BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center                                                                                                        S.B. 717

80R6024 TAD-D                                                                                                                  By: Ellis

Government Organization

3/7/2007

As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Currently, the Texas Professional Services Procurement Act prohibits a governmental entity from selecting a provider of professional services on the basis of competitive bids. When selecting a provider of professional landscape architectural services, some governmental agencies require the submission of certain pricing information as a part of any request for proposal for these services because landscape architects fall within the general provisions for providers in Section 2254.003, Government Code, rather than Section 2254.004, Government Code, where architects, engineers, and surveyors are listed.

As proposed, S.B. 717 requires governmental entities to use the same contract selection practices for landscape architects as they are required to use when contracting for architectural, engineering, or land surveying services to ensure that landscape architects are treated similarly to other design professionals.

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 2254.004, Government Code, as follows:

Sec. 2254.004. New heading: CONTRACT FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES OF ARCHITECT, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT, ENGINEER, OR SURVEYOR. Adds landscape architecture to the list of services to which this section applies. Makes a conforming change.

SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2007.