SRC-VRA S.B. 304 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 304 78R2877 MXM-DBy: Brimer Intergovernmental Relations 3/11/2003 As Filed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, the Central Travel Office of the Texas Building and Procurement Commission is authorized to negotiate with private travel agents and transportation providers to develop reduced travel rates for certain public employees traveling on official business. As proposed, S.B. 304 would extend the benefit of negotiated travel service contracts to municipal employees who, like many other government employees, are required to travel on official business. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Building and Procurement Commission in SECTION 1 (Section 2171.055, Government Code) in this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 2171.055, Government Code, by adding Subsection (f), as follows: (f) Authorizes a municipal officer or employee who is engaged in official municipal business to participate in the Texas Building and Procurement Commission's (TBPC) contract for travel services for the purpose of obtaining reduced airline fares and reduced travel agent fees. Authorizes TBPC to charge a participating municipality 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 municipalities under this subsection. Requires TBPC to deposit the fees collected under this subsection to the credit of the municipality airline fares account. Provides that the municipality airline fares 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. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003.