Highlights of the 79th Texas Legislature - Senate

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES/GENERAL
classification, or a license issued or renewed over the Internet or by other electronic means, to pay the costs of the
DEAR program and of the council if the person applying for, renewing, or changing a license opts to pay the
additional fee.
Sets forth provisions relating to the handling of such fees.
Requires the Texas Department of Transportation to provide to each county assessor-collector the educational
materials for prospective donors provided as required by the DEAR program and requires a county assessorcollector
to make the educational materials available in each office authorized to accept applications for registration
of motor vehicles.
Attorney General's Review of Health Care Procurement Contracts—H.B. 880
By Representative Delisi—Senate Sponsor: Senator Zaffirini
The attorney general is frequently asked to perform a review of major health care procurement contracts at state
agencies. These reviews are often requested at the end of the contracting process when it is more difficult to
incorporate suggested changes. This bill:
Authorizies the attorney general to review certain contracts for health care purposes.
Provides that this bill applies to any contract with a amount of $250 million or more that meets certain criteria for
health and human service agencies.
• Requires a representative of the office of the attorney general, notwithstanding any other law, before certain
contracts are authorized to be entered into by a health and human services agency (agency), to review the
form and terms of the contract and authorizes the representative to make recommendations to the agency
for changes to the contract if the attorney general determines that the office of the attorney general has
sufficient subject matter expertise and resources available to provide this service.
• Requires an agency to notify the office of the attorney general at the time the agency initiates the planning
phase of the contracting process.
• Authorizes a representative of the office of the attorney general or another attorney advising the agency
under certain circumstances to participate in negotiations or discussions with proposed contractors and to
be physically present during those negotiations or discussions.
• Authorizes the office of the attorney general to require the agency to enter into an interagency agreement or
to obtain outside legal services for the provision of services described, if the attorney general determines
that the office of the attorney general does not have sufficient subject matter expertise or resources
available to provide the services described by this section.
• Requires the agency to provide to the office of the attorney general any information the office of the attorney
general determines is necessary to administer this section.
Provides that this section applies to any contract with a contract amount of $250 million or more that meets certain
criteria for the Employees Retirement System (ERS).
• Requires a representative of the office of the attorney general, notwithstanding any other law, before a
contract is authorized to be entered into by ERS, to review the form and terms of the contract and
authorizes the representative to make recommendations to ERS for changes to the contract if the attorney
94 HIGHLIGHTS - 79 TH TEXAS LEGISLATURE