Sec. 2171.055. PARTICIPATION IN TRAVEL SERVICES CONTRACTS. (a) State agencies in the executive branch of state government shall participate under comptroller rules in the comptroller's contracts for travel services, provided that all travel agents approved by the comptroller are permitted to contract with the state and provide travel services to all state agencies.

(b) An institution of higher education as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code, is not required to participate in the comptroller's contracts for travel agency services or other travel services purchased from funds other than general revenue funds or educational and general funds as defined by Section 51.009, Education Code. The Employees Retirement System of Texas is not required to participate in the comptroller's contracts for travel agency services or other travel services purchased from funds other than general revenue funds.

(c) The comptroller may provide by rule for exemptions from required participation.

(d) Agencies of the state that are not required to participate in comptroller contracts for travel services may participate as provided by Section 2171.051.

(e) A county officer or employee who is engaged in official county business may participate in the comptroller's contract for travel services for the purpose of obtaining reduced airline fares and reduced travel agent fees. A county sheriff or deputy sheriff or juvenile probation officer who is transporting a state prisoner under a felony warrant may participate in the comptroller's contract for travel services for purposes of obtaining reduced airline fares and reduced travel agent fees for the law enforcement or probation officer and the prisoner. The comptroller may charge a participating county a fee not to exceed the costs incurred by the comptroller in providing services under this subsection. The comptroller shall periodically review fees and shall adjust them as needed to ensure recovery of costs incurred in providing services to counties under this subsection. The comptroller shall deposit the fees collected under this subsection to the credit of the county airline fares account. The county airline fares account is an account in the general revenue fund that may be appropriated only for the purposes of this chapter. The comptroller shall adopt rules and make or amend contracts as necessary to administer this subsection.

(f) An officer or employee of a public junior college, as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code, of an open-enrollment charter school established under Subchapter D, Chapter 12, Education Code, or of a school district who is engaged in official business may participate in the comptroller's contract for travel services. The comptroller may charge a participating public junior college, open-enrollment charter school, or school district a fee not to exceed the costs incurred by the comptroller in providing services under this subsection. The comptroller shall periodically review fees and shall adjust them as needed to ensure recovery of costs incurred in providing services to public junior colleges, open-enrollment charter schools, and school districts under this subsection. The comptroller shall deposit the fees collected under this subsection to the credit of the public education travel account. The public education travel account is an account in the general revenue fund that may be appropriated only for the purposes of this chapter. The comptroller shall adopt rules and make or amend contracts as necessary to administer this subsection.

(g) A municipal officer or employee who is engaged in official municipal business may participate in the comptroller's contract for travel services for the purpose of obtaining reduced airline fares and reduced travel agent fees. The comptroller may charge a participating municipality a fee not to exceed the costs incurred by the comptroller in providing services under this subsection. The comptroller shall periodically review fees and shall adjust them as needed to ensure recovery of costs incurred in providing services to municipalities under this subsection. The comptroller shall deposit the fees collected under this subsection to the credit of the municipality airline fares account. The municipality airline fares account is an account in the general revenue fund that may be appropriated only for the purposes of this chapter. The comptroller shall adopt rules and make or amend contracts as necessary to administer this subsection.

(h) A board member or employee of a communication district or an emergency communication district established under Chapter 772, Health and Safety Code, who is engaged in official district business may participate in the comptroller's contract for travel services for the purpose of obtaining reduced airline fares and reduced travel agent fees. The comptroller may charge a participating district a fee not to exceed the costs incurred by the comptroller in providing services under this subsection. The comptroller shall periodically review fees and shall adjust them as needed to ensure recovery of costs incurred in providing services to districts under this subsection. The comptroller shall deposit the fees collected under this subsection to the credit of the emergency communication district airline fares account. The emergency communication district airline fares account is an account in the general revenue fund that may be appropriated only for the purposes of this chapter. The comptroller shall adopt rules and make or amend contracts as necessary to administer this subsection.

(i) An officer or employee of a transportation or transit authority, department, district, or system established under Subtitle K, Title 6, Transportation Code, who is engaged in official business of the authority, department, district, or system may participate in the comptroller's contracts for travel services. The comptroller may charge a participating authority, department, district, or system a fee not to exceed the costs incurred by the comptroller in providing services under this subsection. The comptroller shall periodically review fees and shall adjust them as needed to ensure recovery of costs incurred in providing services to authorities, departments, districts, and systems under this subsection.

(j) An officer or employee of a hospital district created under general or special law who is engaged in official hospital district business may participate in the comptroller's contract for travel services for the purpose of obtaining reduced airline fares and reduced travel agent fees. The comptroller may charge a participating hospital district a fee not to exceed the costs incurred by the comptroller in providing services under this subsection. The comptroller shall periodically review fees and shall adjust them as needed to ensure recovery of costs incurred in providing services to hospital districts under this subsection. The comptroller shall deposit the fees collected under this subsection to the credit of the hospital district airline fares account. The hospital district airline fares account is an account in the general revenue fund that may be appropriated only for the purposes of this chapter. The comptroller shall adopt rules and make or amend contracts as necessary to administer this subsection.

Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 41, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 17.11(b), eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 281, Sec. 1, 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 46, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1541, Sec. 56, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 568, Sec. 1, eff. June 11, 2001; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 482, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 501, Sec. 1, eff. June 20, 2003.

Amended by:

Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 728 (H.B. 2018), Sec. 23.001(40), eff. September 1, 2005.

Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 891 (S.B. 1663), Sec. 1, eff. June 17, 2005.

Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 1308 (H.B. 3047), Sec. 1, eff. June 18, 2005.

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 207 (S.B. 899), Sec. 1, eff. May 27, 2009.

Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 506 (H.B. 1550), Sec. 1, eff. June 17, 2011.

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1071 (H.B. 1524), Sec. 104, eff. September 1, 2019.