Amend HB 26 (house committee report) by adding the following appropriately numbered SECTIONS to the bill and renumbering subsequent SECTIONS of the bill accordingly:

SECTION ____.  Section 501.147(d), Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

(d)  Notwithstanding Subsection (c) or any other provision of this subchapter [For services that the public medical schools and their components and affiliates cannot provide], the committee shall initiate a competitive bidding process for contracts [with other providers] for medical care to persons confined by the department.

SECTION ____.  (a)  The change in law made by this Act to Section 501.147(d), Government Code, applies only to a contract for which the Correctional Managed Health Care Committee first advertises or otherwise requests bids, proposals, offers, or qualifications, or makes a similar solicitation, on or after the effective date of this Act.

(b)  A contract for which the Correctional Managed Health Care Committee first advertises or otherwise requests bids, proposals, offers, or qualifications, or makes a similar solicitation, before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law as it existed immediately before the effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.