Sec. 311.0101.  PARTICIPATION OF DISADVANTAGED BUSINESSES IN CERTAIN ZONES.  (a)  It is the goal of the legislature, subject to the constitutional requirements spelled out by the United States Supreme Court in J. A. Croson Company v. City of Richmond (822 F.2d 1355) and as hereafter further elaborated by federal and state courts, that all disadvantaged businesses in the zone designated under Section 311.005(a)(4) be given full and complete access to the procurement process whereby supplies, materials, services, and equipment are acquired by the board.  It is also the intent of the legislature that to the extent constitutionally permissible, a preference be given to disadvantaged businesses.  The board and general contractor shall give preference, among bids or other proposals that are otherwise comparable, to a bid or other proposal by a disadvantaged business having its home office located in this state.
(b)  It is the intent of the legislature that the zone shall:
(1)  implement a program or programs targeted to disadvantaged businesses in order to inform them fully about the zone procurement process and the requirements for their participation in that process;
(2)  implement such steps as are necessary to ensure that all disadvantaged businesses are made fully aware of opportunities in the zone, including but not limited to specific opportunities to submit bids and proposals.  Steps that may be appropriate in certain circumstances include mailing requests for proposals or notices inviting bids to all disadvantaged businesses in the county;
(3)  require prime contractors, as part of their responses to requests for proposals or bids, to make a specific showing of how they intend to maximize participation by disadvantaged businesses as subcontractors.  The zone shall be required to evaluate such actions by prime contractors as a factor in the award of contracts within the zone procurement process;
(4)  identify disadvantaged businesses in the county that provide or have the potential to provide supplies, materials, services, and equipment to the zone;  and
(5)  identify barriers to participation by disadvantaged businesses in the zone procurement process, such as bonding, insurance, and working capital requirements that may be imposed on businesses.
(c)  It is the intent of the legislature that the zone shall be required to develop a program pursuant to this Act for the purchase of supplies, materials, services, and equipment and that the board of the zone compile a report on an annual basis listing the total number and dollar amount of contracts awarded to disadvantaged businesses during the previous year as well as the total number and dollar amount of all contracts awarded.  Such annual report shall be available for inspection by the general public during regular business hours.
(d)  The board by rule shall adopt goals for the participation of minority business enterprises and women-owned business enterprises in the awarding of state contracts for professional services.  To implement the participation goals, the board shall encourage each issuer to award to minority business enterprises and women-owned business enterprises not less than 15 percent of the total value of all professional services contract awards that the issuer expects to make in its fiscal year.
Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 1137, Sec. 23, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.
Amended by: 
Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 921 (H.B. 3167), Sec. 14.009, eff. September 1, 2007.