BILL ANALYSIS S.B. 525 By: Lucio (Cuellar, Renato) 05-11-95 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND Current Texas law encourages state agencies to purchase Texas products if practicable or cost effective. The agricultural economy of Texas will improve if Texas schools and universities are also encouraged to purchase Texas citrus and agriculture products as long as the cost and quality standards are equal or better. PURPOSE If enacted, S.B. 525 requires Texas public schools and universities to give first preference to purchasing Texas-grown products and second preference to products offered by Texas bidders. 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. Amends Chapter 51Z, Education Code, by adding Section 51.940, as follows: Sec. 51.940. PURCHASE OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS. (a) Requires a higher education institution (institution) that purchases agricultural products to give first preference to products grown, produced, or processed in this state if the cost to the institution and the quality of the products are equal to the cost and quality of other available products. (b) Requires an institution to ensure that bid specifications used by the institution for the purchase of agricultural products do not preclude or discourage the purchase of products grown, produced, or processed in this state. (c) Defines "institution of higher education." SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1995. SECTION 3. Emergency clause. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION S.B. 525 was considered by the committee in a formal meeting on May 11, 1995. The bill was reported favorably without amendment, with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed be sent to the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars, by a record vote of 5 ayes, 0 nays, 0 pnv, 4 absent.