SRC-VRA H.B. 3561 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 3561
78R7865 EMT-DBy: Bonnen (Jackson)
Intergovernmental Relations
5/17/2003
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Angleton-Danbury Hospital District has requested the same flexibility in
public works projects as municipalities, counties, and water districts
under the Local Government Code and school districts under the Education
Code, whereby modern and cost-effective procurement procedures such as
competitive proposals and design-build contracts are available as
alternatives to traditional competitive bidding.  In this way the
governmental entity may use whichever method will provide the best value. 

As a generic political subdivision of Texas, Angleton-Danbury Hospital
District is presently restricted from using anything but strict
competitive bidding and cannot allow the project designer to be the
builder, no matter how high-tech or specialized the project may be.
Non-governmental hospitals have no such restrictions upon their
improvement projects.  H.B. 3561 grants the AngletonDanbury Hospital
District the powers and duties of a municipality with respect to public
works contracts. 

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 Chapter 120, Acts of the 60th Legislature, Regular
Session, 1967, is amended by adding Section 12C, as follows: 
 
Sec. 12C.  PUBLIC WORKS CONTRACTS.  Provides that with respect to the
construction of public works, the  Angleton-Danbury Hospital District
(district) has all of the powers and duties conferred on a municipality
under Subchapter H, Chapter 271, Local Government Code, with respect to
the construction of a facility.  Provides that to the extent of any
conflict, this section prevails over any other law relating to the
construction of public works engaged in by the district. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2003.