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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the provision of a preference in state purchasing |
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decisions for vendors that provide health benefits to employees. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter H, Chapter 2155, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 2155.454 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 2155.454. PREFERENCE FOR VENDORS THAT PROVIDE HEALTH |
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BENEFITS COVERAGE. The comptroller and all state agencies |
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procuring goods or services shall give preference to goods or |
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services of a vendor that demonstrates that the vendor provides |
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health benefits coverage that is at least equivalent to a standard |
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health benefit plan offered under Chapter 1507, Insurance Code, to |
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each of the vendor's full-time employees and the dependents of the |
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employees if: |
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(1) the vendor pays 100 percent of the health |
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insurance premiums for each full-time employee who participates in |
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the insurance program and at least 75 percent of the health |
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insurance premiums for each dependent of a full-time employee who |
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elects to participate in dependent coverage under the insurance |
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program; |
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(2) the goods or services meet state specifications |
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regarding quantity and quality; and |
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(3) the cost of the goods or services does not exceed |
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the ultimate cost to the comptroller or state agency that would |
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result if the comptroller or state agency procured similar goods or |
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services from a vendor that does not demonstrate that the vendor |
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provides health benefits coverage described by this section to the |
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vendor's employees and the employees' dependents. |
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SECTION 2. Section 2155.454, Government Code, as added by |
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this Act, applies only to a contract for the procurement of goods |
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and services for which the solicitation of bids or proposals, |
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request for proposals, or similar required notification as to the |
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goods or services is published on or after September 1, 2009. A |
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contract for the procurement of goods and services for which the |
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solicitation of bids or proposals, request for proposals, or |
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similar required notification as to the goods or services is |
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published before September 1, 2009, is governed by the law in effect |
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at the time the solicitation, request, or notification is |
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published, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |