BILL ANALYSIS


                                                        S.B. 1489
                                                      By: Ratliff
                                                        Education
                                                         04-20-95
                                     Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND

Currently, the Texas Department of Transportation may only enter
into research agreements with the University of Texas at Austin and
with the Texas A&M University System.  Any other state-supported
university capable of providing research for the department can do
so only by following the procedures outlined in the Interagency
Cooperation Act.

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 1489 authorizes the Texas Department of
Transportation to enter into agreements with other state-supported
universities that have the capability to provide quality research.

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 67.24, Education Code, as follows:

     Sec.  67.24.  (a)  Authorizes the state comptroller of public
     accounts (comptroller) to draw proper warrants in favor of the
     University of Texas at Austin (UT-Austin) based on vouchers or
     claims submitted by the UT-Austin through the Texas Department
     of Transportation (department) covering reasonable fees and
     charges for services rendered by members of the staff of the
     University of Texas System to the department and for equipment
     and materials necessary for research and experimentation in
     all phases of transportation, activity, economics, materials,
     specifications, design of transportation facilities,
     including, but not limited to, roadways and airports,
     construction, maintenance, pavement and structures, drainage,
     traffic control, safety, the economics of transportation
     facility design and construction, and other fields of
     transportation system and facility planning, design,
     construction, maintenance, or operation, based on an agreement
     between the department and the university.  Makes conforming
     and nonsubstantive changes.
     
     (b)  Defines "transportation facilities."
       
       (c)  Authorizes the department to contract with the
       university for research conducted by the university as
       authorized by this section.
       
       (d)  Provides that an agreement entered into under this
       chapter is not subject to the Interagency Cooperation Act,
       Chapter 771, Government Code.
     SECTION 2.     Amends Section 85.29, Education Code, to make conforming
changes.

SECTION 3. Amends Title 3H, Education Code, by adding Chapter 150,
as follows:

              CHAPTER 150.  TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH

     Sec.  150.001.  Defines "department," "public senior college
     or university," and  "transportation facilities."
     
     Sec.  150.003.  Authorizes the comptroller to draw proper
     warrants in favor of any public senior college or university
     based on vouchers or claims submitted by the university or
     college through the department covering reasonable system
     charges for services rendered by members of the staff of the
     university or college to the department and for equipment and
     materials necessary for research and experimentation in all
     phases of transportation activity, economics, materials,
     specifications, design of transportation facilities roadways,
     construction, maintenance, pavement and structures, drainage,
     traffic control, safety, the economics of transportation
     facility highway design and construction, and other fields of
     transportation system and facility planning, design,
     construction, maintenance, or operation, based on an agreement
     between the department and the university or college.
     
     Sec.  150.005.  Requires the state treasurer to pay warrants
     so issued against any funds appropriated by the legislature to
     the department.  Requires the payments made to the university
     or college to be credited and deposited to local institutional
     funds under its control.
     
     Sec.  150.007.  Authorizes the department to contract with a
     public senior college or university for research conducted by
     an institution as authorized by this chapter.
     
     Sec.  150.009.  Provides that an agreement entered into under
     this chapter is not subject to the Interagency Cooperation
     Act, Chapter 771, Government Code.
     
          SECTION 4.     Emergency clause.
           Effective date:  90 days after adjournment.