SRC-TJG H.B. 898 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 898
78R6257 ESH-FBy: Hamilton, et al. (Staples)
Intergovernmental Relations
5/9/2003
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

The Central Travel Office of the Texas Building and Procurement Commission
(TBPC) negotiates with private travel agents and transportation providers
to obtain reduced travel rates for certain public employees traveling on
official business.  The law permits numerous governmental entities to take
advantage of these rates, including employees of the state's legislative
and executive branches, employees of higher education institutions, and
employees of the Employees Retirement System.  The 76th Texas Legislature
authorized county officers and employees to also participate in the
state's contract for travel services, thus reducing the cost of travel
expenses incurred by a county.  H.B. 898 allows officers and employees of
a public junior college or a school district engaged in official business
to participate in the state's travel services. This bill also limits the
amount of reimbursement that a school district or public junior college
may make to district officers or employees to the amount determined using
the state travel allowance guide. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Building and
Procurement Commission in SECTION 1 (Section 2171.055, Government Code) of
this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 2171.055, Government Code, by adding Subsection
(f) to authorize an officer or employee of a public junior college, as
defined by Section 61.003 (Definitions), Education Code, or of a school
district who is engaged in official business to participate in the Texas
Building and Procurement Commission's (TBPC) contract for travel services.
Authorizes TBPC to charge a participating public junior college or school
district a fee not to exceed the costs incurred by TBPC in providing
services under this subsection.  Requires TBPC to periodically review fees
and to adjust them as needed to ensure recovery of costs incurred in
providing services to public junior colleges and school districts under
this subsection. Requires TBPC to deposit the fees collected under this
subsection to the credit of the public education travel account.  Provides
that the public education travel account is an account in the general
revenue fund that may be appropriated only for the purposes of this
chapter.  Requires TBPC to adopt rules and make or amend contracts as
necessary to administer this subsection. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 44, Education Code, by adding
Section 44.044, as follows: 

Sec. 44.044.  LIMIT ON EXPENDITURES FOR TRAVEL SERVICES.  Prohibits a
school district or public junior college from reimbursing an officer or
employee for expenditures for travel services in excess of the applicable
amount determined using the state travel allowance guide adopted by the
comptroller of public accounts under Section 660.021 (Rules), Government
Code. 

SECTION 3.  Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 4.  Effective date: September 1, 2003.