87R10846 CJC-F
 
  By: Hughes S.B. No. 1400
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to encouraging economic development through preferences
  for residents of this state and certain goods or services
  manufactured in this state and offered for sale by Texas bidders.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  This Act may be cited as the Texas Jobs Priority
  Act.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter H, Chapter 418, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 418.196 to read as follows:
         Sec. 418.196.  PURCHASE OF CERTAIN PERSONAL PROTECTIVE
  EQUIPMENT FOR DISASTER PURPOSES. (a) A state agency or an officer
  of this state or a political subdivision of this state authorized to
  deploy resources under this chapter in response to a disaster
  shall, when purchasing personal protective equipment, give
  preference to personal protective equipment manufactured in this
  state and offered for sale by a bidder in this state.
         (b)  Subsection (a) does not apply to a purchase unless the
  personal protective equipment manufactured in this state and
  offered for sale by a bidder in this state is the same or
  substantially similar in price and quality as personal protective
  equipment manufactured in another state or offered for sale by a
  bidder in another state.
         (c)  If personal protective equipment manufactured in this
  state is offered for sale by more than one bidder in this state, the
  state agency, officer, or political subdivision described by
  Subsection (a) may consider the aggregate economic effect to the
  state when determining which bid to accept.
         SECTION 3.  Section 271.9051, Local Government Code, is
  amended by adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:
         (e)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a
  municipality may, when making a purchase of property or services
  described by Subsection (b), enter into a contract with a bidder
  whose principal place of business is located in this state
  regardless of whether that bidder is the lowest bidder if the
  governing body of the municipality determines the bidder offers the
  municipality the best combination of contract price and additional
  economic development opportunities for the municipality.
         SECTION 4.  Section 2301.151, Occupations Code, is amended
  by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
         (c)  The board shall in exercising a power provided to it
  under this chapter give preference and priority to residents of
  this state, including laborers and vendors, and to manufacturers
  located in this state except when it is not reasonably possible to
  do so without added expense, substantial inconvenience, or
  sacrifice in department efficiency.
         SECTION 5.  As soon as practicable after the effective date
  of this Act, an agency, an official, or a political subdivision of
  this state affected by this Act shall adopt rules and procedures as
  necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.
         SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.