SRC-MAX H.B. 255 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterH.B. 255 By: Denny (Haywood) State Affairs 4-25-97 Committee Report (Amended) DIGEST The Travel Management Section of the General Services Commission (GSC) provides centralized management and coordination of state business travel. The Travel Management Section administers the State Travel Management Program (STMP), which is designed to help state agencies manage state travel expenditures, monitor the state's travel activity, and provide travel services to state agencies, resulting in a more efficient use of taxpayer dollars. This bill authorizes GSC to provide certain law enforcement officers with reduced rates when traveling on felony fugitive retrieval. PURPOSE As proposed, H.B. 255 authorizes certain law enforcement authorities and probation officers to receive reduced airline fares while engaged in certain official duties. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY Rulemaking authority is granted to the General Services Commission in SECTION 2 (Sec. 2171.055, Government Code) of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 2171.055, Government Code, as follows: Sec. 2171.055. New heading: PARTICIPATION IN TRAVEL SERVICE CONTRACTS SECTION 2. Amends Section 2171.055, Government Code, by adding Subsection (e), to authorize certain authorities who are transporting a state prisoner under a felony warrant to participate in the General Services Commission's (GSC) contract for travel services for purposes of obtaining reduced airline fares for the law enforcement or probation officer and the prisoner. Authorizes GSC to charge a participating county a certain fee. Requires GSC to periodically review fees and to adjust the fees as needed to ensure recovery of costs incurred in providing services to counties. Requires GSC to adopt rules and make or amend contracts as necessary to administer this subsection. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1997. SECTION 4. Emergency clause. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES Amendment 1. Page 1, line 12, strike "an adult or."