1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to permitting certain law enforcement authorities and

 1-3     probation officers to receive reduced airline fares while engaged

 1-4     in certain official duties.

 1-5           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-6           SECTION 1.  The heading to Section 2171.055, Government Code,

 1-7     is amended to read as follows:

 1-8           Sec. 2171.055.  PARTICIPATION [BY STATE AGENCIES] IN TRAVEL

 1-9     SERVICES CONTRACTS.

1-10           SECTION 2.  Section 2171.055, Government Code, is amended by

1-11     adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:

1-12           (e)  A county sheriff or deputy sheriff or juvenile probation

1-13     officer who is transporting a state prisoner under a felony warrant

1-14     may participate in the commission's contract for travel services

1-15     for purposes of obtaining reduced airline fares for the law

1-16     enforcement or probation officer and the prisoner.  The commission

1-17     may charge a participating county a fee not to exceed the costs

1-18     incurred by the commission in providing services under this

1-19     subsection.  The commission shall periodically review fees and

1-20     shall adjust them as needed to ensure recovery of costs incurred in

1-21     providing services to counties under this subsection.  The

1-22     commission shall adopt rules and make or amend contracts as

1-23     necessary to administer this subsection.

1-24           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

 2-1           SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the

 2-2     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

 2-3     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 2-4     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

 2-5     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.

         _______________________________     _______________________________

             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 255 was passed by the House on April

         11, 1997, by a non-record vote; and that the House concurred in

         Senate amendments to H.B. No. 255 on May 12, 1997, by a non-record

         vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 255 was passed by the Senate, with

         amendments, on May 8, 1997, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays

         0.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Secretary of the Senate

         APPROVED:  _____________________

                            Date

                    _____________________

                          Governor