HBA-ATS, MPA H.B. 1374 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1374
By: Gallego
County Affairs
10/5/1999
Enrolled



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Prior to the 76th Legislature, the Val Verde County Hospital District
operated under rules originally established by the 65th Legislature.
Although these rules were amended in 1983, 1991, and 1997, the hospital
board of directors had expressed the desire to make them consistent with
current practices.  H.B. 1374 establishes a new filing deadline for
write-in candidates for hospital district elections, increases the maximum
amount that the hospital board may purchase or expend without advertising,
and subjects construction and purchasing expenditures greater than $15,000
to the advertising requirements practiced by counties throughout the state. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 4A(c), Chapter 658, Acts of the 64th Legislature,
Regular Session, 1975, to provide that a declaration of write-in candidacy
for hospital district elections must be filed with the secretary of the
board of directors no later than the 35th, rather than the 45th, day before
the election, or if a candidate on the ballot dies or is disqualified after
the 38th, rather than the 48th, day before the election, such declaration
may be filed no later than the 32nd, rather than the 42nd, day before the
election. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 11,  Chapter 658, Acts of the 64th Legislature,
Regular Session, 1975, to authorize contracts for construction involving
expenditures of more than $15,000 only after advertising in the manner
provided by Subchapter B (Competitive Bidding on Certain Public Works
Contracts), Chapter 271 (Purchasing and Contracting Authority of
Municipalities, Counties, and Certain Other Local Governments), Local
Government Code, or for all contracts for purchases involving expenditures
over $15,000, rather than $5,000, only after advertising in the manner
provided by Subchapter C (County Purchasing Act), Chapter 262 (Purchasing
and Contracting Authority of Counties), rather than Chapter 252 (Purchasing
and Contracting Authority of Municipalities), Local Government Code. 

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 4.  Emergency clause.