HBA-AMW H.B. 3087 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3087
By: Burnam
State Affairs
3/21/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The rights of workers are not protected in many countries throughout the
world.  Tens of millions of children work in sweatshops or harvest fruits,
vegetables, and other commodities for little or no wages.  Millions of
adults are forced into labor to produce goods and many of the goods are
eventually exported to the United States, despite federal and international
laws prohibiting exportation of these products.  In Texas, current law does
not prohibit the state from purchasing commodities created by forced or
child labor. House Bill 3087 prohibits the procurement by the state of any
goods produced in whole or in part by child or forced labor. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 3087 amends the Government Code to prohibit a vendor from making
or entering into, and a state agency from accepting or entering into, a bid
or contract for goods created in whole or in part by child or forced labor.
The bill prohibits a state agency from accepting a bid or awarding a
contract for goods unless the bidder or contractor certifies in the bid or
contract that the bidder or contractor, each person represented by the
bidder or contractor, and each person acting for the represented person has
not used, in the making of goods, any child labor or forced labor.  The
bill also sets forth language which must be included in the bid or
contract.  The bill specifies that a bid made, or contract entered into,
that violates these provisions is void as against public policy. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.