By:  Wentworth                                                    S.B. No. 726
	(In the Senate - Filed February 26, 2003; March 3, 2003, 
read first time and referred to Committee on Intergovernmental 
Relations; April 10, 2003, reported favorably by the following 
vote:  Yeas 5, Nays 0; April 10, 2003, sent to printer.)


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

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.



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