By:  Eckels                                           H.B. No. 1651
       73R6284 T
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to competitive bidding.
    1-3        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-4        SECTION 1.  Chapter 21, Education Code, Subchapter Z, Section
    1-5  21.901(a) is amended to read as follows:
    1-6        (a)  Except as provided in this section, all contracts
    1-7  proposed to be made by any Texas public school board for the
    1-8  purchase of any personal property shall be submitted to competitive
    1-9  bidding when said property is valued at <$10,000> $25,000 or more.
   1-10        SECTION 2.  Chapter 21, Education Code, Subchapter Z Section
   1-11  21.901(g)(2)  is amended to read as follows:
   1-12        (2)  The exceptions provided by this subsection shall not
   1-13  apply to mainframe data-processing equipment and peripheral
   1-14  attachments with a single-item purchase price in excess of
   1-15  <$10,000> $25,000.
   1-16        SECTION 3.  Title 8, Local Government Code, Subchapter B,
   1-17  Section 271.024 is amended to read as follows:
   1-18        If a governmental entity is required by statute to award a
   1-19  contract for the construction, repair, or renovation of a
   1-20  structure, road, highway, or other improvement or addition to real
   1-21  property on the basis of competitive bids, and if the contract
   1-22  requires the expenditure of more than <$10,000> $25,000 from the
   1-23  funds of the entity, the bidding on the contract must be
   1-24  accomplished in the manner provided by this subchapter.
    2-1        SECTION 4.  The importance of this Legislation and the
    2-2  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
    2-3  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
    2-4  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
    2-5  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.