Enrolled Bill Summary

            House Bill 1730 amends Water Code provisions relating to the leasing and contracting powers of a port authority or navigation district. The bill authorizes the Navigation and Canal Commission to lease the surface of land for not more than 30 years, rather than not more than 10 years, without public notice. It allows individual districts to enter into contracts with the United States to consummate projects of common interest. It specifies that the public notice for a purchase of materials, supplies, machinery, equipment, or other items that exceeds $25,000 must indicate whether a small business development program adopted by the port commission of the port authority or district applies to the purchase. House Bill 1730 authorizes certain employees to make routine purchases or contracts that do not exceed $25,000, or make emergency purchases or contracts that exceed $25,000 for certain purposes, including responding to federal or state security directives. The bill provides that competitive bidding requirements do not apply to an emergency purchase or contract for any item necessary to secure a district or port authority during a period of heightened security. House Bill 1730 requires a person who contracts with a district or port authority to provide notice to the district or port authority of any safety and environmental violations or penalties the person received from a federal or state agency.