Texas House Bill HB2731

Texas 2017 - 85th Regular

Caption

Relating to state agency contracts with the United States Postal Service.

Impact

The bill introduces an amendment to Chapter 2163 of the Government Code, specifically adding a new section which outlines the contracting process between state agencies and USPS. By allowing state agencies to formally contract USPS to provide specific services, the bill potentially increases the collaboration between state operations and federal resources. This aligns with broader goals of optimizing public service delivery through streamlined partnerships.

Summary

House Bill 2731 pertains to the authorization of state agencies to enter into contracts with the United States Postal Service (USPS) to provide services to the public at USPS facilities located within Texas. This legislation aims to enhance the service delivery scope of state agencies by allowing them to utilize existing USPS infrastructure for executing public services that they are mandated by law to provide. Such arrangements could improve accessibility and efficiency in delivering these services to the public.

Contention

Notably, the bill does require that any state agency entering such a contract is held responsible for ensuring that the services rendered meet measurable performance standards. While this framework aims to maintain accountability, concerns may arise regarding the effectiveness of such performance standards and how they are monitored. Critics may argue that outsourcing state services to a federal entity such as USPS could complicate service accountability, especially in regions where state and federal objectives may not fully align.