ENROLLED Page 1 of 3 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. ACT No. 864 Regular Session, 2010 HOUSE BILL NO. 1490 (Substitute for House Bill No. 200 by Representative Connick) BY REPRESENTATIVES CONNICK, GISCLAIR, HINES, LABRUZZO, LEGER, LIGI, LOPINTO, LORUSSO, AND TALBOT AND SENATOR QUINN AN ACT1 To enact R.S. 38:2212.8 and Chapter 24 of Title 39 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of2 1950, to be comprised of R.S. 39:2181 and 2182, relative to procurement; to allow3 for the prohibition of certain convicted felons from participating in the contract and4 procurement process; and to provide for related matters.5 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:6 Section 1. R.S. 38:2212.8 is hereby enacted to read as follows: 7 §2212.8. Right to prohibit awards or procurement with individuals convicted of8 certain felony crimes9 A. In awarding contracts, any public entity is authorized to reject the lowest10 bid from, or not award the contract to, a business in which any individual with an11 ownership interest of five percent or more has been convicted of, or has entered a12 plea of guilty or nolo contendere to any state felony crime or equivalent federal13 felony crime committed in the solicitation or execution of a contract or bid awarded14 under the laws governing public contracts under the provisions of Chapter 10 of this15 Title, professional, personal, consulting, and social services procurement under the16 provisions of Chapter 16 of Title 39 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, or the17 Louisiana Procurement Code under the provisions of Chapter 17 of Title 39 of the18 Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950.19 B. Nothing in this Section shall impose a duty, responsibility, or requirement20 on a public entity to perform criminal background checks on contractors, vendors,21 or subcontractors. It shall be the responsibility of any person, company, or entity22 making an allegation of prior convictions on the part of any individual with an23 ENROLLEDHB NO. 1490 Page 2 of 3 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. ownership interest of five percent or more in any bidder to present prima facie1 evidence to the public entity supporting their claim.2 C. If evidence is submitted substantiating that any individual with an3 ownership interest of five percent or more in the lowest bidder has been convicted4 of, or has entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to any state felony crime or5 equivalent federal felony crime committed in the solicitation or execution of a6 contract or bid awarded under the laws listed in Subsection A of this Section and the7 public entity rejects the lowest bid, the company whose bid is rejected shall be8 responsible to the public entity for the costs of rebidding, the increased costs of9 awarding to the second low bidder, or forfeiture of the bid bond, whichever is higher.10 Section 2. Chapter 24 of Title 39 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950,11 comprised of R.S. 39:2181 and 2182, is hereby enacted to read as follows:12 CHAPTER 24. PROHIBITIONS IN PUBLIC GOVERNMENTAL CONTRACTS AND13 PROCUREMENT14 §2181. Applicability; definitions15 A. This Chapter shall apply to any contract or cooperative endeavor16 agreement that results from any bid or other award governed under Chapter 16 and17 Chapter 17 of this Title.18 B. For the purpose of this Chapter, "public entity" shall mean any agency,19 board, commission, department, or public corporation of the state, created by the20 constitution or statute or pursuant thereto, or any political subdivision of the state,21 including but not limited to any political subdivision as defined by Article VI,22 Section 44 of the Constitution of Louisiana, and any public housing authority, public23 school board, or any public officer whether or not an officer of a public corporation24 or political subdivision.25 §2182. Right to prohibit awards or procurement with individuals convicted of certain26 felony crimes27 A. In awarding contracts, any public entity is authorized to reject the lowest28 bid from, or not award the contract to, a business in which any individual with an29 ownership interest of five percent or more has been convicted of, or has entered a30 ENROLLEDHB NO. 1490 Page 3 of 3 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. plea of guilty or nolo contendere to any state felony crime or equivalent federal1 felony crime committed in the solicitation or execution of a contract or bid awarded2 under the laws governing public contracts under the provisions of Chapter 10 of Title3 38 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, professional, personal, consulting, and4 social services procurement under the provisions of Chapter 16 of this Title, or the5 Louisiana Procurement Code under the provisions of Chapter 17 of this Title.6 B. Nothing in this Section shall impose a duty, responsibility, or requirement7 on a public entity to perform criminal background checks on contractors, vendors,8 or subcontractors. It shall be the responsibility of any person, company, or entity9 making an allegation of prior convictions on the part of any individual with an10 ownership interest of five percent or more in any bidder to present prima facie11 evidence to the public entity supporting their claim.12 C. If evidence is submitted substantiating that any individual with an13 ownership interest of five percent or more in the lowest bidder has been convicted14 of, or has entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to any state felony crime or15 equivalent federal felony crime committed in the solicitation or execution of a16 contract or bid awarded under the laws listed in Subsection A of this Section and the17 public entity rejects the lowest bid, the company whose bid is rejected shall be18 responsible to the public entity for the costs of rebidding, the increased costs of19 awarding to the second low bidder, or forfeiture of the bid bond, whichever is higher.20 SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI VES PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA APPROVED: