1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to state government; directing the 
  1.3             commissioner of administration to study the 
  1.4             feasibility and potential benefits of establishing a 
  1.5             state travel office. 
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  [STATE TRAVEL OFFICE.] 
  1.8      Subdivision 1.  [STUDY.] The commissioner of administration 
  1.9   shall study the feasibility and potential advantages of 
  1.10  establishing a state travel office in the executive branch to 
  1.11  manage and oversee arrangements for air and surface travel by 
  1.12  state employees and officials.  In conducting the study, the 
  1.13  commissioner shall consider travel procedures currently used by 
  1.14  the state in comparison with those used by the federal 
  1.15  government, other states, and private businesses. 
  1.16     Subd. 2.  [ISSUES.] The study required by subdivision 1 
  1.17  must address, at a minimum: 
  1.18     (1) the relative merits of central versus decentralized 
  1.19  management and oversight of travel; 
  1.20     (2) current procedures used by the legislative, judicial, 
  1.21  and executive branches of the state as well as the Minnesota 
  1.22  state colleges and universities and the University of Minnesota; 
  1.23     (3) statutory and other authority necessary to manage and 
  1.24  oversee state travel; 
  1.25     (4) the relative merits of state operation of travel 
  2.1   services versus the provision of travel services by travel 
  2.2   agencies under contract; 
  2.3      (5) the use of one travel agency versus several preferred 
  2.4   agencies; 
  2.5      (6) managing frequent-flier miles versus other options; and 
  2.6      (7) the use of Internet-based travel authorization and 
  2.7   booking versus traditional methods. 
  2.8      Subd. 3.  [REPORT.] The commissioner shall report to the 
  2.9   legislature on the conclusions of the study by January 15, 
  2.10  2000.  The report must include recommendations for any 
  2.11  legislation that might be necessary to implement the report's 
  2.12  conclusions.