1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to state agencies' use of special mail services. 1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-4 SECTION 1. Chapter 2176, Government Code, is amended by 1-5 adding Subchapter E to read as follows: 1-6 SUBCHAPTER E. SPECIAL MAIL SERVICES 1-7 Sec. 2176.201. USE OF CERTAIN MAIL SERVICES. 1-8 Notwithstanding another law that requires the use of certain mail 1-9 services, a state agency may use any form of mail service available 1-10 from the United States Postal Service to lower postal costs 1-11 whenever acceptable levels of accountability, timeliness, security, 1-12 and quality of service can be maintained. 1-13 Sec. 2176.202. CHANGE OF ADDRESS SERVICE. Notwithstanding 1-14 another law regarding change of address updates, a state agency may 1-15 use any change of address update service approved by the United 1-16 States Postal Service for the purpose of receiving a postal 1-17 discount rate. 1-18 Sec. 2176.203. NOTIFICATION OF SERVICE OPTIONS. The 1-19 commission shall, as part of the guidelines developed under Section 1-20 2176.105, provide information to state agencies about special mail 1-21 services offered by the United States Postal Service. The 1-22 commission shall assist a state agency in determining which service 1-23 to use, considering the state agency's needs for accountability, 1-24 timeliness, security, and quality of service. 2-1 SECTION 2. (a) Except as provided by Subsections (b) and 2-2 (c) of this section, this Act takes effect immediately. 2-3 (b) Section 2176.201, Government Code, as added by this Act, 2-4 takes effect July 1, 1997. 2-5 (c) Section 2176.203, Government Code, as added by this Act, 2-6 takes effect September 1, 1997. 2-7 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 2-8 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-9 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-10 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-11 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 2-12 and that this Act take effect and be in force according to its 2-13 terms, and it is so enacted. _______________________________ _______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House I certify that H.B. No. 3576 was passed by the House on May 14, 1997, by the following vote: Yeas 141, Nays 0, 1 present, not voting. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House I certify that H.B. No. 3576 was passed by the Senate on May 26, 1997, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. _______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: _____________________ Date _____________________ Governor