Conference Center in

or Near a State Park

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission may enter into a joint agreement with the governing board of an institution of higher education, including a college district, to finance and build a conference center and other appropriate related facilities to be located in or near a state park. A facility built under this section must be operated cooperatively to provide benefits to the department and the institution of higher education in accomplishing the purposes of the

department and the institution. The commission and an institution of higher education may use any funds, property, or other assets available to finance and build a facility under this section. Parks and Wildlife Code 13.0046

Notice to the State

Regarding Contracts

Definition

"Contract" includes a grant, agreement for the purchase or sale of a good or service, revenue-generating contract, interagency or interlocal grant or agreement, purchase order or other written expression of terms of agreement, or an amendment, modification, renewal, or extension of such that was entered into or paid for, either in whole or in part, by a state agency or institution of higher education, including a college district.

“Contract” includes an amendment, modification, renewal or extension which increases a contract’s value from a value less than or equal to $50,000 to a value greater than $50,000.

“Contract” does not include a contract with a value of less than or equal to $50,000, or a contract paid for exclusively using federal grant monies for which all parties to the contract and the terms of the contract have been determined by the federal government.

General Appropriations Act, 88th Leg., R.S., H.B. 1, IX-38

Contracts

Exceeding $50,000

Before the 30th calendar day after awarding a contract or granting an amendment, modification, renewal, or extension, a state agency or institution of higher education shall report to the Legislative Budget Board (LBB) in the manner prescribed by the LBB all contracts, amendments, modifications, renewals, and extensions to which the

agency or institution was a party.

A state agency or institution of higher education receiving an appropriation under the General Appropriations Act shall report a contract pursuant to this section without regard to source of monies or method of finance associated with the expenditure, including a contract for which only non-appropriated monies will be expended.

General Appropriations Act, 88th Leg., R.S., H.B. 1, IX-38

Additional Notice

Regarding

Contracts for

Services Exceeding

$1 Million

For contracts with an initial award value greater than $1 million, a state agency or institution of higher education shall provide notice of a contract for services for which the expected total value of the contract subsequent to amendment or renewal exceeds the total value of the initial contract award by ten percent or more, in accordance with procedures established by the LBB, to:

1. The governor;

2. The lieutenant governor; and

3. The speaker of the house of representatives.

A state agency or institution of higher education must provide the notice required under this provision not later than the 30th day after the date of the disclosure or discovery that the expected total value of the contract subsequent to amendment or renewal exceeds the total value of the initial contract award by ten percent. The notice must include:

1. The amount of the cost increase;

2. The reason for the cost increase; and

3. Any opportunity the state agency had to lessen the cost or to purchase the service from another vendor after the first dollar of the increased cost was discovered or disclosed to the agency or institution.

General Appropriations Act, 88th Leg., R.S., H.B. 1, IX-39

Additional Notice

Regarding

Contracts

Exceeding $10

Million and Certain

Contracts

Exceeding $1

Million

"Contract" includes a grant, agreement for the purchase or sale of goods or services, revenue-generating contract, an interagency or interlocal grant or agreement, purchase order or other written expression of terms of agreement, or an amendment, modification, renewal, or extension of such that was entered into or paid for, either in whole or in part, by a state agency or institution of higher education.

Until providing notice that satisfies the requirements of this provision, an agency or institution of higher education appropriated monies in the General Appropriations Act may not expend any monies to make a payment on a contract if the expected amount of the contract exceeds or may reasonably be expected to exceed either of the following thresholds:

1. Ten million dollars; or

2. One million dollars in the case of a contract awarded:

a. As a result of an emergency or following an emergency procedure allowed by statute; or

b. Without issuing a request for proposal, request for bid, or other similar process common to participation in the competitive bidding processes required by statute, rule, or ordinary and commonly recognized state policies and procedures.

An agency or institution of higher education may not expend monies to make a payment on a contract under this provision until the notice required in this provision is provided to the LBB as required by the General Appropriations Act, Article IX, Section 7.11.

General Appropriations Act, 88th Leg., R.S., H.B. 1, IX-42

TexMesonet

Hydrometeorology

Network

The executive administrator of the Texas Water Development Board shall establish the TexMesonet Hydrometeorology Network to provide a statewide resource for hydrometeorological data and summary information benefiting weather forecasting, flood preparedness, drought monitoring, wildfire management, water resources planning, water conservation, agricultural readiness and productivity, industrial readiness, and related business readiness and productivity across this state.

Each state agency or political subdivision of this state that collects hydrometeorological information, including college districts and other public institutions of higher education, shall cooperate with the network in the development of a coordinated, efficient, and effective statewide hydrometeorological data collection and dissemination resource.

Water Code 16.026(b), (e)