HBA-LJP H.B. 2144 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2144
By: Gray
Land & Resource Management
3/13/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current General Service Commission (GSC) rules, the General Land
Office (GLO) is required to obtain the approval of GSC for purchases of
goods and services that exceed $100,000.  Because of this requirement, GLO
often has to submit requests to GSC for purchases to implement coastal
erosion studies and projects required under the Coastal Erosion Planning
and Response Act.  The dependence of GLO on GSC's approval or handling of
purchases may delay or hinder coastal erosion studies and projects. House
Bill 2144 provides GLO with the authority to purchase goods and services
for all costal erosion studies and projects. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 2144 amends the Government Code to provide that the General Land
Office (GLO) is delegated all purchasing functions related to coastal
erosion studies and projects.  The bill requires GLO to acquire goods and
services by any procurement method that provides the best value to GLO and
to consider the best value standards for the purchase.  The bill requires
the General Services Commission to procure goods and services for GLO at
the request of GLO and authorizes GLO to use the services of the General
Services Commission in procuring goods and services. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001.