84R23063 CJC-F
By: Galindo, Elkins, Wray, et al. H.B. No. 1743
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1743:
By: Elkins C.S.H.B. No. 1743
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the use of a credit or charge card by certain state
agencies to make certain purchases.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 403.023, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subsections (b-1) and (b-2) to read as follows:
(b-1) Except as provided by Subsection (b-2), if the
comptroller adopts rules authorized under Subsection (b), the rules
must:
(1) require a state agency in the executive branch of
state government to use a credit or charge card to pay for all
purchases unless the comptroller determines that another method of
payment is more advantageous to the state; and
(2) prohibit an employee of a state agency in the
executive branch of state government from using a personal credit
or charge card to pay for the state agency's purchases.
(b-2) Subsection (b-1) does not apply to:
(1) an institution of higher education as defined by
Section 61.003, Education Code;
(2) the Health and Human Services Commission;
(3) a health and human services agency as defined by
Section 531.001; or
(4) the office of the governor.
SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 531, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 531.0175 to read as follows:
Sec. 531.0175. PAYMENT FOR TRAVEL SERVICES WITH CREDIT OR
CHARGE CARD. The executive commissioner by rule shall develop, and
the commission and each health and human services agency shall
implement, a policy that encourages participation in a program
administered by the comptroller relating to the use of a credit or
charge card to pay for travel expenses.
SECTION 3. Section 660.021, Government Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 660.021. RULES. (a) The comptroller shall adopt rules
for the effective and efficient administration of this chapter and
the travel provisions of the General Appropriations Act.
(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), the rules adopted
by the comptroller under this section must require that if a state
agency in the executive branch of state government participates in
a program administered by the comptroller that allows the agency to
use a credit or charge card to pay for travel expenses:
(1) the agency shall use the credit or charge card to
pay for travel expenses required for agency travel, unless the
comptroller determines that another method of payment is more
advantageous to the state; and
(2) an employee of the agency may not use the
employee's personal credit or charge card to pay for travel
expenses required for agency travel.
(c) Subsection (b) does not apply to:
(1) an institution of higher education as defined by
Section 61.003, Education Code;
(2) the Health and Human Services Commission;
(3) a health and human services agency as defined by
Section 531.001; or
(4) the office of the governor.
SECTION 4. Subchapter B, Chapter 2171, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 2171.0521 to read as follows:
Sec. 2171.0521. PAYMENT FOR TRAVEL SERVICES WITH CREDIT OR
CHARGE CARD. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), if a state
agency in the executive branch of state government participates in
a program administered by the comptroller that allows the agency to
use a credit or charge card to purchase travel services:
(1) the agency shall use the credit or charge card to
purchase travel services required for agency travel, unless the
comptroller determines that another method of purchase is more
advantageous to the state; and
(2) an employee of the agency may not use the
employee's personal credit or charge card to purchase travel
services required for agency travel.
(b) This section does not apply to:
(1) an institution of higher education as defined by
Section 61.003, Education Code;
(2) the Health and Human Services Commission;
(3) a health and human services agency as defined by
Section 531.001; or
(4) the office of the governor.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2015.