H.B. 443 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


H.B. 443
By: Denny
Public Education
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND 

Under current law, school districts are required to advertise bidding and
proposal instruments in the county newspaper in which the district's
central administrative office is located, each day for two weeks when the
purchases exceed $25,000 in one-time costs or total costs for the year.
Conversely, state and local governments are allowed to advertise bids and
requests for information or proposals on the Texas Marketplace Website
used by state agencies and local governments for posting information and
maintained by the Texas Building and Procurement Commission.  School
districts are authorized to post on the Texas Marketplace Website but are
also still required to purchase advertisements in newspapers. 


PURPOSE

The purpose of House Bill 443 is to preserve openness of district
activities while increasing competition, and reducing costs for districts
in order to make available more funds for classroom use. 
   

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or
agency. 


ANALYSIS

House Bill 443 amends the Education Code to require bids or proposals to
be posted on the electronic procurement marketplace established by the
Department of Information Resources or published in the county in which
the district's central administrative office is located.  

The bill amends the Government Code to require the Texas Building and
Procurement Commission to permit a school district to post information on
the electronic procurement marketplace. 


EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2003.