75R15156 JRD-F                          

         By Zaffirini                                          S.B. No. 1066

         Substitute the following for S.B. No. 1066:

         By Delisi                                         C.S.S.B. No. 1066

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to procurement practices by health and human services

 1-3     agencies, by certain other agencies with programs related to health

 1-4     or human services, and by certain public and private local

 1-5     providers of health or human services.

 1-6           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-7           SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 2155, Government Code, is

 1-8     amended by adding Section 2155.144 to read as follows:

 1-9           Sec. 2155.144.  PROCUREMENTS BY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

1-10     AGENCIES AND WORKERS' COMPENSATION COMMISSION.  (a)  This section

1-11     applies only to the Health and Human Services Commission, to each

1-12     health and human services agency, and to the Texas Workers'

1-13     Compensation Commission.

1-14           (b)  An agency to which this section applies is delegated the

1-15     authority to procure its goods and services, except as provided by

1-16     this section.

1-17           (c)  An agency to which this section applies shall acquire

1-18     goods or services by any procurement method approved by the Health

1-19     and Human Services Commission that provides the best value to the

1-20     agency.  The agency shall document that it considered all relevant

1-21     factors under Subsection (d) in making the acquisition.

1-22           (d)  Subject to Subsection (e), the agency may consider all

1-23     relevant factors in determining the best value, including:

1-24                 (1)  any installation costs;

 2-1                 (2)  the delivery terms;

 2-2                 (3)  the quality and reliability of the vendor's goods

 2-3     or services;

 2-4                 (4)  the extent to which the goods or services meet the

 2-5     agency's needs;

 2-6                 (5)  indicators of probable vendor performance under

 2-7     the contract such as past vendor performance, the vendor's

 2-8     financial resources and ability to perform, the vendor's experience

 2-9     and responsibility, and the vendor's ability to provide reliable

2-10     maintenance agreements;

2-11                 (6)  the impact on the ability of the agency to comply

2-12     with laws and rules relating to historically underutilized

2-13     businesses or relating to the procurement of goods and services

2-14     from persons with disabilities;

2-15                 (7)  the total long-term cost to the agency of

2-16     acquiring the vendor's goods or services;

2-17                 (8)  the cost of any employee training associated with

2-18     the acquisition;

2-19                 (9)  the effect of an acquisition on agency

2-20     productivity;

2-21                 (10)  the acquisition price; and

2-22                 (11)  any other factor relevant to determining the best

2-23     value for the agency in the context of a particular acquisition.

2-24           (e)  If an agency to which this section applies acquires

2-25     goods or services with a value that exceeds $100,000, the agency

2-26     shall consult with and receive approval from the Health and Human

2-27     Services Commission before considering factors other than price and

 3-1     meeting specifications.

 3-2           (f)  The state auditor may audit the agency's acquisitions of

 3-3     goods and services.

 3-4           (g)  The agency may adopt rules and procedures for the

 3-5     acquisition of goods and services under this section.

 3-6           (h)  The Health and Human Services Commission shall adopt

 3-7     rules and procedures for the acquisition of goods and services

 3-8     under this section that apply to all health and human services

 3-9     agencies, including rules adopted with the commission's assistance

3-10     that allow an agency to make purchases through a group purchasing

3-11     program except when a better value is available through another

3-12     procurement method.  The rules of the health and human services

3-13     agencies must be consistent with the rules of the Health and Human

3-14     Services Commission.

3-15           (i)  The Health and Human Services Commission shall

3-16     coordinate the procurement practices of all health and human

3-17     services agencies and encourage those agencies to use efficient

3-18     procurement practices such as the use of a group purchasing

3-19     program, combining maintenance contracts into one contract, and

3-20     obtaining prompt payment discounts.  The Health and Human Services

3-21     Commission may transfer the procurement functions of a health and

3-22     human services agency to another appropriate state agency if it

3-23     determines that transferring those functions would be advantageous

3-24     to the state.  Other state agencies and institutions with

3-25     experience in acquiring goods and services using the procedures

3-26     allowed under Subsections (c) and (d) shall on request assist the

3-27     Health and Human Services Commission to perform its functions under

 4-1     this section.

 4-2           (j)  To the extent of any conflict, this section prevails

 4-3     over any other state law relating to the procurement of goods and

 4-4     services except a law relating to contracting with historically

 4-5     underutilized businesses or relating to the procurement of goods

 4-6     and services from persons with disabilities.

 4-7           (k)  In this section, "health and human services agency" has

 4-8     the meaning assigned by Section 531.001.

 4-9           SECTION 2.  Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Human Resources Code,

4-10     is amended by adding Sections 32.043 and 32.044 to read as follows:

4-11           Sec. 32.043.  PROCUREMENT RULES FOR PUBLIC DISPROPORTIONATE

4-12     SHARE HOSPITALS.  (a)  A public hospital that is designated as a

4-13     disproportionate share hospital during a fiscal year may acquire

4-14     goods and services in accordance with this section during the

4-15     succeeding fiscal year.  A procurement of goods or services made in

4-16     accordance with this section is considered to satisfy any state law

4-17     requiring purchases by competitive bidding or competitive

4-18     proposals.

4-19           (b)  The public hospital shall acquire goods or services by

4-20     any procurement method approved by the Health and Human Services

4-21     Commission that provides the best value to the public hospital.

4-22     The public hospital shall document that it considered all relevant

4-23     factors under Subsection (c) in making the acquisition.

4-24           (c)  The public hospital may consider all relevant factors in

4-25     determining the best value, including:

4-26                 (1)  any installation costs;

4-27                 (2)  the delivery terms;

 5-1                 (3)  the quality and reliability of the vendor's goods

 5-2     or services;

 5-3                 (4)  the extent to which the goods or services meet the

 5-4     public hospital's needs;

 5-5                 (5)  indicators of probable vendor performance under

 5-6     the contract such as past vendor performance, the vendor's

 5-7     financial resources and ability to perform, the vendor's experience

 5-8     and responsibility, and the vendor's ability to provide reliable

 5-9     maintenance agreements;

5-10                 (6)  the impact on the ability of the public hospital

5-11     to comply with laws and rules relating to historically

5-12     underutilized businesses or relating to the procurement of goods

5-13     and services from persons with disabilities;

5-14                 (7)  the total long-term cost to the public hospital of

5-15     acquiring the vendor's goods or services;

5-16                 (8)  the cost of any employee training associated with

5-17     the acquisition;

5-18                 (9)  the effect of an acquisition on the public

5-19     hospital's productivity;

5-20                 (10)  the acquisition price; and

5-21                 (11)  any other factor relevant to determining the best

5-22     value for the public hospital in the context of a particular

5-23     acquisition.

5-24           (d)  The state auditor or the department may audit the public

5-25     hospital's acquisitions of goods and services to the extent that

5-26     state money or federal money appropriated by the state is used to

5-27     acquire the goods and services.

 6-1           (e)  The public hospital may adopt rules and procedures for

 6-2     the acquisition of goods and services under this section.

 6-3           Sec. 32.044.  GROUP PURCHASING FOR DISPROPORTIONATE SHARE

 6-4     HOSPITALS.  (a)  A public or private hospital that is designated as

 6-5     a disproportionate share hospital during a fiscal year may purchase

 6-6     goods and services in accordance with this section during the

 6-7     succeeding fiscal year.  A purchase of goods or services made in

 6-8     accordance with this section is considered to satisfy any state law

 6-9     requiring purchases by competitive bidding or competitive

6-10     proposals.

6-11           (b)  A state or local governmental entity may allow the

6-12     public or private hospital to purchase goods or services by

6-13     participating in one or more of the entity's contracts for the

6-14     purchase of goods or services.

6-15           (c)  The public or private hospital may purchase goods or

6-16     services in accordance with this section through a group purchasing

6-17     program that offers discount prices to hospitals or other providers

6-18     of health care services.

6-19           (d)  The department with the assistance of the Health and

6-20     Human Services Commission and the General Services Commission shall

6-21     adopt rules under this section that allow the public or private

6-22     hospital to make purchases through group purchasing programs except

6-23     when the department has reason to believe that a better value is

6-24     available through another procurement method.

6-25           (e)  This section applies to private hospitals only to the

6-26     extent it authorizes private hospitals to participate in purchasing

6-27     contracts with governmental entities or to satisfy any state law

 7-1     that may require goods and services the hospital purchases to be

 7-2     competitively procured.  This section does not impose new

 7-3     purchasing requirements on a private hospital, except to the extent

 7-4     that the private hospital agrees to be bound by the terms of a

 7-5     contract that is authorized by this section and that it chooses to

 7-6     enter.  This section does not affect any explicit or implicit

 7-7     authority that a private hospital has under other law to

 7-8     participate in a group purchasing program or to participate in a

 7-9     purchasing contract with a public entity.

7-10           SECTION 3.  Subsections (a) and (b), Section 12.052, Health

7-11     and Safety Code, are amended to read as follows:

7-12           (a)  The expenditure of funds received by local units of

7-13     government from the department is governed by Chapter 783,

7-14     Government Code, [the Uniform Grant and Contract Management Act of

7-15     1981 (Article 4413(32g), Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes)] and the

7-16     rules adopted under that law, except as provided by Section 12.055

7-17     [Act].

7-18           (b)  The expenditure of funds received by other state

7-19     agencies from the department is governed by Subtitle D, Title 10,

7-20     Government Code, [the State Purchasing and General Services Act

7-21     (Article 601b, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes)] and the rules

7-22     adopted under that law, except as provided by Section 12.055 [Act].

7-23           SECTION 4.  Subchapter E, Chapter 12, Health and Safety Code,

7-24     is amended by adding Sections 12.055 and 12.056 to read as follows:

7-25           Sec. 12.055.  CERTAIN PROCUREMENTS MADE WITH DEPARTMENT

7-26     FUNDS.  (a)  A state agency or local unit of government that

7-27     expends funds received from the department for the acquisition of

 8-1     goods and services may satisfy the requirements of Section 12.052

 8-2     or of another state law requiring procurements by competitive

 8-3     bidding or competitive sealed proposals by procuring goods or

 8-4     services with those funds in accordance with Section 12.056 or in

 8-5     accordance with:

 8-6                 (1)  Section 2155.144, Government Code, if the entity

 8-7     is a state agency subject to that law;

 8-8                 (2)  Section 32.043 or 32.044, Human Resources Code, if

 8-9     the entity is a public hospital subject to those laws; or

8-10                 (3)  this section, if the entity is not covered by

8-11     Subdivision (1) or (2).

8-12           (b)  A state agency or local unit of government under

8-13     Subsection (a)(3) shall acquire goods or services by any

8-14     procurement method approved by the Health and Human Services

8-15     Commission that provides the best value to the state agency or

8-16     local unit of government.  The state agency or local unit of

8-17     government shall document that the state agency or local unit of

8-18     government considered all relevant factors under Subsection (c) in

8-19     making the acquisition.

8-20           (c)  Subject to Subsection (d), the state agency or local

8-21     unit of government may consider all relevant factors in determining

8-22     the best value, including:

8-23                 (1)  any installation costs;

8-24                 (2)  the delivery terms;

8-25                 (3)  the quality and reliability of the vendor's goods

8-26     or services;

8-27                 (4)  the extent to which the goods or services meet the

 9-1     state agency's or local unit of government's needs;

 9-2                 (5)  indicators of probable vendor performance under

 9-3     the contract such as past vendor performance, the vendor's

 9-4     financial resources and ability to perform, the vendor's experience

 9-5     and responsibility, and the vendor's ability to provide reliable

 9-6     maintenance agreements;

 9-7                 (6)  the impact on the ability of the state agency or

 9-8     local unit of government to comply with laws and rules relating to

 9-9     historically underutilized businesses or relating to the

9-10     procurement of goods and services from persons with disabilities;

9-11                 (7)  the total long-term cost to the state agency or

9-12     local unit of government of acquiring the vendor's goods or

9-13     services;

9-14                 (8)  the cost of any employee training associated with

9-15     the acquisition;

9-16                 (9)  the effect of an acquisition on the state agency's

9-17     or local unit of government's productivity;

9-18                 (10)  the acquisition price; and

9-19                 (11)  any other factor relevant to determining the best

9-20     value for the state agency or local unit of government in the

9-21     context of a particular acquisition.

9-22           (d)  If a state agency to which this section applies acquires

9-23     goods or services with a value that exceeds $100,000, the state

9-24     agency shall consult with and receive approval from the Health and

9-25     Human Services Commission before considering factors other than

9-26     price and meeting specifications.

9-27           (e)  The state auditor or the department may audit the state

 10-1    agency's or local unit of government's acquisitions of goods and

 10-2    services under this section.

 10-3          (f)  The state agency or local unit of government may adopt

 10-4    rules and procedures for the acquisition of goods and services

 10-5    under this section.

 10-6          Sec. 12.056.  PARTICIPATION IN DEPARTMENT PURCHASING

 10-7    CONTRACTS OR GROUP PURCHASING PROGRAM.  The department may allow a

 10-8    state agency, local unit of government, or private entity that

 10-9    expends funds received by the department to purchase goods or

10-10    services using those funds by participating in:

10-11                (1)  a contract the department has made to purchase

10-12    goods or services; or

10-13                (2)  a group purchasing program established or

10-14    designated by the department that offers discounts to providers of

10-15    health services.

10-16          SECTION 5.  Subchapter A, Chapter 533, Health and Safety

10-17    Code, is amended by adding Sections 533.016 and 533.017 to read as

10-18    follows:

10-19          Sec. 533.016.  CERTAIN PROCUREMENTS OF GOODS AND SERVICES BY

10-20    SERVICE PROVIDERS.  (a)  A state agency, local agency, local mental

10-21    health authority, or local mental retardation authority that

10-22    expends public money to acquire goods or services in connection

10-23    with providing or coordinating the provision of mental health or

10-24    mental retardation services may satisfy the requirements of any

10-25    state law requiring procurements by competitive bidding or

10-26    competitive sealed proposals by procuring goods or services with

10-27    the public money in accordance with Section 533.017 or in

 11-1    accordance with:

 11-2                (1)  Section 2155.144, Government Code, if the entity

 11-3    is a state agency subject to that law;

 11-4                (2)  Section 32.043 or 32.044, Human Resources Code, if

 11-5    the entity is a public hospital subject to those laws; or

 11-6                (3)  this section, if the entity is not covered by

 11-7    Subdivision (1) or (2).

 11-8          (b)  An agency or authority under Subsection (a)(3) may

 11-9    acquire goods or services by any procurement method that provides

11-10    the best value to the agency or authority.  The agency or authority

11-11    shall document that the agency or authority considered all relevant

11-12    factors under Subsection (c) in making the acquisition.

11-13          (c)  Subject to Subsection (d), the agency or authority may

11-14    consider all relevant factors in determining the best value,

11-15    including:

11-16                (1)  any installation costs;

11-17                (2)  the delivery terms;

11-18                (3)  the quality and reliability of the vendor's goods

11-19    or services;

11-20                (4)  the extent to which the goods or services meet the

11-21    agency's or authority's needs;

11-22                (5)  indicators of probable vendor performance under

11-23    the contract such as past vendor performance, the vendor's

11-24    financial resources and ability to perform, the vendor's experience

11-25    and responsibility, and the vendor's ability to provide reliable

11-26    maintenance agreements;

11-27                (6)  the impact on the ability of the agency or

 12-1    authority to comply with laws and rules relating to historically

 12-2    underutilized businesses or relating to the procurement of goods

 12-3    and services from persons with disabilities;

 12-4                (7)  the total long-term cost to the agency or

 12-5    authority of acquiring the vendor's goods or services;

 12-6                (8)  the cost of any employee training associated with

 12-7    the acquisition;

 12-8                (9)  the effect of an acquisition on the agency's or

 12-9    authority's productivity;

12-10                (10)  the acquisition price; and

12-11                (11)  any other factor relevant to determining the best

12-12    value for the agency or authority in the context of a particular

12-13    acquisition.

12-14          (d)  If a state agency to which this section applies acquires

12-15    goods or services with a value that exceeds $100,000, the state

12-16    agency shall consult with and receive approval from the Health and

12-17    Human Services Commission before considering factors other than

12-18    price and meeting specifications.

12-19          (e)  The state auditor or the department may audit the

12-20    agency's or authority's acquisitions of goods and services under

12-21    this section to the extent state money or federal money

12-22    appropriated by the state is used to make the acquisitions.

12-23          (f)  The agency or authority may adopt rules and procedures

12-24    for the acquisition of goods and services under this section.

12-25          Sec. 533.017.  PARTICIPATION IN DEPARTMENT PURCHASING

12-26    CONTRACTS OR GROUP PURCHASING PROGRAM.  The department may allow a

12-27    state agency, local agency, local mental health authority, or local

 13-1    mental retardation authority that expends public money to purchase

 13-2    goods or services in connection with providing or coordinating the

 13-3    provision of mental health or mental retardation services to

 13-4    purchase goods or services with the public money by participating

 13-5    in:

 13-6                (1)  a contract the department has made to purchase

 13-7    goods or services; or

 13-8                (2)  a group purchasing program established or

 13-9    designated by the department that offers discounts to providers of

13-10    mental health or mental retardation services.

13-11          SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

13-12          SECTION 7.  The importance of this legislation and the

13-13    crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

13-14    emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

13-15    constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

13-16    days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.