HBA-TBM C.S.H.B. 2996 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.H.B. 2996
By: Callegari
County Affairs
4/8/2001
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Current law does not authorize counties to require pre-bid conferences as a
precondition for having a bid accepted for goods and services.  Pre-bid
conferences are useful for establishing a clear project understanding for
all bidders.  Such conferences clarify basic requirements and procedures
for bidding, highlight specific project issues that must be addressed, and
provide a forum for questions and answers in the presence of other
prospective bidders.  C.S.H.B. 2996 authorizes a county or other
governmental entity in a county with a population of 2.8 million or more to
require pre-bid conferences as a precondition for having a bid accepted for
goods and services.   

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. 

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 2996 amends the Local Government Code to modify the purchasing
authority of a county, conservation district, or reclamation district in a
county with a population of 2.8 million or more to authorize the
commissioners court to require attendance by a principal, officer, or
employee of each prospective bidder at mandatory pre-bid conferences
conducted to discuss contract requirements and answer questions of
prospective bidders.  If such attendance is required in determining the
lowest and best bid for a contract, a commissioners court is authorized to
condition acceptance of bids on that attendance.    

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001. 

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 2996 conforms the original bill to Texas Legislative Council
format.