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Relating to the donation
of property from a state agency to an assistance organization or a local
governmental entity.
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
HB 3439 would amend sections of Chapter 2175 (Surplus and
Salvage Property) of the Government Code. Specifically, this legislation would
allow state agencies to donate property to a local government entity. An agency
could do this if the property being donated has no resale value or the donation
“will sufficiently benefit” the state.
Additionally, this legislation would allow the agency
donating the property to charge an amount to cover the costs associated with
the donation. This charge may not exceed 10 percent of the property’s value.
We oppose HB 3439 because the criterion “that the state will
sufficiently benefit from donating the property” could be open for
interpretation, which could lead to the potential misuse of state property and
the granting of favors to special interests within local government entities. The broad language in this bill has us
opposing it on limited government grounds.