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.