HBA-DMH H.B. 1375 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1375
By: Farrar
Transportation
3/29/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The number of highway accidents is on the rise.  Commonly, when an accident
occurs assistance from a tow truck or a recovery service is requested to
either repair or remove a disabled vehicle.  Currently, the Texas
Department of Transportation (TxDOT) selects a towing company to perform
these services based solely on competitive pricing.  Therefore, TxDOT is
not allowed to consider the company's reputation, equipment, or experience
in making a selection.  House Bill 1375 authorizes TxDOT to contract for
the removal of personal property from the right-of-way or roadway of the
highway system without using a competitive purchasing process. 

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 1375 amends the Transportation Code to authorize the Texas
Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to contract with one or more private
businesses for the removal of personal property from the right-of-way or
roadway of the state highway system.  The bill requires TxDOT to base its
decision on a specified evaluation process and provides that TxDOT is not
required to follow a competitive purchasing process in selecting such
businesses. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.