The Committee on Natural Resources & Economic Development on Oct. 12 heard House Bill 27 91, a cleanup measure authorizing the Texas Workforce Commission to use best-value procurement and other contracting methods to obtain goods and services for its vocational rehabilitation programs.

The bill’s senate sponsor, Dean Zaffirini, told the committee the bill was authored in the House by Representative Angie Button and was requested by the Texas Workforce Commission to fix a drafting oversight that left the commission without explicit authority to procure necessary vocational rehabilitation goods and services. “Due to a drafting oversight, TWC is not authorized to procure goods and services necessary to operate its vocational rehab programs,” Zaffirini said.

Tammy Martin, division director for vocational rehabilitation at the Texas Workforce Commission, appeared as a resource witness and said she was available to answer questions. “I am here as a resource witness and am able to answer any questions that the committee members may have,” Martin told the panel.

Zaffirini summarized how the bill would let the commission obtain services “using any method that delivers best value,” require documentation of value-based procurement factors, allow open-enrollment contracting where appropriate, and permit direct negotiation if no responsive bids are received. Senator Sparks called the bill “common sense,” and there were no public witnesses registered in opposition.

The committee closed public testimony and left the bill pending subject to the call of the chair.