BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1122

By: Zaffirini

State Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Current law requires certain state agencies to participate in the statewide contracts for travel services developed by the comptroller of public accounts and authorizes certain local entities to also participate in those contracts. Members of the comptroller's cooperative purchasing program, TX SmartBuy, are also allowed to purchase from a wide variety of statewide contracts; however, there are concerns about the clarity around the statutory authorization for these members to purchase from the comptroller's travel services contracts. S.B. 1122 seeks to address this concern by authorizing qualified local entities, including local governments and workforce development boards, to purchase from the statewide travel services contracts.

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 rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the comptroller of public accounts in SECTION 1 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 1122 amends the Government Code to remove the comptroller of public accounts' authority to charge fees for participation in the comptroller's contracts for travel services.

S.B. 1122 authorizes an officer or employee of a qualified cooperative entity who is engaged in official business to participate in those contracts and requires the comptroller to adopt rules and make or amend contracts as necessary to administer that expanded authorization. A qualified cooperative entity includes the following entities:

· a local government;

· a community center for mental health and mental retardation services that receives state grants-in-aid;

· an applicable assistance organization that receives any state funds; and

· any corporate or political entity organized under state law.

EFFECTIVE DATE

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