LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session April 3, 2001 TO: Honorable Teel Bivins, Chair, Senate Committee on Education FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: SB641 by Duncan (Relating to the acquisition of goods and services by institutions of higher education.), As Introduced ************************************************************************** * No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. * ************************************************************************** The bill extends to general academic institutions the flexibility in the process of acquisition of goods and services previously provided to health-related institutions. In this bill, institutions of higher education are allowed to make purchases using the best value method of evaluating bids. A bill passed during the 74th legislative session (1995), allowed medical and dental units to follow this practice. This bill merely extends the original legislation to apply to all institutions of higher education. This bill would partially implement recommendation ED-4 from the Comptroller's report, e-Texas: Smaller, Smarter, Faster Government. The bill would simplify and deregulate the procurement process at institutions of higher education. Although institutions could save money under the bill's provisions, it is assumed any funds saved through greater efficiencies would be retained by the institutions, resulting in no significant fiscal impact on the state. Local Government Impact No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. Source Agencies: 781 Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board LBB Staff: JK, CT, HM