SRC-JEC, SEW C.S.S.B. 871 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 871 By: Lindsay Intergovernmental Relations 3/28/2001 Committee Report (Substituted) DIGEST AND PURPOSE Current law does not clearly define what constitutes competitive bidding. C.S.S.B. 871 specifically defines competitive bidding, allows counties to accept electronic bids for goods and services, and requires counties to establish rules for the security and confidentiality of electronic bids. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to county purchasing agents in SECTION 2 (Section 262.023(a), Local Government Code) of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 262.022, Local Government Code, by adding Subsection (10), to define "competitive bidding." SECTION 2. Amends Section 262.023(a), Local Government Code, to require the county purchasing agent, prior to receiving electronic bids, to adopt rules, in conformance with Section 262.011(o), to ensure the identification, security, and confidentiality of such bids. Deletes text requiring bids or proposals to be sealed. SECTION 3. Amends Section 271.003, Local Government Code, by adding Subsection (12), to define "competitive bidding." SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 2001. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES Differs from the original by including in the definition of "competitive bidding" the requirement that bids be accepted in hard copy.