AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Currently, certain state agencies must report surplus and salvage property to the Texas Facilities Commission for sale or public auction. Interested parties contend that, because of the rise of transnational criminal activity along the Texas-Mexico border, many underserved communities have an increased need for surplus law enforcement vehicles and equipment. H.B. 229 seeks to improve access to certain surplus property by certain local law enforcement agencies.

 

H.B. 229 amends current law relating to the disposition of certain surplus motor vehicles and other law enforcement equipment by the Texas Facilities Commission.

 

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 Subchapter F, Chapter 2175, Government Code, by adding Section 2175.308, as follows:

 

Sec. 2175.308. EXCEPTION FOR CERTAIN PROPERTY OF DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY. (a) Authorizes the Texas Facilities Commission (TFC), notwithstanding any conflicting provision of this chapter, if TFC determines that this state's efforts to secure this state's international border and combat transnational crime will sufficiently benefit from the donation of the surplus motor vehicles and other law enforcement equipment of the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas to a municipal or county law enforcement agency in an economically disadvantaged area of this state, to transfer the property to the agency at a price or for other consideration agreed to by TFC and the agency.

 

(b) Prohibits a law enforcement agency that receives surplus property under Subsection (a) from selling the property before the second anniversary of the date the property is received.

 

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2015.