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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the selection of providers of professional services by |
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governmental entities. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 2254.003, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows: |
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(a-1) Unless inconsistent with the criteria in Subsection |
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(a), a governmental entity selecting a provider of or awarding a |
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contract for professional services may consider: |
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(1) the impact on the entity's ability to comply with |
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laws, rules, or policies regarding, as applicable: |
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(A) historically underutilized or minority-owned |
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businesses; |
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(B) small business development programs; and |
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(C) any other contracting program approved by the |
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entity that relates to Paragraph (A) or (B); and |
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(2) the locations of the provider's or group or |
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association of providers' places of business where the work will be |
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performed if, in the entity's governing body's judgment, the |
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location of the places of business where the work will be performed |
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will impact the most efficient and economical provision of the |
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services. |
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SECTION 2. Section 2254.004, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows: |
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(a-1) Unless inconsistent with the criteria in Subsection |
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(a), a governmental entity selecting a provider of or awarding a |
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contract for architectural, engineering, or land surveying |
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services may consider: |
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(1) the impact on the entity's ability to comply with |
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laws, rules, or policies regarding, as applicable: |
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(A) historically underutilized or minority-owned |
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businesses; |
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(B) small business development programs; and |
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(C) any other contracting program approved by the |
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entity that relates to Paragraph (A) or (B); and |
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(2) the locations of the provider's places of business |
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where the work will be preformed if, in the entity's governing |
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body's judgement, the location of the places of business where the |
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work will be performed will impact the most efficient and |
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economical provision of the services. |
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SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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a contract for which an invitation for offers, request for |
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proposals, request for qualifications, or other similar |
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solicitation is first published or distributed on or after the |
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effective date of this Act. A contract for which an invitation for |
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offers, request for proposals, request for qualifications, or other |
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similar solicitation is first published or distributed before the |
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effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect at the |
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time the invitation, request, or other solicitation is published or |
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distributed, and the former law is continued in effect for that |
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purpose. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |