BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 3188
85R25115 GRM-F	By: Alvarado (Men�ndez)
	Agriculture, Water & Rural Affairs
	5/19/2017
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

H.B. 3188 amends the Government Code to increase from two to four the maximum number of civil works projects into which a municipally owned water utility with a separate governing board appointed by the governing body of a municipality with a population of 500,000 or more may independently enter in any fiscal year.

H.B. 3188 replaces the requirement, under provisions relating to design-build procedures for a combination of technical and cost proposals, that a design-build firm submit a proposal not later than the 180th day after the date a governmental entity makes a public request for proposals from selected firms with the requirement that a response to a request for detailed proposals be submitted on or before the earlier of the time for submission as requested by the governmental entity or the 180th day after the date the governmental entity makes a public request for proposals from selected firms.

Informed observers assert the need for certain water utilities to enter into contracts for a greater number of civil works projects than currently allowed in order to finish projects on time and within budget. H.B. 3188 addresses this issue by increasing the maximum number of civil works projects into which certain water utilities may independently enter in any fiscal year and to clarify a deadline relating to the submission of a proposal by a design-build firm.

H.B. 3188 amends current law relating to the number of civil works projects certain municipally owned water utilities may contract for in a fiscal year.

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 2269.354(a), Government Code, to increase from not more than two to not more than four the number of civil works projects a certain municipally owned water utility is authorized to independently enter into for contracts after August 31, 2013.

SECTION 2. Amends Section 2269.361(a), Government Code, as follows:

(a) Requires that a response to a request for detailed proposals be submitted on or before the earlier of the time for submission as requested by the governmental entity or the 180th day after a certain date. Deletes existing text requiring a firm to submit a proposal not later than the 180th day after a certain date.

SECTION 3. Provides that Section 2269.361(a), Government Code, as amended by this Act, applies only to a contract awarded on or after the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 4. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2017.