1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to regional business certification programs for
 1-3     purchasing by political subdivisions.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Chapter 280, Local Government Code, is amended by
 1-6     adding Section 280.003 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 280.003.  REGIONAL BUSINESS CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS.  (a)
 1-8     Any combination of counties, municipalities, special districts, or
 1-9     other political subdivisions, by ordinance, resolution, rule,
1-10     order, or other means, may agree to establish a regional business
1-11     certification program to be used in connection with the political
1-12     subdivisions' purchasing procedures.
1-13           (b)  A consolidated entity administering a program
1-14     established under this section may adopt rules, regulations, or
1-15     other provisions that are  designed to streamline and centralize
1-16     the certification process of qualified businesses, including small
1-17     and emerging businesses, and that allow businesses, as a result of
1-18     being certified by the program, to participate in the contracting
1-19     and procurement process of any member entity involved in the
1-20     regional business certification program.
1-21           (c)  The purpose of this section is to permit participating
1-22     political subdivisions the greatest possible flexibility to
1-23     organize a regional business certification program most suitable to
1-24     address the region's problems related to business certification.
 2-1           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
 2-2     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
 2-3     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
 2-4     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
 2-5     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
 2-6     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
 2-7     passage, and it is so enacted.
         _______________________________     _______________________________
             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 2729 was passed by the House on May
         12, 1999, by the following vote:  Yeas 142, Nays 0, 1 present, not
         voting.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 2729 was passed by the Senate on May
         26, 1999, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
         APPROVED:  _____________________
                            Date
                    _____________________
                          Governor