1-1  By:  West                                               S.B. No. 99
    1-2        (In the Senate - Filed November 28, 1994; January 11, 1995,
    1-3  read first time and referred to Committee on Intergovernmental
    1-4  Relations; February 1, 1995, reported favorably by the following
    1-5  vote:  Yeas 11, Nays 0; February 1, 1995, sent to printer.)
    1-6                         A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-7                                AN ACT
    1-8  relating to construction change orders.
    1-9        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
   1-10        SECTION 1.  Section 252.048, Local Government Code, is
   1-11  amended to read as follows:
   1-12        Sec. 252.048.  CHANGE ORDERS.  (a)  If changes in plans or
   1-13  specifications are necessary after the performance of the contract
   1-14  is begun or if it is necessary to decrease or increase the quantity
   1-15  of work to be performed or of materials, equipment, or supplies to
   1-16  be furnished, the governing body of the municipality may approve
   1-17  change orders making the changes.
   1-18        (b)  The total contract price may not be increased because of
   1-19  the changes unless additional money for increased costs is
   1-20  appropriated for that purpose from available funds or is provided
   1-21  for by the authorization of the issuance of time warrants.
   1-22        (c)  If a change order involves a decrease or an increase of
   1-23  $25,000 <$15,000> or less, the governing body may grant general
   1-24  authority to an administrative official of the municipality to
   1-25  approve the change orders.
   1-26        (d)  The original contract price may not be increased under
   1-27  this section by more than 25 percent.  The original contract price
   1-28  may not be decreased under this section by more than 25 percent
   1-29  without the consent of the contractor.
   1-30        SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1995.
   1-31        SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
   1-32  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   1-33  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   1-34  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   1-35  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
   1-36                               * * * * *