BILL ANALYSIS



H.B. 1647
By: Pitts
03-15-95
Committee Report (Unamended)


BACKGROUND

City planning services are generally considered professional
services and so should be purchased by cities through an RFP
(request for proposal) process or negotiated service contract.  In
some areas, confusion exists on type of service and planning
services are solicited under the sealed competitive bid process. 
Engineers are prohibited from using that system under other
statutes so they are precluded from pursuing those contracts.


PURPOSE

Define planning services and remove them from the competitive
bidding process.


RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly
grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer,
department, agency or institution.


SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Adds planning services to the list of definitions in the
Local Government Code.

SECTION 2. Adds planning services to the list of exceptions from
competitive bidding requirements.

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.


SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION

H.B. 1647 was considered by the committee in a public hearing on
March 13, 1995.  The following persons testified in favor of the
bill: Rep. Pitts; Dan C. Boutwell, representing the Texas Chapter
of the American Planning Association; Gene Cravens, representing
himself; and Gerhardt Schulle, Jr., representing the Texas Society
of Professional Engineers.  The following people testified on the
bill: Henry Avila, representing himself.  The bill was reported
favorably, without amendment, with the recommendation that it do
pass and be printed, by a record vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays, 0 pnv, and
0 absent.