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.