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.