H.B. No. 1544
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the authority of a county to contract with a private
  vendor for the operation of a detention facility.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 351.102, Local Government Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 351.102.  ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY TO CONTRACT. The
  commissioners court of a county may contract with a private vendor
  to provide for the financing, design, construction, leasing,
  operation, purchase, maintenance, or management of a jail,
  detention center, work camp, or related facility. The
  commissioners court may not award a contract under this section
  unless the commissioners court requests proposals by public notice
  and not less than 30 days from such notice receives a proposal that
  meets or exceeds the requirements specified in the request for
  proposals. Before the commissioners court of a county enters into a
  contract under this section, the commissioners court of the county
  must receive the written approval of the sheriff of the county,
  which written approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, or if
  the county has a population of 2.8 million or more:
               (1)  consult with the sheriff regarding the feasibility
  of ensuring [ensure] that all services provided under the contract
  are required to meet or exceed standards set by the Commission on
  Jail Standards; or
               (2)  receive the written approval of the sheriff of the
  county, which written approval shall not be unreasonably withheld.
         SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to a contract entered into on or after the effective date of this
  Act. A contract entered into before the effective date of this Act
  is governed by the law in effect when the contract was entered into,
  and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2013.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1544 was passed by the House on May 2,
  2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 145, Nays 2, 2 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1544 was passed by the Senate on May
  22, 2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor