SRC-JBJ H.B. 3125 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 3125
By: Chisum (Fraser)
State Affairs
5/13/1999
Engrossed


DIGEST 

Currently, state vehicle fleets are operated in a decentralized manner.
While the General Services Commission's office of vehicle fleet management
(office) is authorized to collect data on agency vehicles, no single entity
has oversight responsibilities for the entire state fleet.  Instead, each
agency manages its own fleet.  This can be inefficient, as evidenced by the
fact that Texas spent seven cents more per mile in 1996 to operate its
vehicles than the federal government.  H.B. 3125 would require the office
to develop detailed recommendations for improving the efficiency of the
state's vehicle fleet operations, including the out-sourcing of operations
and management where appropriate. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 3125 establishes a management plan for vehicles owned and
purchased by the state. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is granted to each state agency in SECTION 2 (Section
2171.1045(a), Government Code) of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 2171.101, Government Code, by adding Subsections
(d) and (e), to require the office of vehicle fleet management (office) to
file an annual report with the legislature containing vehicle information
and the names of state agencies that fail to report the vehicle
information. Requires the office to review the operations of each state
agency's vehicle fleet and to report to the legislature by a certain date
the status of the agency's vehicle fleet and the office's recommendations
to improve operations of the fleet. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Chapter 2171C, Government Code, by adding Sections
2171.104, 2171.1045, and 2171.105, as follows: 

Sec. 2171.104.  MANAGEMENT PLAN.  Requires the office to develop a
management plan with detailed recommendations for improving the
administration and operations of the fleet. Requires the assistance for the
preparation of the fleet plan by the Texas Department of Transportation,
Department of Public Safety, Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental
Retardation, Parks and Wildlife Department, and Texas Department of
Criminal Justice.  Sets forth information that must be contained in the
fleet plan.  Requires the General Services Commission (commission) to sell
the excess vehicles identified by the plan and deposit the proceeds for the
sale into the account that the agency used to purchase the vehicles. 

Sec. 2171.1045.  RESTRICTIONS ON ASSIGNMENT OF VEHICLES.  Requires each
state agency to adopt rules, consistent with the management plan adopted
under Section 2171.104 relating to the assignment and use of its vehicles.
Sets forth policies which the rules must address. 

Sec. 2171.105.  PURCHASE OF VEHICLES PROHIBITED.  Prohibits a state agency
from purchasing a vehicle before June 1, 2000, unless the purchase is
approved by the commission or as provided in Subsections (b) and (c).
Authorizes the agency to purchase a vehicle on or after that date, as
provided by the plan.  Authorizes an agency to purchase a vehicle for law
enforcement, emergency, or safety purposes or for performing crash tests or
related research. Authorizes an agency to purchase heavy equipment,
including certain construction equipment,  if the agency has purchased
heavy equipment in previous years.  Provides that this section expires
September 1, 2001. 

SECTION 3.(a)  Effective date: September 1, 1999.  

(b)  Requires the office to prepare the plan and present it to the
legislature by May 31, 2000.   

(c)  Requires the commission to sell the excess vehicles identified by the
plan by August 31, 2001. 

SECTION 4.Emergency clause.