BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 1264
81R2009 MTB-F By: Watson
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
The Government Code regulates the use of contract travel services by state officials and employees and other eligible persons, including state credit cards, travel agencies, airlines, motor vehicles, Internet-based reservation and ticketing, lodging, and other modes and necessities of business-related travel. The purpose of the state travel management program is to encourage travelers to obtain the lowest overall cost of travel services and the program is administered through the Office of the Comptroller of Public Accounts (comptroller) who negotiates better prices based on a volume basis.
State agency officials and employees in the executive branch are required to use the state's contract travel services whenever those services provide the most efficient travel resulting in the lowest total cost. Other officials and employees represented by governmental entities such as cities, counties, school districts, public junior colleges, institutions of higher education, emergency communication districts, and the state judicial system may also use the state's contract travel services.
As proposed, S.B. 1264 authorizes an officer or employee of a transportation or transit authority or department established under Chapters 451 (Metropolitan Rapid Transit Authorities), 452 (Regional Transportation Authorities), or 453 (Municipal Transit Departments), Transportation Code, who is engaged in official business of the authority or department to participate in the comptroller's contracts for travel services.
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 2171.055, Government Code, by adding Subsection (i), as follows:
(i) Authorizes an officer or employee of a transportation or transit authority or department established under Chapters 451 (Metropolitan Rapid Transit Authorities), 452 (Regional Transportation Authorities), or 453 (Municipal Transit Departments), Transportation Code, who is engaged in official business of the authority or department to participate in the comptroller of public accounts' (comptroller) contracts for travel services. Authorizes the comptroller to charge a participating authority or department a fee not to exceed the costs incurred by the comptroller in providing services under this subsection. Requires the comptroller to periodically review fees and to adjust them as needed to ensure recovery of costs incurred in providing services to authorities and departments under this subsection.
SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2009.