JBM S.B. 863 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


NATURAL RESOURCES
S.B. 863
By: Patterson, Jerry (Jackson)
4-30-97
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND 

Currently, Texas law requires only a purchase order to be signed by the
executive director or the authorized designated officer of the district or
port authority. This legislation would allow the director of a port
authority to draft checks or commit to a contract prior to convening the
board of commissioners as long as the amount is less than $25,000 and the
commissioners have authorized the port director to draft the checks or
make the commitment. 

PURPOSE

To outline provisions regarding precommitment approval for certain
purchases of a port authority. 

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 Section 60.403, Water Code, to require a purchase order
or other form of precommitment approval to be signed by the executive
director of a district or port authority, before a purchase is made.
Authorizes the precommitment approval to be in the form of a list of
approved routine purchases or contracts signed by the executive director
for routine contracts or purchases. Requires the signed list to remain on
file in the offices of the district or port authority. Requires the list
of routine purchases or contracts to be approved by the county auditor
before the purchases or contracts may be made if any other type of
purchase of the district or port authority is subject to the approval of a
county auditor. Makes conforming and nonsubstantive changes. 

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1997. Makes application of this
Act prospective. 

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.