78R3716 SGA-D

By:  Davis of Harris                                              H.B. No. 969



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to requiring commissioners and vendors of the Port of 
Houston Authority of Harris County, Texas, to disclose certain 
financial relationships.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Chapter 117, Acts of the 55th Legislature, 
Regular Session, 1957, is amended by adding Section 1A to read as 
follows:
	Sec. 1A.  DISCLOSURE OF VENDOR RELATIONSHIP.  (a)  The Port 
Commission of the Port of Houston Authority of Harris County, 
Texas, shall prescribe a conflicts disclosure statement for vendors 
and port commissioners.
	(b)  A port commissioner shall disclose on the conflicts 
disclosure statement any employment or other business relationship 
the commissioner has with a vendor who participates, as a bidder or 
in another manner, in the purchasing procedures used by the 
Authority, if that relationship results in the commissioner's 
receipt of taxable income from the vendor.  The commissioner must 
include on the statement a description of the nature and extent of 
the relationship.
	(c)  The port commissioner must file the disclosure 
statement with the clerk of the county not later than the 10th day 
after the date the commissioner becomes aware of the vendor's 
participation, by the submission of a bid or in another manner, in 
the purchasing procedures of the Authority.
	(d)  A vendor described by Subsection (b) shall file a 
conflicts disclosure statement with the clerk of the county not 
later than the 10th day after the vendor:
		(1)  begins contract discussions or negotiations with 
the Authority; or
		(2)  forwards an application, response to a request for 
proposal, correspondence, or other writings related to an agreement 
or potential agreement with the Authority.
	(e)  A vendor shall file an updated conflicts disclosure 
statement with the clerk of the county:
		(1)  on September 1 of each year; and                                  
		(2)  after each event that would make a statement in the 
conflicts disclosure statement incomplete or inaccurate.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.