SRC-JLB S.B. 388 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 388
78R1515 MTB-DBy: Ellis, Rodney
Government Organization
2/20/2003
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, Texas state property believed by some to be worth more than
$154 million, amounting to more than 22,000 acres, is underused.  The
General Land Office appraises certain state agency properties, determines
which are underused, and recommends sales in an annual report to the
governor and legislature.  However, the agencies may lack an incentive to
actually sell the properties, because the agencies will not receive any
financial benefit from the sale, which is directed elsewhere.  As
proposed, S.B. 388 creates the Texas Agency Infrastructure Commission,
which would investigate the number and function of state agency field
offices, recommend the colocation or closure of state field offices when
believed appropriate, and require the inclusion of detailed information
regarding the agency's real property as part of the agency's legislative
appropriations request. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to
a state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Title 10E, Government Code, by adding Chapter 2206, as
follows: 

CHAPTER 2206.  USE AND MANAGEMENT OF STATE PROPERTY

 Sec.  2206.001.  DEFINITION.  Defines "capital charge."  

Sec.  2206.002.  INFORMATION ON REAL PROPERTY.  Requires each state agency
to include, as part of its legislative appropriations request, certain
information on any real property owned by the agency. 

Sec.  2206.003.  TEXAS AGENCY INFRASTRUCTURE COMMISSION.  (a) Provides
that in this section "commission" means the Texas Agency Infrastructure
Commission (TAIC). 

(b) Provides that TAIC is created to investigate the number and function
of state agency field offices and recommend the colocation or closure of
state agency field offices, if appropriate. 

  (c) Provides that TAIC is composed of certain members.

(d) Authorizes the governor to reject the persons on a list submitted by
the house speaker under Subsection (c) (4) and require a new list to be
submitted. 

(e) Prohibits a member of TAIC from receiving compensation but provides
that the member is entitled to reimbursement, as provided by the General
Appropriations Act, for the travel expenses incurred in conducting the
business of TAIC.  Provides that the travel expenses of a member are
payable from the funds appropriated to the office of  the officer who
appointed the member, except that the expenses of a member appointed under
Subsection (c) (4) are payable from the funds appropriated to the speaker. 

(f) Requires employees of the governor's office and the asset management
division of the General Land Office to staff TAIC. 

  (g) Requires TAIC to meet at the call of the presiding officer.

(h) Requires TAIC, before September 1, 2004, to submit a report with its
findings and recommendations for state agency field offices to the
legislature, the governor, and the comptroller. 

(i) Provides that this section expires and TAIC is abolished on September
1, 2004.  

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2003.