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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the awarding of certain contracts of the Veterans' Land |
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Board to veteran-owned businesses. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 161.131, Natural Resources Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 161.131. MINORITY-OWNED AND VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESSES. |
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(a) The board shall make a good faith effort to award to both |
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minority-owned and veteran-owned businesses: |
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(1) contracts relating to the issuance of bonds by the |
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board under this chapter in the amount of at least 20 percent of the |
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total costs of issuing those bonds; and |
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(2) contracts for the items to be financed by bonds |
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issued by the board in the amount of at least 20 percent of the |
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proceeds of those bonds. |
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(b) [(c)] In this section: |
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(1) "Minority-owned business" means a business entity |
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at least 51 percent of which is owned by members of a minority group |
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or, in the case of a corporation, at least 51 percent of the shares |
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of which are owned by members of a minority group, and that is |
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managed and controlled by members of a minority group in its daily |
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operations. |
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(2) "Minority group" includes: |
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(A) African Americans; |
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(B) American Indians; |
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(C) Asian Americans; and |
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(D) Mexican Americans and other Americans of |
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Hispanic origin. |
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(3) Notwithstanding Section 161.001(a)(7) or (b), |
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"veteran" means a veteran, as defined by 38 U.S.C. Section 101(2), |
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who has suffered at least a 20 percent service-connected |
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disability, as defined by 38 U.S.C. Section 101(16). |
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(4) "Veteran-owned business" means a business entity |
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at least 51 percent of which is owned by veterans or, in the case of |
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a corporation, at least 51 percent of the shares of which are owned |
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by veterans, and that is managed and controlled by veterans in its |
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daily operations. |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies only to a contract for which a |
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state agency first advertises or otherwise solicits bids, |
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proposals, offers, or qualifications on or after the effective date |
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of this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |