By:  Turner, Sylvester                                H.B. No. 1281
       73R5595 GWK-D
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to requiring bidders for certain contracts with the Texas
    1-3  Department of Criminal Justice to show proof of support of
    1-4  employment programs for released felons and to the use of that
    1-5  information by the Texas Board of Criminal Justice in awarding
    1-6  contracts.
    1-7        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-8        SECTION 1.  Chapter 493, Government Code, is amended by
    1-9  adding Section 493.013 to read as follows:
   1-10        Sec. 493.013.  REQUIRING CONTRACTORS OR VENDORS TO SHOW PROOF
   1-11  OF EMPLOYMENT OF RELEASED FELONS.  (a)  The board shall require
   1-12  each contractor or vendor bidding on a contract to provide goods or
   1-13  services to the department to submit with the bid information
   1-14  concerning any program operated or to be operated by the contractor
   1-15  or vendor to employ released felons in the business of the
   1-16  contractor or vendor or any nonprofit program participated in or
   1-17  supported by the contractor or vendor that has as a goal the
   1-18  employment of released felons.
   1-19        (b)  Notwithstanding Section 496.051(a) or other law,
   1-20  including the State Purchasing and General Services Act (Article
   1-21  601b, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), the board may consider
   1-22  favorably information about a contractor's or vendor's employment
   1-23  of released felons or participation in or support of employment
   1-24  programs for released felons in determining whether to award a
    2-1  contract.
    2-2        (c)  The board shall adopt rules relating to:
    2-3              (1)  the evaluation by the department of information
    2-4  provided under Subsection (a); and
    2-5              (2)  the weight that the board gives the information
    2-6  described by Subsection (b) in awarding a contract.
    2-7        SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
    2-8  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
    2-9  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   2-10  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   2-11  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
   2-12  and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
   2-13  passage, and it is so enacted.