SRC-JRN S.B. 698 75(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 698 By: Armbrister Economic Development 3-19-97 Committee Report (Amended) DIGEST Currently, warrants may only be paid from funds appropriated to the Texas Department of Transportation (department) for construction and maintenance of highways, roads, and bridges. Existing appropriated funds for functions other than construction and maintenance of highways, roads, and bridges may not be used for the payment of certain research contracts. This bill allows the department to contract with institutions other than the university of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University for research contracts. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 698 allows the Texas Department of Transportation to contract with institutions other than the University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University for research contracts. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Sections 67.24 and 85.29, Education Code, as follows: Sec. 67.24. RESEARCH AND EXPERIMENTATION FOR TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. Authorizes the Texas Department of Transportation (department) to contract with the University of Texas at Austin (university) for the university to conduct research relating to certain topics. Provides that an agreement entered into under this section is not subject to the Interagency Cooperation Act. Authorizes the comptroller to draw certain warrants for the university through the department, rather than the Texas Department of Transportation, for certain items entered into under a contract in this section. Requires the comptroller to pay warrants issued under this section. Deletes text requiring certain types of highway activities, based on agreements between certain persons, to be paid by the state treasurer to the department, rather than the Texas Department of Transportation for the construction and maintenance of highways, roads, and bridges. Defines "department" and "transportation facilities." Makes conforming changes. Sec. 85.29. RESEARCH AND EXPERIMENTATION FOR TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. Authorizes the department to contract with the Texas A&M University System (system) or a component or agency of the system to conduct research relating to certain topics. Authorizes the comptroller to draw certain warrants for the system. Makes conforming changes. SECTION 2. Amends Title 3H, Education Code, by adding Chapter 150, as follows: CHAPTER 150. TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH Sec. 150.001. DEFINITIONS. Defines "department," "public senior college or university," and "transportation facilities." Sec. 150.002. CONTRACTS. Makes conforming changes. Sec. 150.003 PAYMENT FOR SERVICES, MATERIALS, AND EQUIPMENT. Authorizes the comptroller to draw a warrant in favor of a public senior college or university based on a voucher or claim submitted by the college or university for materials or services provided under a contract under this chapter. Requires the comptroller to pay a warrant issued under this section out of money appropriated by the legislature to the department. Provides that payments received by a public senior college or university under this section are local funds of the college or university. SECTION 3. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES SECTION 1. Amends Section 85.29, Education Code, to authorize the department to contract with a university system or, rather than for, a component or agency of the university system to conduct certain research.