By:  Lucio                                            S.B. No. 1515
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the acquisition of vehicles by the Texas Department of
 1-3     Transportation.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subchapter I, Chapter 201, Transportation Code,
 1-6     is amended by adding Section 201.7055 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 201.7055.  ACQUISITION OF DEPARTMENT VEHICLES.  (a)  As
 1-8     an alternative to purchasing a vehicle, the department may acquire
 1-9     a vehicle for the department's use through a lease, including a
1-10     standard lease, a lease with an option to purchase, and a purchase
1-11     buy-back program.
1-12           (b)  The amount spent on vehicle acquisitions using the
1-13     methods authorized in Subsection (a) in a fiscal year may not
1-14     exceed 5 percent of the amount spent on all vehicle acquisitions by
1-15     the department in the previous fiscal year without the approval of
1-16     the governor and the Legislative Budget Board.
1-17           SECTION 2.  The Texas Department of Transportation shall
1-18     study the feasibility of using the acquisition methods authorized
1-19     by Section 201.7055, Transportation Code, as added by this Act, and
1-20     shall file its written findings with the lieutenant governor and
1-21     the speaker of the house of representatives not later than January
1-22     1, 2003.
1-23           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
1-24     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
1-25     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
 2-1     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
 2-2     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.