BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1281

By: Zaffirini

County Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Decades ago, the legislature created a cooperative purchasing program to allow local governments to organize to increase efficiencies and purchasing power, thereby increasing access to favorable contracts with vendors for the purchase of goods or services. However, concerned parties point out that certain statutory provisions have been interpreted to restrict participation in the program to local governments and cooperative organizations within Texas. The parties assert that there are instances in which a local government or local cooperative organization in another state could secure a better price for a contract for goods or services, especially if that good or service is better produced or performed in another state. S.B. 1281 seeks to help local governments secure the best price for goods and services.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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

S.B. 1281 amends the Local Government Code to specify that the entities with which a local government is authorized to participate in a cooperative purchasing program are other local governments of Texas or another state and local cooperative organizations of Texas or another state.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2015.