H.B. 1061 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


H.B. 1061
By: Griggs
Government Reform
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 
       
The Central Travel Office of the Texas Building and Procurement Commission
(commission) 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 Employee Retirement System.  The 76th
Legislature passed SB 204, authorizing 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. 

Based on the inclusiveness of the statute, it seems logical to extend
these cost-saving benefits to municipal employees as well, since they are
required to travel, sometimes extensively, on official business.  Travel
expenses can represent a sizable portion of a municipal budget and an
everincreasing expense to the taxpayers.  Allowing municipalities to
participate in travel service contracts could significantly reduce expense
to local governments, as well as potentially strengthen the state's
negotiating position by increasing the volume of travelers pooled. 

HB 1061 would allow municipal employees and officers to participate in the
state's travel pool to obtain rates for official travel duties. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly
granted to the Texas Building and Procurement Commission in SECTION
1(Section 2171.055, Government Code) of this bill. 

ANALYSIS

SECTION  1 - Amends Section 2171.055, Government Code, by adding
Subsection (f), which allows municipal officers or employees to utilize
the commission's contract for reduced airline and travel agent fees when
traveling on official municipal business.  The commission may charge a
municipality an adjustable fee that does not exceed the commission's cost.
Directs the commission to deposit fees to a municipality airline fares
account in the general revenue fund, and makes those funds only useable
for purposes of this chapter.  Directs the commission to adopt rules and
make or amend contracts as necessary. 

SECTION 2 - Effective date.

EFFECTIVE DATE

This Act has immediate effect if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all
members elected to each house.  If this Act does not receive the vote
necessary for immediate effect, it takes effect September 1, 2003.