By Farabee                                            H.B. No. 1981
         77R7623 T                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the receiving electronically of competitive bids by
 1-3     counties.
 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 sub-section (10) to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 262.022(10)  "Competitive bidding" means providing all
 1-8     bidders with the opportunity to bid the same item(s) or services on
 1-9     equal terms and having bids judged according to the same standards
1-10     as set forth in the specifications.  Bids or requests for proposals
1-11     are to be received in a fair and confidential manner through hard
1-12     copy or electronic transmission.
1-13           SECTION 2.  Section 262.023(a), Local Government Code, is
1-14     amended to read as follows:
1-15           Sec. 262.023(a)  Before a county may purchase one or more
1-16     items under a contract that will require an expenditure exceeding
1-17     $25,000, the commissioners court of the county must comply with the
1-18     competitive bidding or competitive proposal procedures prescribed
1-19     by this subchapter.  The county purchasing agent, prior to
1-20     receiving electronic bids, must adopt rules, in conformance with
1-21     Sec. 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 sub-section (12) to read as follows:
 2-2           Sec. 271.003(12)  "Competitive bidding" means providing all
 2-3     bidders with the opportunity to bid the same item(s) or services on
 2-4     equal terms and having bids judged according to the same standards
 2-5     as set forth in the specifications.  Bids or requests for proposals
 2-6     are to be received in a fair and confidential manner through hard
 2-7     copy or electronic transmission.
 2-8           SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.