1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the threshold contract amount at which a county and
1-3 certain municipalities are required to engage in a competitive
1-4 purchasing procedure for certain purchases.
1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-6 SECTION 1. Section 271.054, Local Government Code, is amended
1-7 to read as follows:
1-8 Sec. 271.054. COMPETITIVE BIDDING REQUIREMENT. Before the
1-9 governing body of an issuer may enter into a contract requiring an
1-10 expenditure by or imposing an obligation or liability on the
1-11 issuer, or on a subdivision of the issuer if the issuer is a
1-12 county, of more than $25,000 [$15,000], the governing body must
1-13 submit the proposed contract to competitive bidding.
1-14 SECTION 2. Sections 252.312(b) and (c), Transportation Code,
1-15 are amended to read as follows:
1-16 (b) If the county road engineer so recommends and the
1-17 commissioners court considers it to be in the best interest of the
1-18 county, a purchase in an amount of $25,000 [$15,000] or less may be
1-19 made through negotiation by the commissioners court or the court's
1-20 authorized representative on requisition to be approved by the
1-21 commissioners court or the county auditor without advertising for
1-22 competitive bids.
1-23 (c) A purchase may not be divided or reduced to avoid the
1-24 competitive bidding requirement on a purchase that would otherwise
2-1 cost more than $25,000 [$15,000].
2-2 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
2-3 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
2-4 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
2-5 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
2-6 Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
_______________________________ _______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2863 was passed by the House on May
5, 2001, by the following vote: Yeas 140, Nays 0, 2 present, not
voting.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2863 was passed by the Senate on May
22, 2001, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0, 1 present, not
voting.
_______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________________
Date
__________________________
Governor