BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3388

By: Thompson, Ed

State Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

State agencies must report specific data on the agency's vehicle fleet each quarter to the Texas Fleet System (TxFS), which is managed by the comptroller of public accounts' office of vehicle fleet management (OVFM). All applicable agencies are charged an annual maintenance fee for TxFS of $5.25 per vehicle, or $25 total for agencies owning four vehicles or fewer. Agencies report that the data entry process is time-consuming and difficult due to the large volume of information required by TxFS. Of particular concern are limitations in the ability of agencies with large fleets to batch upload data to TxFS. While the OVFM offers technical assistance to agencies, a solution to improve the batch upload process has not been developed. H.B. 3388 seeks to lessen the administrative burden on agencies with large vehicle fleets by exempting them from the quarterly reporting requirements and the accompanying maintenance fee and subjecting them instead to an annual reporting requirement.

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

H.B. 3388 amends the Government Code to except a state agency with a fleet of more than 2,500 vehicles from existing quarterly vehicle fleet reporting requirements and require such an agency instead to do the following:

· establish and maintain a vehicle reporting system to assist the agency in the management of its vehicle fleet not later than October 1, 2021; and

· submit to the office of vehicle fleet management (OVFM) within the office of the comptroller of public accounts not later than October 15 of each year the information the office requests regarding the agency's vehicle fleet for the previous state fiscal year.

The bill authorizes such an agency to provide the information requested by the OVFM in the format used by the agency's reporting system and exempts such agency from paying to the office any fee for maintaining the vehicle reporting system used in the quarterly reports. The bill requires the initial reports to the OVFM to be submitted not later than October 15, 2021, or a later date determined by the OVFM.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2021.