SRC-PNG, ARR C.S.S.B. 690 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 690 76R10593 BDH-FBy: Lucio Natural Resources 4/8/1999 Committee Report (Substituted) DIGEST Currently, Texas law requires Texas public schools and universities to give first preference to purchasing Texas and United States products. C.S.S.B. 690 would require the comptroller of public accounts to conduct an analysis of purchases by schools and state agencies to determine the effectiveness of this law, and would give preference in purchasing to United States products over foreign products when Texas products are not available. PURPOSE As proposed, C.S.S.B. 690 requires preference to Texas and U.S. products in purchasing by state agencies, school districts, and certain charter schools. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 44B, Education Code, by adding Section 44.042, as follows: Sec. 44.042. PREFERENCE TO TEXAS AND UNITED STATES PRODUCTS. Requires a school district or open-enrollment charter school that purchases goods, including agricultural products, to give preference to those processed, produced or grown in this state, if the cost to the district or school and the quality are equal. Requires the school district or open-enrollment charter school to give preference to goods processed, produced or grown in other states of the United States over foreign products, if the cost to the school district or school and the quality are equal, if goods, including agricultural products, processed, produced or grown in this state are not equal in cost and quality to other products. Requires a school district or open enrollment charter school that purchases vegetation for landscaping purposes, including plants, to give preference to Texas vegetation if the cost to the school district or school is not greater and the quality is not inferior. Requires the Texas Education Agency (agency) to conduct an analysis of purchases by school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to determine the effectiveness of this section and to report the analysis to the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives not later than December 31 of each even-numbered year. Authorizes a school district or open-enrollment charter school to receive assistance from and use the resources of the Texas Department of Agriculture, including information on availability of agriculture products, in the implementation of this section. Prohibits a school district or open-enrollment charter school from adopting product purchasing specifications that unnecessarily exclude goods produced, processed, or grown in this state. Defines "agricultural product" and "processed." Makes conforming changes. SECTION 2. Amends Section 2155.444, Government Code, to require the comptroller to conduct an analysis of purchases by the General Services Commission and state agencies to determine the effectiveness of this section and to report the analysis to the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the representatives not later than December 31 of each even-numbered year. Authorizes a state agency to receive assistance from and use the resources of the Texas Department of Agriculture, including information on availability of agriculture products, in the implementation of this section. Prohibits a state agency from adopting product purchasing specifications that unnecessarily exclude goods produced, processed, or grown in this state. Defines "agricultural product" and "processed." Makes conforming changes. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 4. Emergency clause. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES SECTION 1. Amends Section 44.042, Education Code, to require certain schools to give preference to agricultural products processed, produced, or grown in this state. Requires the agency to conduct an analysis of purchases by certain schools to determine the effectiveness of this section and to report the analysis to the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives not later than a certain date. Makes conforming changes. SECTION 2. Amends Section 2155.444, Government Code, to authorize a state agency to receive assistance from and use the resources of the Texas Department of Agriculture, including information on availability of agriculture products, in the implementation of this section. Prohibits a state agency from adopting product purchasing specifications that unnecessarily exclude goods produced, processed, or grown in this state. Defines "agricultural product" and "processed." Makes conforming changes.