the General Services Commission under SECTION 1 (Section
14.02(b), Article 601b, V.T.C.S.) of this bill.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 14.02(b), Article 601b, V.T.C.S., as
follows:

     (b)  Requires the central travel office of the General
     Services Commission to negotiate contracts with private travel
     agents, with travel and transportation providers, and with
     credit card companies that provide travel services and other
     benefits to the state.  Requires the General Services
     Commission (commission) to use electronic means to solicit and
     receive bids under this subsection.  Requires the commission
     to make contracts with travel agents that meet certain
     reasonable requirements promulgated by the central travel
     office, allowing contracts to provide travel services by as
     many private travel agents as possible with preference given
     to Texas resident entities.
     
     (c)  Requires state agencies in the executive branch of state
     government to participate in accordance with commission rules
     in the commission's contracts for travel services, provided
     that all travel agents approved by the commission are
     permitted to contract with the state and provide travel
     services to all state agencies.
     
     SECTION 2.     Effective date: September 1, 1995.

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.