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House Bill 1179 |
House Author: Flores |
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Effective: Vetoed |
Senate Sponsor: Nelson |
House Bill 1179 amends the Government Code to repeal certain provisions relating to the procurement practices of the Texas Lottery Commission and to provide that general state laws governing purchasing and contracts by state agencies apply to the commission.
Reason Given for Veto: "House Bill No. 1179 would require the Texas Lottery Commission to adhere to the general procurement policies of the state that are governed by the Texas Building and Procurement Commission (TBPC).
"Since its creation, the Lottery Commission has been allowed to independently negotiate purchases rather than going through the TBPC procurement process. Although it has proceeded independently, the Lottery has followed the same practices as the TBPC, resulting in effective evaluation and selection of contractors and contracts that include the required statutory provisions.
"I support the philosophy behind House Bill No. 1179 of promoting competition in the marketplace and protecting the state's interests with respect to procurement practices. However, I am vetoing House Bill No. 1179 because the Lottery negotiated many of its contracts based on its current procurement process. Eliminating the purchasing flexibility in the Texas Lottery Commission's procurement process could jeopardize its future success.
"The Lottery should retain its flexibility in purchasing because the agency is contracting for and operating a unique business that deals with a limited vendor community qualified to operate the games. These purchases are different from consumable goods, such as office supplies, that other agencies purchase and which TBPC rules are designed to cover."