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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the use of a credit or charge card by certain state |
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agencies to make certain purchases. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 403.023, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsections (b-1) and (b-2) to read as follows: |
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(b-1) Except as provided by Subsection (b-2), if the |
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comptroller adopts rules authorized under Subsection (b), the rules |
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must: |
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(1) require a state agency in the executive branch of |
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state government to use a credit or charge card to pay for all |
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purchases unless the comptroller determines that another method of |
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payment is more advantageous to the state; and |
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(2) prohibit an employee of a state agency in the |
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executive branch of state government from using a personal credit |
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or charge card to pay for the state agency's purchases. |
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(b-2) Subsection (b-1) does not apply to: |
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(1) an institution of higher education as defined by |
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Section 61.003, Education Code; |
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(2) the Health and Human Services Commission; |
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(3) a health and human services agency as defined by |
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Section 531.001; or |
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(4) the office of the governor. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 531, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 531.0175 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 531.0175. PAYMENT FOR TRAVEL SERVICES WITH CREDIT OR |
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CHARGE CARD. The executive commissioner by rule shall develop, and |
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the commission and each health and human services agency shall |
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implement, a policy that encourages participation in a program |
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administered by the comptroller relating to the use of a credit or |
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charge card to pay for travel expenses. |
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SECTION 3. Section 660.021, Government Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 660.021. RULES. (a) The comptroller shall adopt rules |
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for the effective and efficient administration of this chapter and |
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the travel provisions of the General Appropriations Act. |
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(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), the rules adopted |
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by the comptroller under this section must require that if a state |
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agency in the executive branch of state government participates in |
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a program administered by the comptroller that allows the agency to |
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use a credit or charge card to pay for travel expenses: |
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(1) the agency shall use the credit or charge card to |
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pay for travel expenses required for agency travel, unless the |
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comptroller determines that another method of payment is more |
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advantageous to the state; and |
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(2) an employee of the agency may not use the |
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employee's personal credit or charge card to pay for travel |
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expenses required for agency travel. |
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(c) Subsection (b) does not apply to: |
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(1) an institution of higher education as defined by |
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Section 61.003, Education Code; |
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(2) the Health and Human Services Commission; |
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(3) a health and human services agency as defined by |
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Section 531.001; or |
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(4) the office of the governor. |
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SECTION 4. Subchapter B, Chapter 2171, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 2171.0521 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 2171.0521. PAYMENT FOR TRAVEL SERVICES WITH CREDIT OR |
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CHARGE CARD. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), if a state |
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agency in the executive branch of state government participates in |
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a program administered by the comptroller that allows the agency to |
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use a credit or charge card to purchase travel services: |
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(1) the agency shall use the credit or charge card to |
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purchase travel services required for agency travel, unless the |
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comptroller determines that another method of purchase is more |
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advantageous to the state; and |
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(2) an employee of the agency may not use the |
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employee's personal credit or charge card to purchase travel |
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services required for agency travel. |
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(b) This section does not apply to: |
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(1) an institution of higher education as defined by |
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Section 61.003, Education Code; |
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(2) the Health and Human Services Commission; |
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(3) a health and human services agency as defined by |
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Section 531.001; or |
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(4) the office of the governor. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |