Signaling his intent to promote transparency and accountability in the 84th Texas Legislature, House Speaker Joe Straus on Jan. 9 announced that in the coming weeks the House would release a budget proposal designed to strengthen oversight of state agency contracts. The Legislature convenes Jan. 13.
Agencies or institutions of higher education, under the proposal, would have to meet new reporting requirements prior to awarding a contract or making a purchase worth more than $10 million, Straus said. Requirements also would apply to contracts and purchases worth more than $1 million and which do not go through a competitive bidding process, he added.
At least 30 days prior to making such an expenditure, a state agency issuing a contract would have to notify the Legislative Budget Board, governor, state auditor, chair of the House Appropriations Committee, chair of the Senate Finance Committee and chairs of any other committees with jurisdiction over contracting. Along with that notification, an agency, before finalizing such a contract, would provide to the Legislative Budget Board and the others:
