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               AN ACT
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            relating to the authority of a county to require electronic bids or  | 
         
         
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            proposals for competitive bidding. | 
         
         
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                   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | 
         
         
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                   SECTION 1.  Section 262.0225, Local Government Code, is  | 
         
         
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            amended by amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (c-1) to  | 
         
         
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            read as follows: | 
         
         
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                   (c)  A county may receive bids or proposals under this  | 
         
         
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            subchapter in hard-copy format or through electronic transmission.   | 
         
         
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            Except as provided by Subsection (c-1), a [A] county shall accept  | 
         
         
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            any bids or proposals submitted in hard-copy format. | 
         
         
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                   (c-1)  The commissioners court of a county may by order  | 
         
         
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            require submission of bids or proposals under this subchapter  | 
         
         
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            through electronic transmission if the county makes available all  | 
         
         
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            technology necessary to submit a bid or proposal through electronic  | 
         
         
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            transmission to any person who submits a hard-copy bid or proposal  | 
         
         
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            in person. | 
         
         
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                   SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives  | 
         
         
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            a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as  | 
         
         
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            provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this  | 
         
         
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            Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this  | 
         
         
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            Act takes effect September 1, 2021. | 
         
         
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            ______________________________ | 
            ______________________________ | 
         
         
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               President of the Senate | 
            Speaker of the House      | 
         
         
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                   I certify that H.B. No. 362 was passed by the House on April  | 
         
         
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            9, 2021, by the following vote:  Yeas 143, Nays 1, 2 present, not  | 
         
         
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            voting. | 
         
         
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            ______________________________ | 
         
         
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            Chief Clerk of the House    | 
         
         
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                   I certify that H.B. No. 362 was passed by the Senate on April  | 
         
         
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            29, 2021, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0. | 
         
         
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            ______________________________ | 
         
         
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            Secretary of the Senate     | 
         
         
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            APPROVED:  _____________________ | 
         
         
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                      _____________________ | 
         
         
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                             Governor        |