By Stiles H.B. No. 3576 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 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. Title 10, Subtitle D, Chapter 2176, Government 1-5 Code is amended by adding new Subchapter E to read as follows: 1-6 SUBCHAPTER E. SPECIAL MAIL SERVICES 1-7 Sec. 2176.175. USE OF CERTAIN MAILING SERVICES. 1-8 Notwithstanding any requirements in state law to use certain 1-9 mailing services, a state agency may, for the purpose of lowering 1-10 postal costs, utilize any form of mailing service available from 1-11 the United States Postal Service, provided such other service is 1-12 consistent with the level of accountability, timeliness, security, 1-13 and quality of service of mailing services otherwise specified in 1-14 state law. 1-15 Sec. 2176.176. CHANGE OF ADDRESS SERVICES. Notwithstanding 1-16 any requirements in state law regarding change of address updates, 1-17 a state agency may utilize any change of address update service 1-18 approved by the United States Postal Service for the purpose of 1-19 receiving a postal discount rate. 1-20 Sec. 2176.177. NOTIFICATION OF SERVICE OPTIONS. The 1-21 commission shall, as part of guidelines developed pursuant to 1-22 Section 2176.105 of this chapter, provide information to state 1-23 agencies about special mailing services offered by the United 1-24 States Postal Service. The commission shall assist state agencies 2-1 in determining which service to use consistent with agency needs 2-2 for accountability, timeliness, security, and quality of service. 2-3 SECTION 2. EFFECTIVE DATE. (a) Section 2176.175 of the 2-4 Government Code in Section 1 of this Act, takes effect on July 1, 2-5 1997, the day on which the United States Post Office new mailing 2-6 rates are issued. 2-7 (b) Section 2176.176 of the Government Code in Section 1 of 2-8 this Act, takes effect immediately. 2-9 (c) Section 2176.177 of the Government Code in Section 1 of 2-10 this Act, takes effect September 1, 1997. 2-11 SECTION 3. EMERGENCY. The importance of this legislation 2-12 and the crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-13 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-14 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-15 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 2-16 and that this Act take effect and be in force according to its 2-17 terms, and it is so enacted.