Honorable Gary Elkins, Chair, House Committee on Government Transparency & Operation
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1743 by Galindo (Relating to the use of a credit or charge card by certain state agencies to make certain purchases.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
The bill would have an indeterminate fiscal cost to the state but the cost is expected to be insignificant, depending on determinations made by the Comptroller of Public Accounts.
The bill would amend the Government Code to require state agencies in the executive branch of government to use credit or charge cards for all purchases, including travel services, and prohibit the use of personal credit or charge cards by employees unless the Comptroller of Public Accounts determines that another method of payment would be more advantageous to the state. The bill would exempt certain agencies and institutions from these requirements. The bill would take effect immediately upon enactment if it received the requisite two-thirds majority votes in both houses of the Legislature. Otherwise, it would take effect September 1, 2015.
The CPA reports that there would be no cost to implement the provisions of the bill. It is estimated that some agencies would incur additional costs to comply with the provisions of this bill. The costs to agencies will depend on determinations made by CPA to implement these provisions but the total statewide cost is not expected to be significant.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
302 Office of the Attorney General, 303 Facilities Commission, 313 Department of Information Resources, 454 Department of Insurance, 529 Health and Human Services Commission