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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to encouraging economic development through preferences |
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for residents of this state and certain goods or services |
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manufactured in this state and offered for sale by Texas bidders. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. This Act may be cited as the Texas Jobs Priority |
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Act. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter H, Chapter 418, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 418.196 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 418.196. PURCHASE OF CERTAIN PERSONAL PROTECTIVE |
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EQUIPMENT FOR DISASTER PURPOSES. (a) A state agency or an officer |
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of this state or a political subdivision of this state authorized to |
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deploy resources under this chapter in response to a disaster |
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shall, when purchasing personal protective equipment, give |
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preference to personal protective equipment manufactured in this |
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state and offered for sale by a bidder in this state. |
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(b) Subsection (a) does not apply to a purchase unless the |
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personal protective equipment manufactured in this state and |
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offered for sale by a bidder in this state is the same or |
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substantially similar in price and quality as personal protective |
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equipment manufactured in another state or offered for sale by a |
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bidder in another state. |
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(c) If personal protective equipment manufactured in this |
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state is offered for sale by more than one bidder in this state, the |
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state agency, officer, or political subdivision described by |
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Subsection (a) may consider the aggregate economic effect to the |
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state when determining which bid to accept. |
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SECTION 3. Section 271.9051, Local Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Subsection (e) to read as follows: |
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(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a |
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municipality may, when making a purchase of property or services |
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described by Subsection (b), enter into a contract with a bidder |
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whose principal place of business is located in this state |
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regardless of whether that bidder is the lowest bidder if the |
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governing body of the municipality determines the bidder offers the |
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municipality the best combination of contract price and additional |
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economic development opportunities for the municipality. |
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SECTION 4. Section 2301.151, Occupations Code, is amended |
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by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: |
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(c) The board shall in exercising a power provided to it |
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under this chapter give preference and priority to residents of |
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this state, including laborers and vendors, and to manufacturers |
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located in this state except when it is not reasonably possible to |
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do so without added expense, substantial inconvenience, or |
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sacrifice in department efficiency. |
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SECTION 5. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, an agency, an official, or a political subdivision of |
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this state affected by this Act shall adopt rules and procedures as |
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necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |