BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 381
80R5024 TAD-D By: Van de Putte et al.
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Currently, historically underutilized businesses are defined as those businesses owned by economically disadvantaged persons, including members of certain racial groups and women, who have suffered the effects of discriminatory practices or other similar circumstances over which the person has no control. The state has no authority to consider a business owned by a disabled veteran or a Purple Heart recipient as an underutilized business, however.
As proposed, S.B. 381 includes disabled veterans and recipients of the Purple Heart medal in the definition of economically disadvantaged persons for the purposes of state efforts to increase the use of historically underutilized businesses.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 2161.001(3), Government Code, to add veterans as defined by 38 U.S.C. Section 101(2) who either have a service-connected disability as defined by 38 U.S.C. Section 101(16) or have received the Purple Heart to the definition of "economically disadvantaged person" for the purposes of identifying and encouraging usage of a historically disadvantaged business.
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2007.