C.S.H.B. 3045 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS C.S.H.B. 3045 By: Cook, Robby Government Reform Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The Texas Building and Procurement Commission (Commission) has planning and oversight responsibilities for assigning/allocating space to all agencies under Article I, II, V, VI, and VIII of the General Appropriations Act. The Commission evaluates and makes a decision on all requests for allocation, relinquishment, or modifications to state leased or owned facilities. Currently, the amount of space that agencies have been provided is in excess of the true needs of the agencies and their employees. The bill lowers the limitation on the amount of space that may be allocated to a state agency facility to an average of 135 square feet per agency employee. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 2165.104 (c) of the Government Code by changing the limitation on the allocation of space to an average of 135 square feet per employee from 153 square feet per agency employee. This section is also amended to add that for small agencies, the commission may determine non-applicability of the allocation. Specific exemptions were deleted from this section, and it was amended to add that the Commission may determine when it is not practical to apply this subsection. SECTION 2. Requires the Commission to determine whether it would be cost-effective to bring its current allocation of space into compliance with the revision made in Section 1 of this Act. SECTION 3. Effective Date. EFFECTIVE DATE This Act takes effect September 1, 2003. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE The substitute modifies the original bill by giving the Commission the ability to determine the applicability of Section 2165.104(c) in certain instances. The substitute clarifies that the provisions only apply to leases entered into or renewed on or after September 1, 2003. The substitute provides that the Commission must conduct a cost-benefit analysis to determine if there would be savings to the State to have the new provision apply to leases entered into or renewed before September 1, 2003.