HBA-DMD H.B. 2264 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2264
By: Hamric
County Affairs
3/22/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

H.B. 2264 requires a county purchasing agent to complete not less than 40
hours in courses relating to the duties of the county purchasing agent from
an accredited college or university, or recognized by a national purchasing
association, such as the National Association of Purchasing Management.
This bill also provides that the county must comply with the competitive
bidding or competitive proposal procedures before purchasing one or more
items that exceed $25,000 in cost. Additionally, this bill authorizes the
notice of a  proposed purchase to be extended. 

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 262.011, Local Government Code, by adding
Subsection (p), to require a county purchasing agent, during each two-year
term of office, to complete not less than 40 hours in courses relating to
the duties of the county purchasing agent that must be accredited by a
nationally recognized college or university, or recognized by a national
purchasing association, such as the National Association of Purchasing
Management. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 262.023(a), Local Government Code, to increase
the amount of a contract expenditure from $15,000 to $25,000, before
providing that the county must comply with the competitive bidding or
competitive proposal procedures prescribed by this subchapter.   

SECTION 3.  Amends Section 262.026(a), Local Government Code, to authorize
the notice of a proposed purchase to be extended if the county purchasing
official determines the extension is in the best interest of the county,
rather than if the commissioners court discovers an error in the original
specifications or the nature of the item requires an extension for the
county to best use the provisions of Section 262.030 (Alternative
Competitive Proposal Procedure for Insurance, High Technology Items, and
Special Services). Provides that all bids, including those received before
an extension is made, must be opened at the same time. 

SECTION 4.Makes application of SECTION 1 of this Act prospective, as it
applies to the required 40 hours of courses to be completed by the county
purchasing agent. 

SECTION 5.Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 6.Emergency clause.