84R11867 MTB-F
By: Parker H.B. No. 2761
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the awarding of certain contracts of the Veterans' Land
Board to veteran-owned businesses.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 161.131, Natural Resources Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 161.131. MINORITY-OWNED AND VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESSES.
(a) The board shall make a good faith effort to award to both
minority-owned and veteran-owned businesses:
(1) contracts relating to the issuance of bonds by the
board under this chapter in the amount of at least 20 percent of the
total costs of issuing those bonds; and
(2) contracts for the items to be financed by bonds
issued by the board in the amount of at least 20 percent of the
proceeds of those bonds.
(b) [(c)] In this section:
(1) "Minority-owned business" means a business entity
at least 51 percent of which is owned by members of a minority group
or, in the case of a corporation, at least 51 percent of the shares
of which are owned by members of a minority group, and that is
managed and controlled by members of a minority group in its daily
operations.
(2) "Minority group" includes:
(A) African Americans;
(B) American Indians;
(C) Asian Americans; and
(D) Mexican Americans and other Americans of
Hispanic origin.
(3) Notwithstanding Section 161.001(a)(7) or (b),
"veteran" means a veteran, as defined by 38 U.S.C. Section 101(2),
who has suffered at least a 20 percent service-connected
disability, as defined by 38 U.S.C. Section 101(16).
(4) "Veteran-owned business" means a business entity
at least 51 percent of which is owned by veterans or, in the case of
a corporation, at least 51 percent of the shares of which are owned
by veterans, and that is managed and controlled by veterans in its
daily operations.
SECTION 2. This Act applies only to a contract for which a
state agency first advertises or otherwise solicits bids,
proposals, offers, or qualifications on or after the effective date
of this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.