| TO: | Honorable Joseph Pickett, Chair, House Committee on Transportation |
| FROM: | John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | SB1264 by Watson (Relating to the participation of certain transportation entities and hospital districts in the comptroller of public accounts' travel services contracts.), As Engrossed |
Revenue gain from fees would depend on the number of applicable local government entities that would choose to participate in the contract travel services administered by the Comptroller of Public Accounts, the number of employees of those entities that would use the services, and the frequency of travel.
Although the bill would not make an appropriation, it would establish the basis for an appropriation.
The bill would amend Chapter 2171, Government Code, to authorize an officer or an employee of certain transportation or transit authorities, departments, or systems when engaged in official business of the authority, department, or system to participate in the contract for travel services that is administered by the Comptroller of Public Accounts. The Comptroller would be authorized to charge a fee not to exceed the costs incurred in providing services. The Comptroller would be required to periodically review the fees and adjust them as necessary.
The bill would also authorize an officer or employee of a hospital district created under general or special law when engaged in official hospital district business to participate in the contract for travel services administered by the Comptroller. The Comptroller would be authorized to charge a fee not to exceed the costs incurred in providing services. The Comptroller would be required to periodically review the fees and adjust them as necessary. Fees collected from hospital districts for participating in the contract for travel services would be required to be deposited to the credit of the Hospital District Airline Fairs Account. The Hospital District Airline Fairs Account would be an account in the General Revenue Fund that may be appropriated only for the purposes of Chapter 2171, Government Code (Vehicle and Fleet Services).
The bill would take effect immediately if it were to receive the required two-thirds vote in each house; otherwise, it would take effect September 1, 2009.
Revenue from charging a fee to the listed entities for participation in the comptroller's contract for travel service would depend on the number of employees who would choose to participate and the frequency of their travel; therefore, the amount of revenue gain from fees imposed cannot be estimated.
Because other local government entities are already authorized by statute to participate in the comptroller's contract for travel service, based on information provided by the comptroller, it is assumed that any costs for implementing provisions of the bill could be absorbed within existing resources.
The bill would do one or more of the following: create or recreate a dedicated account in the General Revenue Fund, create or recreate a special or trust fund either within or outside of the Treasury, or create a dedicated revenue source. The fund, account, or revenue dedication included in the bill would be subject to funds consolidation review by the current Legislature.
| Source Agencies: | 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts
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| LBB Staff: | JOB, KJG, KK, DB
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