1-1     By:  Lindsay                                           S.B. No. 871
 1-2           (In the Senate - Filed February 22, 2001; February 26, 2001,
 1-3     read first time and referred to Committee on Intergovernmental
 1-4     Relations; April 2, 2001, reported adversely, with favorable
 1-5     Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 4, Nays 0;
 1-6     April 2, 2001, sent to printer.)
 1-7     COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 871                  By:  Lindsay
 1-8                            A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-9                                   AN ACT
1-10     relating to counties receiving or accepting competitive bids
1-11     through electronic transmission or in hard copy.
1-12           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-13           SECTION 1.  Section 262.022, Local Government Code, is
1-14     amended by adding Subdivision (10) to read as follows:
1-15           (10)  "Competitive bidding" means providing all bidders with
1-16     the opportunity to bid the same items or services on equal terms
1-17     and having bids judged according to the same standards as set forth
1-18     in the specifications.  Bids or requests for proposals are to be
1-19     received in a fair and confidential manner through hard copy or
1-20     electronic transmission.  Bids must be accepted in hard copy.
1-21           SECTION 2.  Subsection (a), Section 262.023, Local Government
1-22     Code, is amended to read as follows:
1-23           (a)  Before a county may purchase one or more items under a
1-24     contract that will require an expenditure exceeding $25,000, the
1-25     commissioners court of the county must comply with the competitive
1-26     bidding or competitive proposal procedures prescribed by this
1-27     subchapter.  The county purchasing agent, prior to receiving
1-28     electronic bids, must adopt rules in conformance with Section
1-29     262.011(o) to ensure the identification, security, and
1-30     confidentiality of such bids  [All bids or proposals must be
1-31     sealed].
1-32           SECTION 3.  Section 271.003, Local Government Code, is
1-33     amended by adding Subdivision (12) to read as follows:
1-34           (12)  "Competitive bidding" means providing all bidders with
1-35     the opportunity to bid the same items or services on equal terms
1-36     and having bids judged according to the same standards as set forth
1-37     in the specifications.  Bids or requests for proposals are to be
1-38     received in a fair and confidential manner through hard copy or
1-39     electronic transmission.  Bids must be accepted in hard copy.
1-40           SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
1-41                                  * * * * *