SRC-VRA S.B. 1634 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1634
By: Staples
Government Organization
4/1/2003
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the Texas Building and Procurement Commission (TBPC) has the
ability to negotiate lease contracts on behalf of certain state agencies.
However, TBPC does not have authority to broker a lease for an agency
without a request from an agency.  As proposed, S.B. 1634 requires TBPC to
broker all state lease contracts and requires TBPC to provide an annual
report to certain executive and legislative officials on all waivers
granted to the statutorily defined 153 square foot per agency employee
limitation. 

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 Section 2165.056, Government Code, to require the Texas
Building and Procurement Commission (TBPC) to evaluate all property owned
or released by the state in accordance with this subchapter and
Subchapters A, D, E, and F without contingent requests from agencies.   

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 2165.104(c), Government Code, delete current
text relating to the ability of a state to operate outside of the 153
square foot per agency employee ratio unless TBPC provides the agency with
a waiver. 

(d)  Authorizes TBPC, upon good cause, to grant an agency a waiver when
critical to the public or client services.  Provides that the waiver is
contingent upon board approval. Requires all waivers granted to be
reported annually to certain elected officials.  Removes the automatic
exemption from the section agencies with fewer than 16 employees.   

SECTION 3.  Effective date:  September 1, 2003.