BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 4414

By: Taylor

State Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

During the 76th Legislature, Regular Session, 1999, legislation was passed which required the state's office of vehicle fleet management to develop detailed recommendations for improving the efficiency of the state's vehicle fleet operations, including the outsourcing of operation and management where appropriate.  The legislation also required each state agency to adopt rules relating to the assignment and use of the agency's vehicles. 

However, according to Texas Department of Transportation district equipment shops, the rules mandate mileage usage or the vehicles will be sold or moved to other areas of the state in need of additional vehicles.  Thus, state vehicles are more likely to be driven at unnecessary times to try to meet minimum mileage standards. 

H.B. 4414 subjects the office of vehicle fleet management in the office of the comptroller of public accounts to the Texas Sunset Act as if it were a state agency, and provides for the abolition of that office on September 1, 2011, unless continued.  The bill requires the Sunset Advisory Commission, in its review of the office, to provide an analysis of the practical effect of rules adopted by state agencies relating to the assignment and use of agency vehicles. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 4414 amends the Government Code to establish that the office of vehicle fleet management in the office of the comptroller of public accounts is subject to the Texas Sunset Act as if the office of vehicle fleet management were a state agency.  The bill provides that the office is abolished, and related law expires, September 1, 2011, unless the office is continued in existence as provided by that act.

H.B. 4414 requires the comptroller's office, to the extent that the Texas Sunset Act imposes a duty on a state agency under review, to perform that duty as it relates to the office of vehicle fleet management.

H.B. 4414 requires the Sunset Advisory Commission to include in its review an analysis of the practical effect of certain rules adopted by state agencies relating to the assignment and use of agency vehicles.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the act does not receive the necessary vote, the act takes effect September 1, 2009.