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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the historically underutilized business task force. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 2161, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 2161.067 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 2161.067. HISTORICALLY UNDERUTILIZED BUSINESS TASK |
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FORCE. (a) In this section, "task force" means the historically |
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underutilized business task force established under this section. |
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(b) The historically underutilized business task force is |
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established to: |
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(1) review each state agency's outreach efforts, |
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policies, and bidding processes; |
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(2) evaluate the amount of access to contracting |
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opportunities available to historically underutilized businesses |
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compared to other businesses; |
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(3) share effective practices among different state |
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agencies; |
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(4) recommend to the legislature and state agencies |
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strategies to: |
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(A) promote full and good faith compliance with |
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this chapter in state contracting; |
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(B) increase participation of historically |
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underutilized businesses in state contracting; and |
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(C) address other topics related to historically |
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underutilized businesses; and |
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(5) perform other duties as assigned by the |
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comptroller and presiding officer. |
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(c) The task force shall consist of: |
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(1) one historically underutilized business |
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coordinator from each state agency with a biennial budget that |
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exceeds $10 million, as described in Section 2161.062(e); |
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(2) one member appointed by the governor; |
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(3) one member appointed by the lieutenant governor; |
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and |
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(4) one member appointed by the speaker of the house of |
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representatives. |
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(d) Members of the task force that are appointed by the |
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governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house serve |
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staggered terms of two years, with one or two members' terms |
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expiring December 1 of each year. |
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(e) The member appointed by the governor shall serve as the |
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initial presiding officer of the task force for a two-year term. |
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The task force shall elect succeeding presiding officers from among |
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its membership at the first meeting following the expiration of the |
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presiding officer's term. |
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(f) The task force shall meet quarterly at the call of the |
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presiding officer. |
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(g) Not later than December 1 of each year, the task force |
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shall prepare and submit to the governor, the legislature, and each |
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state agency a written report summarizing the task force's findings |
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and recommendations, including legislative recommendations. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than December 1, 2023, the governor, |
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lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives |
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shall each appoint one member to the historically underutilized |
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business task force as required under Section 2161.067, Government |
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Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. Not later than December 1, 2023, the presiding |
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officer of the historically underutilized business task force |
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created under Section 2161.067, Government Code, as added by this |
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Act, shall call the first meeting of the task force. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |