BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center                                                                                                 C.S.S.B. 696

81R27753 EAH-D                                                                                                                By: Ellis

                                                                                                                                                Finance

                                                                                                                                            4/28/2009

                                                                                                        Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

More than 5,500 parking spaces in state-owned facilities remain unused in the Austin area on a daily basis, costing the state directly in maintenance and management expenses and indirectly in potential lost revenue from maximization of the assets.  During 2007, the Texas Facilities Commission (TFC) spent $1 million on operations and utility expenses for state parking facilities.

 

C.S.S.B. 696 amends current law relating to the lease of certain state parking facilities to other persons.

 

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 the heading to Section 2165.2035, Government Code, to read as follows:

 

Sec. 2165.2035.  LEASE OF SPACE IN STATE-OWNED PARKING LOTS AND GARAGES; USE AFTER HOURS.

 

SECTION 2.  Amends Subchapter E, Chapter 2165, Government Code, by adding Sections 2165.204 and 2165.2045, as follows:

 

Sec. 2165.204.  LEASE OF SPACE IN STATE-OWNED PARKING LOTS AND GARAGES; EXCESS INDIVIDUAL PARKING SPACES.  (a) Authorizes the Texas Facilities Commission (TFC) to lease to a private individual an individual parking space in a state-owned parking lot or garage located in the city of Austin that TFC determines is not needed to accommodate the regular parking requirements of state employees who work near the lot or garage and visitors to nearby state government offices.

 

(b)  Requires that money received from a lease under this section be deposited to the credit of the general revenue fund.

 

(c)  Requires TFC, on or before December 1 of each even-numbered year, to submit a report to the legislature and the Legislative Budget Board (LBB) describing the effectiveness of the program under this section.

 

Sec. 2165.2045.  LEASE OF SPACE IN STATE-OWNED PARKING LOTS AND GARAGES; EXCESS BLOCKS OF PARKING SPACE.  (a) Authorizes TFC to lease to an institution of higher education, or a local government all or a significant block of a state-owned parking lot or garage located in the city of Austin that TFC determines is not needed to accommodate the regular parking requirements of state employees who work near the lot or garage and visitors to nearby state government offices.

 

(b)  Requires that money received from a lease under this section be deposited to the credit of the general revenue fund.

 

(c)  Requires TFC, on or before December 1 of each even-numbered year, to submit a report to the legislature and LBB describing the effectiveness of the program under this section.

 

SECTION 3.  (a)  Defines "commission."

 

(b)  Requires TFC to conduct a study on the actual usage of state parking facilities by state employees.  Requires TFC in conducting the study, to consider certain information for each state parking facility under TFC's charge and control, and develop recommendations for the redevelopment of significantly underused parking facilities to purposes more suited to the efficient administration of state government.

 

(c)  Requires TFC, not later than September 1, 2010, to report the results of the study conducted under this section to the governor and LBB.

 

(d)  Provides that this section expires January 1, 2011.

 

SECTION 4.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2009.