81R4070 MCK-D
By: Anchia H.B. No. 535
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the provision of a preference in state purchasing
decisions for vendors that provide health benefits to employees.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter H, Chapter 2155, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 2155.454 to read as follows:
Sec. 2155.454. PREFERENCE FOR VENDORS THAT PROVIDE HEALTH
BENEFITS COVERAGE. The comptroller and all state agencies
procuring goods or services shall give preference to goods or
services of a vendor that demonstrates that the vendor provides
health benefits coverage that is at least equivalent to a standard
health benefit plan offered under Chapter 1507, Insurance Code, to
each of the vendor's full-time employees and the dependents of the
employees if:
(1) the vendor pays 100 percent of the health
insurance premiums for each full-time employee who participates in
the insurance program and at least 75 percent of the health
insurance premiums for each dependent of a full-time employee who
elects to participate in dependent coverage under the insurance
program;
(2) the goods or services meet state specifications
regarding quantity and quality; and
(3) the cost of the goods or services does not exceed
the ultimate cost to the comptroller or state agency that would
result if the comptroller or state agency procured similar goods or
services from a vendor that does not demonstrate that the vendor
provides health benefits coverage described by this section to the
vendor's employees and the employees' dependents.
SECTION 2. Section 2155.454, Government Code, as added by
this Act, applies only to a contract for the procurement of goods
and services for which the solicitation of bids or proposals,
request for proposals, or similar required notification as to the
goods or services is published on or after September 1, 2009. A
contract for the procurement of goods and services for which the
solicitation of bids or proposals, request for proposals, or
similar required notification as to the goods or services is
published before September 1, 2009, is governed by the law in effect
at the time the solicitation, request, or notification is
published, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.