Sec. 351.102.  ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY TO CONTRACT.  The commissioners court of a county may contract with a private vendor to provide for the financing, design, construction, leasing, operation, purchase, maintenance, or management of a jail, detention center, work camp, or related facility.  The commissioners court may not award a contract under this section unless the commissioners court requests proposals by public notice and not less than 30 days from such notice receives a proposal that meets or exceeds the requirements specified in the request for proposals.  Before the commissioners court of a county enters into a contract under this section, the commissioners court of the county must receive the written approval of the sheriff of the county, which written approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, or if the county has a population of 2.8 million or more:
(1)  consult with the sheriff regarding the feasibility of ensuring that all services provided under the contract are required to meet or exceed standards set by the Commission on Jail Standards; or
(2)  receive the written approval of the sheriff of the county, which written approval shall not be unreasonably withheld.
Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 1, Sec. 73(a), eff. Aug. 28, 1989.  Amended by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 479, Sec. 2, eff. Aug. 28, 1989;  Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 318, Sec. 73, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.
Amended by: 
Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 667 (H.B. 1544), Sec. 1, eff. June 14, 2013.