SRC-JXG S.B. 1669 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterS.B. 1669 76R7075 DRH-FBy: Jackson Intergovernmental Relations 4/8/1999 Committee Report (Amended) DIGEST Currently, the commissioners court of a county must comply with competitive bidding or competitive proposal procedures, before purchasing one or more items under a contract that will require an expenditure exceeding $15,000. S.B. 1669 would increase the bid limit from $15,000 to $25,000, and allow the county official who conducts purchases for the county to determine the need for an extension without the permission of the commissioners court, and would address continuing education training for county purchasing agents. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 1669 sets forth continuing education requirements for county purchasing agents, and increases bid limits for purchases by counties. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY Rulemaking authority is granted to the commissioners court in SECTION 3 (Section 262.026(a), Local Government Code) of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 262.011, Local Government Code, by adding Subsection (p), to require a county purchasing agent to complete no less than 25 hours in courses relating to the duties of the county purchasing agent, during each two-year term of office. Requires the courses to 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 require the commissioners court of the county to comply with the competitive bidding or competitive proposal procedures, before a county may purchase one or more items under a contract that will require an expenditure exceeding $25,000, rather than $15,000. SECTION 3. Amends Section 262.026(a), Local Government Code, to authorize the date specified in the notice to be extended, if the commissioners court determines the extension is in the best interest of the county. Requires all bids, including those received before an extension is made, to be opened at the same time. Authorizes the commissioners court to adopt an order that delegates the authority to make extensions under this subsection to the county official who makes purchases for the county. Deletes text regarding the commissioners court discovering an error in the original specifications or the nature of the item to be purchased. SECTION 4. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 5. Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 6. Emergency clause. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES SECTION 1. Amends Section 262.011(p), Local Government Code, to require a county purchasing agent to complete no less than 25 hours in courses relating to the duties of the county purchasing agent, during each two-year term of office. SECTION 3. Amends Section 262.026(a), Local Government Code, to authorize the date specified in the notice to be extended if the commissioners court determines the extension is in the best interest of the county. Authorizes the commissioners court to adopt an order that delegates the authority to make extensions under this subsection to the county official who makes purchases for the county.