78R817 MCK-D

By:  Ellis                                                        S.B. No. 505



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to mentor-protege programs used by certain state agencies 
for historically underutilized businesses.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 2161.065, Government Code, is amended to 
read as follows:
	Sec. 2161.065.  MENTOR-PROTEGE PROGRAM.  (a)  The 
commission shall design a mentor-protege program to foster 
long-term relationships between mentors [prime contractors] and 
historically underutilized businesses to provide professional 
guidance and support to the businesses to facilitate their 
development and growth and to increase their [the] ability [of 
historically underutilized businesses] to contract with the state 
or to receive subcontracts under a state contract.  Each state 
agency with a biennial appropriation that exceeds $10 million shall 
implement the program designed by the commission.
	(b)  Participation in the program must be voluntary for both 
the mentor [contractor] and the historically underutilized 
business [subcontractor].
	(c)  The commission may not require a mentor under the 
mentor-protege program to be a registered bidder on the 
commission's centralized master bidders list.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.