SRC-TNM S.B. 996 75(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 996 By: Harris Administration 3-22-97 As Filed DIGEST Currently, Texas law allows the General Services Commission (GSC) to donate surplus and salvage equipment to various nonprofit organizations, including schools. However, GSC has no jurisdiction over legislative equipment. During the recent interim, the Senate Administration Committee recommended that the Legislative Council be given the authority to donate to public schools surplus and salvage legislative computer equipment. Because of the pace of technological changes, equipment with substantial useful life and educational value decreases in value when withdrawn from daily legislative use. Requests and inquiries from public schools have shown that the used equipment is useful to schools for teaching computer skills. S.B. 996 would allow for the donation of used computer equipment to public schools in order to support technology education. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 996 outlines provisions regarding the donation of certain surplus or salvage state property. 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 Section 2175.301, Government Code, by adding Subsection (c), to require an agency in the legislative branch to dispose of its surplus or salvage property under a disposition system established by the agency. Provides that this chapter does not apply to the agency's disposition of its surplus or salvage property under that system. Requires that system to give preference to transferring the property directly to a public school, another public governmental agency, or an assistance organization, in order of priority. SECTION 2. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.