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.