SRC-JBJ, JXG S.B. 1127 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 1127
By: Armbrister
State Affairs
7/19/1999
Enrolled


DIGEST 

Currently, the General Services Commission must purchase goods and services
according to state law.  S.B. 1127 will amend certain regulations in
Section 2155, Government Code, regarding state purchases of goods and
services. 

PURPOSE

As enrolled, S.B. 1127 amends certain regulations regarding state purchases
of goods and services. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is granted to the General Services Commission in
SECTION  7 (Section 2155.448(a), Section 2156.181(b), Government Code) of
this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 2155.078, Government Code, by amending the
section heading and Subsections (a) and (m), as follows: 

Sec. 2155.078.  New heading:  TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION OF STATE AGENCY
PURCHASING PERSONNEL AND VENDORS.  Authorizes the General Services
Commission (GSC) to establish and offer appropriate training to vendors on
a cost recovery basis.  Deletes a provision requiring an oral examination
for a certification. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 2155.262(d), Government Code, to delete a
requirement for GSC to send a copy of each uniform registration form to the
comptroller. 

SECTION 3.  Amends Section 2155.263(a), Government Code, to delete a
provision requiring a list of vendors to be registered annually. 

SECTION 4.  Amends Section 2155.266(a), Government Code, to authorize GSC
to charge an annual registration fee biennially, rather than annually. 

SECTION 5.  Section 2155.384, Government Code, to authorize an entity
authorized under Chapter 271, Local Government Code, or Section 2155.202 to
purchase from a contract entered into under the authority of GSC to pay
certain charges and fees if GSC, a state agency, or other entity determines
the charge is justifiable. 

SECTION 6.  Amends Section 2155.445, Government Code, as follows:

Sec. 2155.455.  New heading:  PREFERENCE FOR RECYCLED, REMANUFACTURED, OR
ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE PRODUCTS.  Requires GSC and state agencies to
give preference to recycled, remanufactured, or environmentally sensitive
products, as those terms are defined by rule of GSC, rather than give
preference to a product made of recycled materials, in purchasing,
reviewing procurement of, or developing products.  Makes conforming
changes. 

SECTION 7.  Amends Section 2155.448, Government Code, as follows:
 
Sec. 2155.448.  New heading:  EXPENDITURES FOR RECYCLED, REMANUFACTURED, OR
ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE COMMODITIES OR SERVICES.  Authorizes GSC in
coordination with the Recycling Market Development Board to identify, by
rule, certain environmentally sensitive commodities or services, and to
designate purchasing goals for the procurement of those commodities and
services by state agencies.  Requires a state agency that uses products not
environmentally sensitive to include with the procurement file a
justification written by its executive head stating the reasons why the
commodity or services will not meet the requirements of the agency.
Requires a state agency to report the expenditures made during the
preceding fiscal year for each commodities or service identified under
Subsection (a).  Requires the report to contain certain criteria regarding
amounts spent on certain environmentally sensitive commodities and
services.  Deletes a requirement that a state agency spend a certain
percentage of its budget on certain environmentally sensitive products.
Deletes a requirement that a state agency must report total expenditures in
certain subjects. 

SECTION 8.  Amends Section 2156.121, Government Code, to require GSC to
determine whether to delegate sole oversight of the acquisition to a state
agency or to retain oversight of the procurement. 

SECTION 9.  Amends Chapter 2156, Government Code, by adding Subchapter D,
as follows: 

SUBCHAPTER D.  INTERSTATE COMPACTS PROCEDURE

Sec. 2156.181.  INTERSTATE COMPACTS AND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS FOR
PROCUREMENTS.   Requires GSC to enter into certain agreements with a state
government for the purchase of goods or services, if GSC determines that
the agreement would be in the best interest of the state.  Authorizes GSC
to adopt rules to implement this section. 

SECTION 10.  Amends Section 2157.001(1), Government Code, to redefine
"automated information system."  Makes conforming and standard
recodification changes. 

SECTION 11.  Amends Sections 2157.005(a) and (b), Government Code, to
require GSC and the Department of Information Resources to develop a
technology access clause to be included in all contracts entered into by
the state or state agencies that involve the acquisition of an automated
information system.  Prohibits state funds from being expending unless the
contract contains the technology access clause.  Set forth the access
clause.  Deletes text requiring certain technology to be included in the
clause.  Defines "equivalent access."   

SECTION 12.  Amends Section 2157.0611, Government Code, to require a
catalogue purchase or lease that exceeds $2,000 or a greater amount
prescribed by GSC rule to be based on certain evaluations. 

SECTION 13.  Amends Section 2157.063(a), Government Code, to authorize a
state agency to negotiate price. 

SECTION 14.  Amends Section 2157.066, Government Code, to require GSC to
require each qualified information system vendor to maintain its approved
catalogue on the web, rather than maintain a home wage page.  Authorizes
GSC to audit a qualified information systems vendor's approved catalogues
for compliance with Subsection (c).  Deletes text requiring GSC to make
certain revision regarding price changes in a catalogue. 

SECTION 15.  Amends Section 2158.241, Government Code, to authorize, rather
than require, GSC to enter into certain agreements with other states and
governmental entities when GSC determines it is in the best interest of the
state. 

SECTION 16.  Amends Section 2254.040(a), Government Code, to authorize,
rather than require, GSC to procure consulting services for a requesting
state agency. 

SECTION 17.  Repealer:  Section 2155.268(d), Government Code (Use of State
Agency Bidders  List). 

SECTION 18.  Requires the State Auditor to contract with The University of
Texas System (system) to conduct a review of the processes and procedures
of the GSC for the purpose of making recommendations to improve the
efficiency and effectiveness of GSC in carrying out its statutory duties
and to assist GSC in implementing those recommendations. Requires the State
Auditor to provide any necessary support and assistance to the system in
conducting the review and may contract with other entities to assist in the
review.  Requires the contract to require the system and any other
contractor to present a report to the State Auditor no later than December
1, 2000. Authorizes the report to include the recommendations, together
with any additional recommendations of the State Auditor, to GSC and the
legislature.  Requires GSC to cooperate with the State Auditor, the system,
and any other contractors in carrying out the review.  Requires the
lieutenant governor to appoint two senators, and the speaker of the house
of representatives to appoint two members of the house of representatives,
to an interim legislative oversight committee to oversee the review
conducted under this section and to advise the State Auditor and the
legislative audit committee in regard to the review.  Requires the chair of
the legislative audit committee to serve as chair of the oversight
committee.  Requires the committee to evaluate the effectiveness of the
review conducted under this section and make recommendations to the
legislative audit committee concerning this review and the possibility of
future similar reviews.  Requires those recommendations to be included in
the auditor's report to the legislature under Subsection (a) of this
section.  

SECTION 19.Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 20.Emergency clause.
  Effective date:  upon passage.