HBA-CMT H.B. 197 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 197
By: Solomons
County Affairs
2/19/2001
Committee Report (Amended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the competitive bidding limit for a municipality and a crime
control and prevention district (district) is set at $15,000.  During the
1999 legislative session, the county bidding limit was increased from
$15,000 to $25,000.   House Bill 197 increases from $15,000 to $25,000 the
maximum amount that a municipality or a district may expend without being
subject to competitive bidding and proposal requirements. 

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. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 197 amends the Local Government Code to increase from $15,000 to
$25,000 the maximum amount that a  municipality or a crime control and
prevention district may expend without being subject to competitive bidding
and proposal requirements.   

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.

EXPLANATION OF AMENDMENTS

Committee Amendment No. 1 increases from $15,000 to $25,000 the maximum
amount that a governmental entity is authorized to spend on a contract for
the construction, repair, or renovation of a structure, road, highway, or
other addition or improvement to real property without being subject to
competitive bidding and proposed requirements.  The amendment provides that
any law that requires a county to follow a competitive bidding procedure in
making a purchase requiring an expenditure of $25,000 rather than $15,000
or less does not apply to the purchase of an item available for purchase
from only one supplier.