This section sets who may make routine purchases or contracts, how approval must be signed and filed, and when county auditor approval is needed.
Sec. 60.403. CONTRACTS: PURCHASES. (a) A port commission, an authorized designated officer of the port commission, the executive director of the district or the port authority, or an authorized representative of the executive director may make routine purchases or contracts in an amount not to exceed $50,000. A port commission may delegate authority to an authorized designated officer of the port commission, the executive director of the district or the port authority, or an authorized representative of the executive director to make routine purchases or contracts in an amount not to exceed $100,000. (b) Before a purchase is made, a purchase order or other form of precommitment approval must be signed by the executive director of the district or the port authority or an authorized representative of the executive director. For routine contracts or purchases, the precommitment approval may be in the form of a list of approved routine purchases or contracts signed by the executive director. The signed list shall remain on file in the offices of the district or port authority. (c) One original, photocopy, or electronic copy of the purchase order shall be delivered to the person from whom the purchase is made and one original, photocopy, or electronic copy shall be retained on file in the district or port authority in accordance with Subtitle C, Title 6, Local Government Code. (d) If any other type of purchase of the district or port authority is subject to the approval of a county auditor, the list of routine purchases or contracts must be approved by the county auditor before the purchases or contracts may be made. (e) A district may establish an electronic requisition system to perform some or all of the functions required by Subsections (b), (c), and (d). An electronic requisition system established under this subsection must electronically transmit data to and receive data from the financial system of the district in a manner that meets professional, regulatory, and statutory requirements and standards, including those relating to purchasing, auditing, and accounting. Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 353, Sec. 1, eff. Aug. 31, 1987. Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 632, Sec. 1, eff. June 14, 1995; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 262, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 588, Sec. 7, eff. June 20, 2003. Amended by: Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1330 (S.B. 1531), Sec. 5, eff. June 15, 2007. Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 415 (H.B. 1972), Sec. 1, eff. June 19, 2009. Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1027 (H.B. 2770), Sec. 12, eff. June 17, 2011. Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1106 (S.B. 1500), Sec. 1, eff. June 18, 2023.