SRC-VRA H.B. 3089 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterH.B. 3089
78R12329 AKH-DBy: Dukes (Wentworth)
Administration
5/15/2003
Engrossed

DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, a county with a population of 2.8 million or more may use
mandatory pre-bid conferences to ensure that all parties understand the
project requirements and specifications before bidding, and such counties
may use a competitive proposal process, making a proposal negotiable.
H.B. 3089 authorizes the commissioners court of a county or another
governing body of a district to require a principal, officer, or employee
of each prospective bidder to attend a mandatory pre-bid conference
conducted for the purpose of discussing contract requirements and
answering questions of prospective bidders. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to
a state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 262.0256, Local Government Code, as follows:

Sec.  262.0256.  New heading:  PRE-BID CONFERENCE.  Authorizes the
commissioners court of a county or the governing body of a district or
authority created under Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, if
the governing body is the commissioners court of the county in which the
district is located, to require a principal, officer, or employee of each
prospective bidder to attend a mandatory pre-bid conference conducted for
the purpose of discussing contract requirements and answering questions of
prospective bidders.  Deletes text limiting such conferences to counties
with a population of 2.8 million or more. 
 
SECTION 2.  Amends Section 271.0565, Local Government Code, as follows:

Sec.  271.0565.  New heading:  PRE-BID CONFERENCE.  Authorizes the
commissioners court of a county or the governing body of a district or
authority created under Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, if
the governing body is the commissioners court of the county in which the
district is located, to require a principal, officer, or employee of each
prospective bidder to attend a mandatory pre-bid conference conducted for
the purpose of discussing contract requirements and answering questions of
prospective bidders.  Deletes text regarding this section applying only to
a county with a population of 2.8 million or more. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date:  September 1, 2003.