Enrolled Bill Summary

            Senate Bill 1127 directs the state auditor to contract with The University of Texas System to conduct a review of General Services Commission processes and procedures to identify ways to improve that agency's efficiency and effectiveness. The contractual report is due by December 1, 2000. The act provides for the appointment of an interim legislative oversight committee to monitor the review and advise the state auditor. Amendments to Government Code procurement provisions require that the commission and state agencies give preference to remanufactured and environmentally sensitive products in addition to the recycled products covered by existing law. The act authorizes the commission, in coordination with the Recycling Market Development Board, to annually designate purchasing goals for those products and requires a written justification when an agency opts to buy equivalent competing products. It eliminates the previous eight percent recycled content requirement. The act authorizes the commission to enter into purchasing compacts or agreements with other states or governmental entities. Other provisions relate to vendor training, the state's master bidders list, competitive sealed proposals, catalogue purchases, use of consulting services, automated information systems, and other subjects.