HBA-TYH H.B. 3125 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3125
By: Chisum
State Affairs
4/5/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, state vehicle fleets are operated in a decentralized manner.
While the General Service Commission's office of vehicle fleet management
(office) is authorized to collect data on agency vehicles, no single entity
has oversight responsibilities for the entire state fleet.  Instead, each
agency manages its own fleet. This can be inefficient, as evidenced by the
fact that Texas spent seven cents more per mile in 1996 to operate its
vehicles than the federal government.  H.B. 3125 requires the office to
develop detailed recommendations for improving the efficiency of the
state's vehicle fleet operations, including the out-sourcing of operation
and management where appropriate. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 2171.101, Government Code, to require the office
of vehicle fleet management (office) to review the accuracy of the vehicle
information data submitted by a state agency.  Requires the office to file
an annual report with the legislature containing certain information.
Requires the office to review the operation of each state agency's vehicle
fleet and report to the legislature not later than January 1 of each
odd-numbered year the status of the agency's vehicle fleet and the office's
recommendations to improve operations of the agency's vehicle fleet.  

SECTION 2.  Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 2171, Government Code, by adding
Sections 2171.1015, 2171.104, and 2171.105, as follows: 
 
Sec. 2171.1015.  MANAGEMENT OF STATE VEHICLE FLEET.  Requires the office to
oversee the operation, coordination, consolidation, and management of the
state's vehicle fleet.  
 
Sec. 2171.104.  MANAGEMENT PLAN.  Requires the office to develop a
management plan with detailed recommendations for improving the
administration and operation of the state's vehicle fleet.  Requires the
Texas Department of Transportation, Department of Public Safety, Texas
Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, Parks and Wildlife
Department, and Texas Department of Criminal Justice to assist the office
in preparing the management plan for the state's vehicle fleet.  Provides
that the management plan must address the enumerated issues.  Requires the
office to sell the excess vehicles identified by the management plan and
deposit the proceeds from the sale into the account that the agency used to
purchase the vehicle.  
 
Sec. 2171.105.  PURCHASE OF VEHICLES PROHIBITED.  Prohibits a state agency
from purchasing a new vehicle before September 1, 2001, except that a state
agency may  purchase a new vehicle for law enforcement or emergency
purposes.  Provides that this section expires September 1, 2001.  

SECTION 3.  (a)  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

 (b)  Requires the office of vehicle fleet management to prepare the
management plan required by Section 2171.104, Government Code, as added by
this Act, and present the plan to the legislature by January 31, 2001.  

(c)  Requires the office of vehicle fleet management to sell the excess
vehicles identified by the management plan adopted under Section 2171.104,
Government Code, as added by this Act, no later than August 31, 2001.  

SECTION 4.  Emergency clause.