SIGNIFICANT FLOOR ACTIONS
H.B. 987 (Creighton), relating to purchasing. Passed the House. As passed, this bill would provide that: (1) if a change order involves a decrease or an increase of $50,000 or less and is for work within the original bid, the governing body may authorize an administrative official of the municipality to approve the change order; (2) compensation for a contract awarded on a unit price basis may not exceed the actual quantity of items supplied or services provided; (3) before the governing body of an issuer of certificates of obligation may enter into a contract requiring an expenditure by or imposing an obligation or liability on the issuer of more than $50,000, the governing body must submit the proposed contract to competitive procurement; (4) a governing body may authorize an official or employee responsible for purchasing or administering a contract funded through certificates of obligation to approve a change order that is within the scope of the original contract and involves a change of $50,000 or less; (5) similar changes shall apply to civic center authorities, municipal management districts, and certain other local governmental entities; and (under a House floor amendment), the five-percent “local preference” in purchasing may be granted only for an expenditure of less than $100,000.
H.B. 1759 (Thompson), requiring that health benefit plans provide coverage for certain anti-cancer medications. Passed the House.
S.B. 375 (Carona), providing that the fee for a copy of a motor vehicle accident report is a flat six dollars. Passed the Senate.
S.B. 727 (Patrick), relating to the creation of DNA records for the establishment of a DNA database. Passed the Senate. As passed, this bill imposes a $50 state fee on each municipal court conviction of public intoxication or the unlawful possession of an alcoholic beverage in a motor vehicle.
S.B. 855 (Carona), creating a variety of local-option, voter-approved funding sources for mobility improvement projects in certain counties. Passed the Senate. As passed, the bill would go into effect only if a constitutional amendment limiting the purposes for which revenue from taxes on motor fuels may be used is passed by the legislature and is subsequently approved by Texas voters.
