1-1     By:  Brown                                             S.B. No. 874
 1-2           (In the Senate - Filed March 4, 1999; March 8, 1999, read
 1-3     first time and referred to Committee on Natural Resources;
 1-4     March 17, 1999, reported favorably by the following vote:  Yeas 5,
 1-5     Nays 0; March 17, 1999, sent to printer.)
 1-6                            A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-7                                   AN ACT
 1-8     relating to the general power of the Parks and Wildlife Department
 1-9     to contract.
1-10           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-11           SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 11, Parks and Wildlife
1-12     Code, is amended by adding Section 11.0171 to read as follows:
1-13           Sec. 11.0171.  AUTHORITY TO CONTRACT.  (a)  For the purpose
1-14     of carrying out the powers, duties, and responsibilities of the
1-15     department, the executive director, or the executive director's
1-16     designee, may negotiate, contract, or enter an agreement:
1-17                 (1)  with:
1-18                       (A)  the United States or any of its agencies;
1-19                       (B)  another state or a political subdivision of
1-20     another state or of this state; or
1-21                       (C)  a nonprofit organization for research and
1-22     field work; or
1-23                 (2)  for professional services relating to a project of
1-24     the department, including project management, design, bid, and
1-25     construction administration, consistent with Subchapter A, Chapter
1-26     2254, Government Code.
1-27           (b)  The commission by rule shall adopt policies and
1-28     procedures consistent with applicable state procurement practices
1-29     for soliciting and awarding the contracts under this section.
1-30           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
1-31           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-32     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-33     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-34     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-35     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
1-36                                  * * * * *