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.