81R4070 MCK-D
 
  By: Anchia, Farabee H.B. No. 535
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the provision of a preference in state purchasing
  decisions for vendors that provide health benefits to employees.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter H, Chapter 2155, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 2155.454 to read as follows:
         Sec. 2155.454.  PREFERENCE FOR VENDORS THAT PROVIDE HEALTH
  BENEFITS COVERAGE.  The comptroller and all state agencies
  procuring goods or services shall give preference to goods or
  services of a vendor that demonstrates that the vendor provides
  health benefits coverage that is at least equivalent to a standard
  health benefit plan offered under Chapter 1507, Insurance Code, to
  each of the vendor's full-time employees and the dependents of the
  employees if:
               (1)  the vendor pays 100 percent of the health
  insurance premiums for each full-time employee who participates in
  the insurance program and at least 75 percent of the health
  insurance premiums for each dependent of a full-time employee who
  elects to participate in dependent coverage under the insurance
  program;
               (2)  the goods or services meet state specifications
  regarding quantity and quality; and
               (3)  the cost of the goods or services does not exceed
  the ultimate cost to the comptroller or state agency that would
  result if the comptroller or state agency procured similar goods or
  services from a vendor that does not demonstrate that the vendor
  provides health benefits coverage described by this section to the
  vendor's employees and the employees' dependents.
         SECTION 2.  Section 2155.454, Government Code, as added by
  this Act, applies only to a contract for the procurement of goods
  and services for which the solicitation of bids or proposals,
  request for proposals, or similar required notification as to the
  goods or services is published on or after September 1, 2009. A
  contract for the procurement of goods and services for which the
  solicitation of bids or proposals, request for proposals, or
  similar required notification as to the goods or services is
  published before September 1, 2009, is governed by the law in effect
  at the time the solicitation, request, or notification is
  published, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.