74R13202 MJW-F
          By Montford                                           S.B. No. 1295
          Substitute the following for S.B. No. 1295:
          By Black                                          C.S.S.B. No. 1295
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to use of the open market purchase procedure for certain
    1-3  state travel services and to sunsetting the General Services
    1-4  Commission's provision of certain travel services.
    1-5        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-6        SECTION 1.  Section 14.02, State Purchasing and General
    1-7  Services Act (Article 601b, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is
    1-8  amended by amending Subsections (b) and (c) and adding Subsections
    1-9  (f) and (g) to read as follows:
   1-10        (b)  The office shall <may> negotiate contracts with private
   1-11  travel agents, with travel and transportation providers, and with
   1-12  credit card companies that provide travel services and other
   1-13  benefits to the state.  To the greatest extent possible, the
   1-14  commission shall use electronic means to solicit and receive bids
   1-15  under this subsection.   The commission shall make contracts with
   1-16  travel agents that meet certain reasonable requirements, including
   1-17  requirements relating to cost savings to the state, promulgated by
   1-18  the central travel office, allowing contracts to provide travel
   1-19  services by as many private travel agents as possible with
   1-20  preference given to Texas resident entities <more than one provider
   1-21  of travel agency services>.  Contracts entered into under this
   1-22  section are not subject to the competitive bidding requirements
   1-23  imposed under Article 3 of this Act.  The comptroller of public
   1-24  accounts shall audit travel vouchers in accordance with Chapter
    2-1  403, Government Code, and its subsequent amendments, for compliance
    2-2  with rules adopted to enforce the provisions of this section.
    2-3        (c)  State agencies in the executive branch of state
    2-4  government shall participate in accordance with commission rules in
    2-5  the commission's contracts for travel services, provided that all
    2-6  travel agents approved by the commission are permitted to contract
    2-7  with the state and provide travel services to all state agencies.
    2-8  Institutions of higher education as defined by Section 61.003,
    2-9  Education Code, shall not be required to participate in the
   2-10  commission's contracts for travel agency services or other travel
   2-11  services purchased from funds other than general revenue funds or
   2-12  educational and general funds as defined by Section 51.009,
   2-13  Education Code.  The commission may provide by rule for exemptions
   2-14  from required participation.  Agencies of the state that are not
   2-15  required to participate in commission contracts for travel services
   2-16  may participate as provided by Subsection (a) of this section.
   2-17        (f)  A local law enforcement officer or employee who is
   2-18  transporting a state prisoner under a felony warrant may
   2-19  participate in the commission's contract for travel services for
   2-20  purposes of obtaining reduced airline fares for the officer or
   2-21  employee and the prisoner.  The commission shall adopt rules and
   2-22  make or amend contracts as necessary to administer this subsection.
   2-23        (g)  The commission's program relating to travel administered
   2-24  by the central travel office under this section is subject to
   2-25  review under Chapter 325, Government Code (Texas Sunset Act), as if
   2-26  it were a state agency subject to review under that chapter.  If
   2-27  the commission's program relating to travel administered by the
    3-1  central travel office under this section is not continued in
    3-2  existence in accordance with that chapter, the program is abolished
    3-3  and this section expires September 1, 1997.  To the extent that
    3-4  Chapter 325, Government Code (Texas Sunset Act), places a duty on a
    3-5  state agency subject to review under that chapter, the commission
    3-6  shall perform the duty as it relates to the commission's program
    3-7  relating to travel administered by the central travel office under
    3-8  this section.
    3-9        SECTION 2.  In no event may the General Services Commission
   3-10  hire new employees as a result of the changes in law made by this
   3-11  Act.
   3-12        SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1995.
   3-13        SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the
   3-14  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   3-15  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   3-16  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   3-17  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.