By Farabee                                            H.B. No. 1981
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to competitive bidding on certain purchases and contracts
 1-3     of governmental entities.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 262.022, Local Government Code, is
 1-6     amended by adding Subdivision (10) to read as follows:
 1-7                 (10)  "Competitive bidding" means providing all bidders
 1-8     with the opportunity to bid the same items or services on equal
 1-9     terms and having bids judged according to the same standards as set
1-10     forth in the specifications.  Bids or requests for proposals are to
1-11     be received in a fair and confidential manner through hard copy or
1-12     electronic transmission.
1-13           SECTION 2.  Section 262.023(a), Local Government Code, is
1-14     amended to read as follows:
1-15           (a)  Before a county may purchase one or more items under a
1-16     contract that will require an expenditure exceeding $25,000, the
1-17     commissioners court of the county must comply with the competitive
1-18     bidding or competitive proposal procedures prescribed by this
1-19     subchapter.  The county purchasing agent, prior to receiving
1-20     electronic bids, must adopt rules in conformance with Section
1-21     262.011(o) to ensure the identification, security, and
1-22     confidentiality of such bids.  [All bids or proposals must be
1-23     sealed.]
1-24           SECTION 3.  Section 271.003, Local Government Code, is
 2-1     amended by adding Subdivision (12) to read as follows:
 2-2                 (12)  "Competitive bidding" means providing all bidders
 2-3     with the opportunity to bid the same items or services on equal
 2-4     terms and having bids judged according to the same standards as set
 2-5     forth in the specifications.  Bids or requests for proposals are to
 2-6     be received in a fair and confidential manner through hard copy or
 2-7     electronic transmission.
 2-8           SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.