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BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

C.S.H.B. 1726

By: Bohac

Government Efficiency & Reform

Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Interested parties note that the comptroller of public accounts currently contracts with a vendor to provide shipping coordination services to all state agencies. In order to provide for the lowest cost and best value, C.S.H.B. 1726 seeks to streamline shipping logistics and coordination services and to encourage the use of vendors that employ veterans or other persons with disabilities.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

 

ANALYSIS

 

C.S.H.B. 1726 amends the Government Code to require the comptroller of public accounts to contract with a vendor to oversee shipping logistics and coordination services for all state agencies and to require the vendor to arrange the shipment of goods, parcels, and freight using the shipping company selected by the state agency through competitive bidding that provides the lowest cost or best value to the agency for the shipment. The bill requires a state agency to arrange all shipments of goods, parcels, and freight under the bill's provisions and requires the vendor to maintain a record of each shipment arranged for a state agency, including the cost of the shipment, the type of goods, parcels, or freight shipped, and the weight of the goods, parcels, or freight shipped. The bill requires the comptroller, in contracting for the oversight of shipping logistics and coordination services, to provide contracting opportunities for, and increase contract awards to, vendors that employ veterans or other persons with disabilities whose products and services are available under statutory provisions relating to purchasing from people with disabilities. The bill makes its provisions inapplicable to the shipment of items of extraordinary value, museum exhibits and antiquities, antique furniture, fine arts, specialized materials or products, or coins and paper bills.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2013.

 

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

 

While C.S.H.B. 1726 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and highlighted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

 

INTRODUCED

HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE

SECTION 1.  Chapter 2172, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 2172.007 to read as follows:

Sec. 2172.007.  SHIPPING COORDINATION SERVICES. 

(a)  The comptroller shall contract with a vendor to provide shipping coordination services to all state agencies.  The vendor shall arrange the shipment of goods, parcels, and freight using the shipping company that provides the lowest cost or best value to the agency for the shipment.

 

 

(b)  A state agency shall arrange all shipments of goods, parcels, and freight using the vendor under this section.

 

(c)  The vendor under this section shall maintain a record of each shipment arranged for a state agency, including the cost of the shipment, the type of goods, parcels, or freight shipped, and the weight of the goods, parcels, or freight shipped.

 

(d)  In contracting for services under this section, the comptroller shall provide contracting opportunities for, and increase contract awards to, vendors that employ veterans or other persons with disabilities whose products and services are available under Chapter 122, Human Resources Code.

 

SECTION 1.  Chapter 2172, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 2172.007 to read as follows:

Sec. 2172.007.  SHIPPING LOGISTICS AND COORDINATION SERVICES. 

(a)  The comptroller shall contract with a vendor to oversee shipping logistics and coordination services for all state agencies.  The vendor shall arrange the shipment of goods, parcels, and freight using the shipping company selected by the state agency through competitive bidding that provides the lowest cost or best value to the agency for the shipment.

(b)  A state agency shall arrange all shipments of goods, parcels, and freight under this section.

 

(c)  The vendor under this section shall maintain a record of each shipment arranged for a state agency, including the cost of the shipment, the type of goods, parcels, or freight shipped, and the weight of the goods, parcels, or freight shipped.

 

(d)  In contracting for the oversight of shipping logistics and coordination services under this section, the comptroller shall provide contracting opportunities for, and increase contract awards to, vendors that employ veterans or other persons with disabilities whose products and services are available under Chapter 122, Human Resources Code.

 

(e)  This section does not apply to the shipment of:

(1)  items of extraordinary value;

(2)  museum exhibits and antiquities;

(3)  antique furniture;

(4)  fine arts;

(5)  specialized materials or products; or

(6)  coins and paper bills.

 

SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately 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 immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2013.

 

SECTION 2. Same as introduced version.