BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center

H.B. 1550

82R6483 VOO-F

By: Aycock (Seliger)

 

Education

 

5/2/2011

 

Engrossed

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Currently, only certain entities outside of state agencies and public universities are eligible to participate in the Texas Facilities Commission's contract for travel services, which provides preferable rates on airlines, hotels, and rental cars that are secured by the volume purchasing power of the state, its universities, and the eligible entities.  H.B. 1550 permits open-enrollment charter schools, which are supported by state funds, to become eligible to participate in these travel services contracts, so that they might enjoy the same financial savings. 

 

H.B. 1550 amends current law relating to participation in state travel service contracts by open-enrollment charter schools.

 

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(f), Government Code, as follows:

 

(f) Authorizes an officer or employee of a public junior college, as defined by Section 61.003 (Definitions), Education Code, of an open-enrollment charter school established under Subchapter D (Open-Enrollment Charter School), Chapter 12 (Charters), Education Code, or of a school district who is engaged in official business to participate in the Texas Facilities Commission's (TFC) contract for travel services.  Authorizes TFC to charge a participating public junior college, open-enrollment charter school, or school district a fee not to exceed the costs incurred by TFC in providing services under this subsection.  Requires TFC to periodically review fees and to adjust them as needed to ensure recovery of costs incurred in providing services to public junior colleges, open-enrollment charter schools, and school districts under this subsection.

 

SECTION 2. Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2011.