H.B. 2242 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 2242 By: Smith, Wayne County Affairs Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Under current law, a county with a population of 2.8 million or more is permitted to require prospective bidders on proposed county purchases or projects to attend a pre-bid conference. Only those prospective bidders that attend the mandatory pre-bid conference are eligible to bid on a proposed purchase or project. If the county extends the time for receiving and opening bids on a proposed purchase or project for which a mandatory pre-bid conference was held, current law arguably requires the county to re-publish notice in a newspaper in general circulation in the county, even though only the pre-bid conference attendees are eligible to bid. The purpose of the H.B. 2242 is to allow a county of a population of 2.8 million or more, in those cases where the county extends the time for receiving and opening bids on a proposed purchase or project for which a mandatory pre-bid conference was held, to directly notify via certified mail the pre-bid conference attendees. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 262.0256, Local Government Code, by adding new subsection (c) that requires the county, if it extends the time for receiving and opening bids after conducting a mandatory pre-bid conference, to directly notify the pre-bid conference attendees via certified mail, rather than publish another notice in a newspaper of general circulation in the county. SECTION 2. Amends Section 271.0565, Local Government Code, by adding new subsection (c) that requires the county, if it extends the time for receiving and opening bids after conducting a mandatory pre-bid conference, to directly notify the pre-bid conference attendees via certified mail, rather than publish another notice in a newspaper of general circulation in the county. SECTION 3. Sets effective date. EFFECTIVE DATE This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.