HBA-MSH C.S.S.B. 874 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.S.B. 874
By: Lindsay
County Affairs
4/29/2001
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Current law does not authorize counties to require a pre-bid conference 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.S.B. 874 authorizes a county or other governmental
entity in a county with a population of 2.8 million or more to require
attendance at a pre-bid conference 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.S.B. 874 amends the Local Government Code to modify the purchasing
authority of a county with a population of 2.8 million or more or a
conservation or reclamation district located 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 a mandatory pre-bid conference 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.S.B. 874 differs from the original by providing that the provisions
apply only in a  county with a population of 2.8 million or more.