BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 768

By: Howard

Technology

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

A recent legislative enactment established the structure and authority for public-private partnerships and declared a public need for the timely acquisition, design, construction, improvement, renovation, expansion, equipping, maintenance, operation, implementation, and installation of education facilities, technology and other public infrastructure, and government facilities in Texas that serve a public need and purpose. Interested parties note that a technology facility is not currently included on the list of qualifying projects in those provisions. H.B. 768 seeks to better serve the declared public need by allowing projects such as technology incubators, cloud computing facilities, and other information technology firms to take part in public-private partnerships.

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. 768 amends Section 2267.001(10), Government Code, as added by Chapter 1334 (S.B. 1048), Acts of the 82nd Legislature, Regular Session, 2011, to expand the definition of "qualifying project" to include a technology facility under provisions relating to contracting requirements for public and private facilities and infrastructure.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2013.