H.B. No. 1965
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the state contracting duties of the quality assurance
  team and Contract Advisory Team.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 2054.158, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 2054.158.  QUALITY ASSURANCE TEAM; DUTIES. (a) The
  state auditor, Legislative Budget Board, and department shall:
               (1)  create a quality assurance team to perform the
  duties specified in this chapter and other law; and
               (2)  specify in writing the responsibilities of the
  state auditor, Legislative Budget Board, and department in
  performing the duties.
         (b)  The quality assurance team shall:
               (1)  develop and recommend policies and procedures to
  improve state agency information resources technology projects;
  and
               (2)  develop and recommend procedures to improve the
  implementation of state agency information resources technology
  projects by including considerations for best value and return on
  investment.
         SECTION 2.  Section 2262.101, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 2262.101.  CREATION; DUTIES. (a) The Contract Advisory
  Team is created to assist state agencies in improving contract
  management practices by:
               (1)  reviewing and making recommendations on the
  solicitation documents and contract documents for [of major]
  contracts of [by] state agencies that have a value of at least $10
  million;
               (2)  reviewing any findings or recommendations made by
  the state auditor, including those made under Section 2262.052(b),
  regarding a state agency's compliance with the contract management
  guide; [and]
               (3)  providing recommendations to the comptroller 
  [commission] regarding:
                     (A)  the development of the contract management
  guide; and
                     (B)  the training under Section 2262.053;
               (4)  developing and recommending policies and
  procedures to improve state agency contract management practices;
               (5)  developing and recommending procedures to improve
  state agency contracting practices by including consideration for
  best value; and
               (6)  creating and periodically performing a risk
  assessment to determine the appropriate level of management and
  oversight of contracts by state agencies.
         (b)  The risk assessment created and reviewed under
  Subsection (a)(6) must include, but is not limited to the following
  criteria:
               (1)  the amount of appropriations to the agency;
               (2)  total contract value as percentage of
  appropriation to the agency; or
               (3)  the impact of the functions and duties of the state
  agency on health, safety, and well-being of citizens.
         (c)  The comptroller shall oversee the activities of the
  team, including ensuring that the team carries out its duties under
  Subsection (a)(5).
         (d)  A state agency shall:
               (1)  comply with a recommendation made under Subsection
  (a)(1); or
               (2)  submit a written explanation regarding why the
  recommendation is not applicable to the contract under review.
         SECTION 3.  Section 2262.102, Government Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (c) and (d) to read
  as follows:
         (a)  The team consists of the following six [five] members:
               (1)  one member from the Health and Human Services
  Commission [attorney general's office];
               (2)  one member from the comptroller's office;
               (3)  one member from the Department of Information
  Resources;
               (4)  one member from the Texas Facilities [Building and
  Procurement] Commission; [and]
               (5)  one member from the governor's office; and
               (6)  one member from a small state agency.
         (c)  The attorney general's office shall provide legal
  assistance to the team.
         (d)  In this section, "small state agency" means a state
  agency with fewer than 100 employees.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1965 was passed by the House on May 7,
  2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 125, Nays 2, 2 present, not
  voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
  No. 1965 on May 22, 2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 141, Nays 2,
  2 present, not voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1965 was passed by the Senate, with
  amendments, on May 20, 2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays
  0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate   
  APPROVED: __________________
                  Date       
   
           __________________
                Governor