BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

S.B. 2004

By: Eltife

Appropriations

Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Interested parties suggest that, as many state-owned facilities age, the legislature needs to appropriately fund deferred maintenance projects, some of which have not been funded in lean budget times. If these needs are not addressed, the parties conclude, costs related to the maintenance will only increase. S.B. 2004 seeks to address these needs by putting a plan in place to provide for the proper maintenance of state facilities and to ensure a safe environment for employees and visitors, the efficiency of building operations, and a long-term reduction in repair costs through the prompt resolution of deferred maintenance issues.

 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

 

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

 

S.B. 2004 amends the Government Code to establish the deferred maintenance fund as an account in the general revenue fund consisting of money appropriated, credited, or transferred to the fund by or at the direction of the legislature. The bill exempts the fund from statutory provisions governing the use of dedicated revenue.

 

S.B. 2004 creates the Joint Oversight Committee on Government Facilities to review deferred maintenance plans and receive implementation updates. The bill establishes that the committee is composed of six members, with three members from the senate appointed by the lieutenant governor and three members from the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives. The bill requires the committee chair to alternate annually between members of each legislative body, beginning with a member of the senate. The bill requires the lieutenant governor and the speaker to appoint committee members not later than July 1, 2015, if the bill takes effect immediately, and not later than September 15, 2015, if the bill takes effect September 1, 2015. The bill requires the committee to biannually provide a written status report to the legislature that includes the amount of money expended from the deferred maintenance fund, the deferred maintenance projects to be completed through expenditures from the fund, and the status of ongoing and completed projects.

 

S.B. 2004 authorizes the committee to exercise any powers of a joint committee and the costs of the committee's operations to be borne in the same manner as the cost of a joint committee. The bill authorizes the Texas Legislative Council to provide funding for the committee's operation. The bill establishes that, to the extent not inconsistent with the bill's provisions, the joint rules adopted by the 84th Legislature for the administration of joint interim legislative study committees apply to the committee. The bill's provisions relating to the committee expire January 8, 2019, and the committee is abolished on that same date.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2015.