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.), As Introduced
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 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. However, the Health and Human Services Commission anticipates an All Funds increased cost of $1.4 million for the biennium for ten additional FTEs to issue and monitor state issued credit cards to employees given the large number of employees who are required to travel to fulfill their work responsibilities.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 529 Health and Human Services Commission, 601 Department of Transportation, 696 Department of Criminal Justice, 710 Texas A&M University System Administrative and General Offices, 720 The University of Texas System Administration