By Craddick                                           H.B. No. 1475
       74R4941 PAM-D
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to counties authorized to employ a purchasing agent.
    1-3        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-4        SECTION 1.  Section 262.0115, Local Government Code, is
    1-5  amended to read as follows:
    1-6        Sec. 262.0115.  PURCHASING AGENTS IN COUNTIES WITH POPULATION
    1-7  OF MORE THAN 100,000 <125,000>.  (a)  In a county with a population
    1-8  of more than 100,000 <125,000>, the commissioners court may employ
    1-9  a person to act as county purchasing agent.  However, this section
   1-10  does not apply to a county that has appointed a purchasing agent
   1-11  under Section 262.011 and that has not abolished the position as
   1-12  authorized by law.
   1-13        (b)  A purchasing agent employed under this section serves at
   1-14  the pleasure of the commissioners court.
   1-15        (c)  The commissioners court may employ other persons
   1-16  necessary to assist the purchasing agent in performing the agent's
   1-17  functions.
   1-18        (d)  Under the supervision of the commissioners court, the
   1-19  purchasing agent shall carry out the functions prescribed by law
   1-20  for the county auditor in regard to county purchases and contracts
   1-21  and shall administer the procedures prescribed by law for notice
   1-22  and public bidding for county purchases and contracts.
   1-23        (e)  A county that has established the position of county
   1-24  purchasing agent under this section may abolish the position at any
    2-1  time.  On the abolition of the position, the county auditor shall
    2-2  assume the functions previously performed by the purchasing agent.
    2-3        SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
    2-4  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
    2-5  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
    2-6  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
    2-7  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
    2-8  and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
    2-9  passage, and it is so enacted.