SB 20/HB 3241 – relating to state agency contracting.
HB 3241 (Price) – was set on the House Calendar for this week but was postponed until May 13.
SB 20 (Neslon) – was passed out the Senate on March 31 with one floor amendment – 30 ayes and 0 nays. The purpose of the bill is to reform state agency contracting. Among other things the bill would: amend the Government Code to specify that purchasing information reported by state agencies in the statewide uniform accounting system should include solicitation and contracting information, as defined by CPA. The bill would require agencies to submit a certain number of requests for pricing on purchases made through multiple award contract schedules at CPA and the Department of Information Resources (DIR) depending on the value of the goods, services, and contracts. Agencies would also be required to receive approval for statements of work on DIR information technology commodity contracts worth more than $50,000. SB 20 has now moved to the House for further consideration and was referred to the House Committee on State Affairs.
SB 20 (Neslon) – was passed out the Senate on March 31 with one floor amendment – 30 ayes and 0 nays. The purpose of the bill is to reform state agency contracting. Among other things the bill would: amend the Government Code to specify that purchasing information reported by state agencies in the statewide uniform accounting system should include solicitation and contracting information, as defined by CPA. The bill would require agencies to submit a certain number of requests for pricing on purchases made through multiple award contract schedules at CPA and the Department of Information Resources (DIR) depending on the value of the goods, services, and contracts. Agencies would also be required to receive approval for statements of work on DIR information technology commodity contracts worth more than $50,000. SB 20 has now moved to the House for further consideration and was referred to the House Committee on State Affairs.
HB 15 – relating to the management and oversight of state contracts, including contracts for information technology commodity items.
HB 15 (Otto) – amends the Government Code to require the Legislative Budget Board (LBB) to establish a Contract Management and Oversight Team to develop criteria for identifying high-risk factors in contracts, consult with state agencies, and provide recommendations and assistance. Bill language also directs the contract management and oversight team to look emergency contracts of $1 million or more, exempts higher education contracts, some TRS contracts aside from group health contracts, and exempts DIR and commodity contracts. The bill also requires a statement of work for certain contract services. The committee substitute to HB 15 was passed out of the House with one adopted floor amendment on May 5 – 141 ayes and 3 nays.
SB 543/HB 1426 – relating to certain requirements applicable to contracts entered into by, and the contract management process of, state agencies.
SB 543 (Zaffirini) was passed out of the Senate, as substituted, on April 14 with one adopted floor amendment – 31 ayes and 0 nays. The bill has moved over to the House for further consideration and was referred to the House Government Transparency and Operation Committee. The House companion bill, HB 1426, was voted favorably from the House Government Transparency and Operation Committee on April 17.