S.B. No. 726
AN ACT
relating to the purchasing and contracting authority of an
appraisal district; providing penalties.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 6.11, Tax Code, is amended to read as
follows:
Sec. 6.11. PURCHASING AND CONTRACTING AUTHORITY
[COMPETITIVE BIDDING REQUIREMENT]. (a) An [The board of directors
of an] appraisal district [may not make a contract requiring an
expenditure of more than $15,000 unless the proposed contract is
submitted to competitive bidding.
[(b) The board of directors] is subject to the same
requirements and has the same purchasing and contracting authority
[powers regarding the following matters] as [apply to] a
municipality [commissioners court] under Chapter 252 [the
Certificate of Obligation Act of 1971 (Subchapter C, Chapter 271],
Local Government Code.
(b) For purposes of this section, all the provisions of
Chapter 252, Local Government Code, applicable to a municipality or
to purchases and contracts by a municipality apply to an appraisal
district and to purchases and contracts by an appraisal district to
the extent they can be made applicable, and all references to the
municipality in that chapter mean the appraisal district. For
purposes of applying Section 252.061, Local Government Code, to an
appraisal district, any resident of the appraisal district may seek
an injunction under that section. Sections 252.062 and 252.063,
Local Government Code, apply to an officer or employee of an
appraisal district in the same manner those sections apply to a
municipal officer or employee.[):
[(1) notice of the contract;
[(2) issuance of the contract to the lowest
responsible bidder;
[(3) rejection of bids;
[(4) expenditure of funds on the completion and
acceptance of the contract;
[(5) exceptions to the competitive bidding
requirement;
[(6) change orders; and
[(7) effect of noncompliance with the competitive
bidding requirements.
[(c) The notice of the contract shall be published in a
newspaper of general circulation in the district. If there is no
newspaper of general circulation in the district, the notice shall
be posted at the appraisal office for the district.]
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect July 1, 2003, if it
receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each
house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.
If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for effect on that
date, this Act takes effect September 1, 2003.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 726 passed the Senate on
April 16, 2003, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 726 passed the House on
May 10, 2003, by the following vote: Yeas 143, Nays 0, two
present not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
______________________________
Date
______________________________
Governor