82R2575 CJC-D
 
  By: Garza H.B. No. 1574
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to including certain veterans service organizations as
  small businesses for the purpose of state contracting.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 2155.505(a), Government Code, is amended
  by amending Subdivision (2) and adding Subdivision (3) to read as
  follows:
               (2)  "Small business" means a small business concern as
  defined by regulations of the United States Small Business
  Administration in 13 C.F.R. Section 121.201 or a veterans service
  agency.
               (3)  "Veterans service agency" means a community-based
  organization that:
                     (A)  is exempt from taxation under Section 501(a),
  Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as an organization described in
  Section 501(c)(3) of that code;
                     (B)  has as its principal purpose to provide
  housing, substance abuse treatment, case management services, and
  employment training to low-income veterans, disabled veterans, and
  homeless veterans and their families; and
                     (C)  employs veterans to provide at least 75
  percent of the hours of direct labor by individuals required to
  produce goods or provide services required under a contract entered
  into under this section.
         SECTION 2.  Section 2155.505(a), Government Code, as amended
  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, 2011. 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, 2011, 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 immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2011.