BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center

C.S.S.B. 2004

 

By: Eltife; Nelson

 

Finance

 

3/25/2015

 

Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

As many of our state-owned facilities are aging, 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, costs will only increase.

 

C.S.S.B. 2004 will put a plan in place to provide that state facilities are properly maintained. This will ensure a safe environment for employees and visitors, the efficiency of building operations, and a long-term reduction in repair costs by promptly addressing deferred maintenance issues.

 

C.S.S.B. 2004 establishes a deferred maintenance fund in the general revenue fund. The Joint Oversight Committee on Government Facilities, consisting of three members of the Senate and three members of the House of Representatives, will review and receive implementation updates on deferred maintenance actions taken by state agencies.

 

C.S.S.B. 2004 amends current law relating to deferred maintenance funding for state facilities.

 

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. (a) Provides that the Joint Oversight Committee on Government Facilities (committee) is created to review deferred maintenance plans and receive implementation updates.

 

(b) Provides that the committee is composed of six members as follows:

 

(1) three members of the senate appointed by the lieutenant governor; and

 

(2) three members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

 

(c) Requires the committee chair to alternate annually between a member of the senate appointed by the lieutenant governor and a member of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker, beginning with a member of the senate.

 

(d) Requires the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of representatives, if this Act takes effect immediately, to make appointments to the committee not later than July 1, 2015. Requires the lieutenant governor and speaker, if this Act takes effect September 1, 2015, to make appointments to the committee not later than September 15, 2015.

 

(e) 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.

 

(f) Authorizes the committee to exercise any powers of a joint committee. Authorizes the cost of operation of the committee to be borne in the same manner as the cost of a joint committee. Authorizes the Texas Legislative Council to provide funding for the operations of the committee. Provides that, to the extent not inconsistent with this Act, the joint rules adopted by the 84th Legislature for the administration of joint interim legislative study committees apply to the committee.

 

(g) Provides that this section expires and the committee is abolished January 8, 2019.

 

SECTION 2. Amends Chapter 2165, Government Code, by adding Subchapter I, as follows:

 

SUBCHAPTER I. DEFERRED MAINTENANCE FUND

 

Sec. 2165.401. PURPOSE; INTENT. Provides that it is the intent of the legislature that state facilities be brought into a better state of repair to ensure the safety of employees and visitors, the efficiency of building operations, and a long-term reduction in repair costs by addressing deferred maintenance needs. Provides that the deferred maintenance fund is created to fund projects for this purpose.

 

Sec. 2165.402.  DEFINITION. Defines "fund" in this subchapter.

 

Sec. 2165.403.  DEFERRED MAINTENANCE FUND ACCOUNT. (a) Provides that the fund is an account in the general revenue fund.

 

(b) Provides that the fund consists of money appropriated, credited, or transferred to the fund by or at the direction of the legislature.

 

(c) Provides that Section 403.095 (Use of Dedicated Revenue) does not apply to the fund.

 

SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2015.