Enrolled Bill Summary

            Senate Bill 1380 amends the Government Code to require the Texas Department of Commerce to establish a state business daily in electronic format and to make it available on the Internet. All contemplated procurements exceeding $25,000 in value must be posted in the daily, pursuant to departmental rules. The mandate covers state agencies in the executive branch, most judicial branch agencies, including courts of appeal, and most university systems and institutions of higher education, excluding certain associated entities. The Internet posting is in addition to other legal requirements for the solicitation of bids or proposals, or other procurement actions. The department may include in the daily additional information of public interest relating to state business activity. The act establishes minimum time periods for posting and voids contract or procurement awards made in violation of the required minimum. It authorizes governmental entities that offer public Internet access to charge fees for the downloading of procurement notices and bid or proposal solicitation packages, but prohibits the charging of fees by the department or by the posting agency. The act clarifies that nongovernmental entities are free to provide enhanced services, using information from the daily, to parties interested in doing business with the state and may charge appropriate private fees for those enhancements.