HBA-TYH H.B. 1890 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1890 By: Dukes State Affairs 3/9/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, state agencies are required by statute to include certain information in a public notice regarding procurement. Some firms' chances of submitting a successful bid may be enhanced by access to an "insider" network of information related to the procurement process, which provides a competitive edge to some but not all firms. Historically underutilized businesses (HUBs) are usually lacking in such competitive resources to provide the necessary and complete information germane to procurement opportunities. Additionally, the $100 charge for businesses to be placed on the master bidders list serves as a financial deterrent to participation by small HUBs. Officials at the General Services Commission report that 50 percent of Texas certified HUBs are not on the master bidders list. H.B. 1890 requires posting of clear and complete information necessary to make a successful bid, proposal, or other applicable expression of interest for the procurement contract. This bill also eliminates the registration fee for HUBs to be placed on the master bidders list and the annual renewal fee. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 2155.074(g), Government Code, as added by Chapter 508, Acts of the 75th Legislature, Regular Session, 1997, to include, in the bid or proposal solicitation package or notice that a state agency is required to post in the business daily, all information necessary to make a successful bid, proposal, or other applicable expression of interest for the procurement contract. Includes in such information a clear and complete, rather than brief, description of the goods or services to be procured, the contact information for a person to contact and inquire about, rather than obtain, all necessary information related to making a bid or proposal, and other enumerated items. SECTION 2. Amends Section 2155.266, Government Code, by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c), as follows: (a) Provides Subsection (c) as an exception to this subsection which authorizes registration and renewal fees for application to the master bidders list. (c) Requires the General Services Commission to register and maintain the registration of a historically underutilized business (HUB) on the list without charging the HUB a registration fee or an annual renewal fee. SECTION 3.Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 4.Emergency clause.