BILL ANALYSIS



C.S.H.B. 2926
By: Janek
4-26-95
Committee Report (Substituted)


BACKGROUND

In recent years, purchasing for governments of large urban counties
has become more increasingly complex and ill-suited to the strict
parameters of the competitive bidding process.  If the bid
specifications for certain types of purchases are too generic, it
is virtually impossible to determine whether the lowest bid
represents the best value in terms of reliability, durability, and
service or maintenance.  If the bid specifications are too
specific, it is difficult to invite true competition and the county
opens itself to charges that it is favoring a particular brand or
vendor.

The Legislature recognized the problems with using the pure
competitive bid process for county purchasing of high technology
items and insurance when it created Section 262.030, Government
Code.  

PURPOSE

The purpose of this bill is to authorize Harris County to use the
request for proposal purchasing procedure specified in Section
262.030, Government Code, when the county's purchasing officer
determines that doing so would be in the county's best interest. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

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

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 262.030, Government Code, to authorize
the Harris County purchasing official, with the consent of the
commissioners court, to use the request for proposal purchasing
procedure outlined in subsections (a), (b), and (c) for purchases
of insurance, high technology items, or other items when doing so
would be in the best interest of the county.

SECTION 2.  Emergency clause.


COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

The committee substitute adds the requirement that the Harris County Purchaser get the consent of
the commissioners court when purchasing pursuant to this section.

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION

HB 2926 was considered by the County Affairs Committee in a public hearing on 4/12/95.
Representative Janek opened. The following people testified for HB 2926: Jack McCown,
representing himself; and Leonard Spearman, representing Harris County Judge Eckels and the
Harris County Commissioners Court. Representative Janek closed. HB 2926 was referred to a
subcommittee consisting of Representatives Longoria, chr., Kamel, Wohlgemuth. HB 2926 was
considered by the subcommittee on HB 2926 in a formal hearing on 4/24/95. HB 2926 was left
pending in subcommittee. After being recalled from subcommittee, HB 2926 was considered by the
full committee in a public hearing on 4/26/95. The committee considered a complete committee
substitute. The substitute was adopted without objection. HB 2926 was reported favorably, as
substituted, with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed and be sent to the committee on
Local and Consent Calendars, by the record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 pnv, 3 absent.