87R10846 CJC-F
By: Cain H.B. No. 1865
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to encouraging economic development through preferences
for residents of this state and certain goods or services
manufactured in this state and offered for sale by Texas bidders.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. This Act may be cited as the Texas Jobs Priority
Act.
SECTION 2. Subchapter H, Chapter 418, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 418.196 to read as follows:
Sec. 418.196. PURCHASE OF CERTAIN PERSONAL PROTECTIVE
EQUIPMENT FOR DISASTER PURPOSES. (a) A state agency or an officer
of this state or a political subdivision of this state authorized to
deploy resources under this chapter in response to a disaster
shall, when purchasing personal protective equipment, give
preference to personal protective equipment manufactured in this
state and offered for sale by a bidder in this state.
(b) Subsection (a) does not apply to a purchase unless the
personal protective equipment manufactured in this state and
offered for sale by a bidder in this state is the same or
substantially similar in price and quality as personal protective
equipment manufactured in another state or offered for sale by a
bidder in another state.
(c) If personal protective equipment manufactured in this
state is offered for sale by more than one bidder in this state, the
state agency, officer, or political subdivision described by
Subsection (a) may consider the aggregate economic effect to the
state when determining which bid to accept.
SECTION 3. Section 271.9051, Local Government Code, is
amended by adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:
(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a
municipality may, when making a purchase of property or services
described by Subsection (b), enter into a contract with a bidder
whose principal place of business is located in this state
regardless of whether that bidder is the lowest bidder if the
governing body of the municipality determines the bidder offers the
municipality the best combination of contract price and additional
economic development opportunities for the municipality.
SECTION 4. Section 2301.151, Occupations Code, is amended
by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
(c) The board shall in exercising a power provided to it
under this chapter give preference and priority to residents of
this state, including laborers and vendors, and to manufacturers
located in this state except when it is not reasonably possible to
do so without added expense, substantial inconvenience, or
sacrifice in department efficiency.
SECTION 5. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, an agency, an official, or a political subdivision of
this state affected by this Act shall adopt rules and procedures as
necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.
SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.