The bill would amend Chapter 2171 of the Government Code to require a state agency with a fleet of more than 2,500 vehicles to establish and maintain a vehicle reporting system. The agency would be exempt from paying any fees to the Comptroller's Office of Vehicle Fleet Management (OVFM) for maintenance of the reporting system. Agencies exempt from paying the fee would continue to be required to submit, no later than October 15th of each year, the information requested by OVFM regarding the agency's vehicle fleet for the previous state fiscal year.
The bill would also amend Section 2205.036, Government Code, regarding conditions under which the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) may provide aircraft transportation to a destination, to allow TxDOT to provide aircraft transportation when the time required to use a commercial carrier interferes with passenger obligations or when a representative of the Department of Public Safety determines that security concerns for a passenger warrant the use of a state aircraft.
It is assumed that any costs associated with implementing the provisions of the bill regarding vehicle fleet information could be absorbed within existing resources. Currently, there are four agencies that maintain a vehicle fleet of more than 2,500 vehicles, including the Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ), DPS, TxDOT, and Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). TxDOT and TPWD indicated that they currently have a fleet management system that would provide the necessary information to comply with reporting requirements. It is assumed that DPS and TDCJ also currently have a fleet management system in place to comply with any reporting requirements, since the agencies did not indicate any costs associated with implementing a new system. According to the Comptroller, the four agencies pay a combined $90,000 in yearly fees to maintain the OVFM reporting system. The Comptroller indicates that the reduction of fees from the four agencies that would be exempt could increase fees to other agencies. The fees would be collected as Interagency Contracts.
Based on the information provided by TxDOT, it is assumed implementation of the provisions of the bill regarding passenger transportation on state aircraft could be accomplished within existing resources, and any costs for increased use of TxDOT aircraft transportation services would be offset by rates charged by TxDOT for interagency aircraft services as required by Section 2205.040, Government Code.
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.