BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 2926 By: Janek (Ellis) Intergovernmental Relations 05-17-95 Senate Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND In recent years, purchasing for governments of large urban counties has become more 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 difficult 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 valid competition and the county opens itself to charges of favoritism for a brand or vendor. PURPOSE As proposed, H.B. 2926 authorizes certain counties to use the request for proposal purchasing procedures for the purchase of insurance or high technology items. 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, Local Government Code, as follows: Sec. 262.030. New heading: ALTERNATIVE COMPETITIVE PROPOSAL PROCEDURE FOR INSURANCE, HIGH TECHNOLOGY ITEMS, OR OTHER ITEMS. (a) Authorizes the competitive proposal procedure to be used for the purchase of insurance or high technology items, except for Subsection (d) of this section. (b) and (c) Make no changes. (d) Authorizes a county having a population of 2.4 million to use the competitive proposal purchasing method authorized by this section for the purchase of insurance or high technology items. Authorizes the method to be used to purchase other items when the county official who makes purchases for the county determines, with the consent of the commissioners court, that it is in the best interest of the county to make a request for proposals. SECTION 2. Emergency clause. Effective date: 90 days after adjournment.