SRC-JLB C.S.S.B. 1229 78(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 1229 78R12329 AKH-DBy: Wentworth Intergovernmental Relations 4/29/2003 Committee Report (Substituted) 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. C.S.S.B. 1229 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. 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.