By:  West (Senate Sponsor - Armbrister)                           H.B. No. 773
	(In the Senate - Received from the House April 7, 2005; 
April 11, 2005, read first time and referred to Committee on 
Government Organization; April 25, 2005, reported adversely, with 
favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 7, 
Nays 0; April 25, 2005, sent to printer.)


COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 773                                    By:  Eltife


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT


relating to certain purchases by the Railroad Commission of Texas.          
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 2155, Government Code, is 
amended by adding Section 2155.149 to read as follows:
	Sec. 2155.149.  CERTAIN PURCHASES BY RAILROAD COMMISSION OF 
TEXAS.  (a)  The Railroad Commission of Texas is delegated all 
purchasing functions relating to purchases under:
		(1)  Chapter 89, Natural Resources Code; or                            
		(2)  Sections 91.111 and 91.112, Natural Resources 
Code.             
	(b)  The Railroad Commission of Texas shall acquire goods and 
services, under Subsection (a), by any procurement method that 
provides the best value to the railroad commission.  The railroad 
commission shall consider the best value standards listed in 
Section 2155.074.
	(c)  The commission shall procure goods and services, under 
Subsection (a), for the Railroad Commission of Texas at the request 
of the railroad commission, and the railroad commission may use the 
services of the commission in procuring goods and services.
	SECTION 2.  Section 81.057, Natural Resources Code, is 
amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 81.057.  EXEMPTION FROM CERTAIN PURCHASING RULES.  The 
commission is not required to follow any purchasing procedures 
prescribed by or under the following laws when the commission makes 
a purchase in connection with the remediation of surface locations 
or well plugging:
		(1)  Subchapter E, Chapter 2155, Government Code; and                  
		(2)  [Section 2161.003 or 2161.004, Government Code;         
		[(3)  Subchapters D and F, Chapter 2161, Government 
Code; and
		[(4)]  Subchapters B and C, Chapter 2177, Government 
Code. 
	SECTION 3.  Section 81.021, Natural Resources Code, is 
repealed.             
	SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.                           



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