An authority may create a minority and women-owned business program for its public contracts, and the board must review the program and provide a plan if the program is established.
Sec. 451.253. MINORITY AND WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESS PROGRAM: CERTAIN AUTHORITIES. (a) An authority with a regional economic development facility approved under Subchapter E may establish a program reasonably designed to increase the participation of minority and women-owned businesses in public contracts awarded by the authority, and if the program is established, the board shall provide a plan to assist minority and women-owned businesses in the area served by the authority to achieve the purposes of the program. If the board establishes an overall minority and women-owned business contract percentage goal as a part of the program, the goal may not exceed the capability of the minority and women-owned businesses in the area served by the authority to perform the number and type of contracts awarded by the authority, as determined by a qualified, independent source. (b) The board shall periodically review the effectiveness of the program and the reasonableness of the program goals. (c) This section does not affect Sections 451.110 and 451.111, but prospective bidders may be required to meet uniform standards designed to assure a reasonable degree of participation by minority and women-owned businesses in the performance of any contract. (d) In this section: (1) "Minority" includes blacks, Hispanics, Asian Americans, American Indians, and Alaska natives. (2) "Minority business" means a business concern more than 50 percent of which is owned and controlled in management and daily operations by members of one or more minorities. (3) "Women-owned business" means a business concern more than 50 percent of which is owned and controlled in management and daily operations by one or more women. Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.