The comptroller must certify historically underutilized businesses and may approve certain local or nonprofit certification programs and certify businesses already certified by them.
Sec. 2161.061. CERTIFICATION OF HISTORICALLY UNDERUTILIZED BUSINESSES. (a) The comptroller shall certify historically underutilized businesses. (b) As one of its certification procedures, the comptroller may: (1) approve the certification program of one or more local governments or nonprofit organizations in this state that certify historically underutilized businesses, minority business enterprises, women's business enterprises, or disadvantaged business enterprises under substantially the same definition, to the extent applicable, used by Section 2161.001, if the local government or nonprofit organization meets or exceeds the standards established by the comptroller; and (2) certify a business that is certified by a local government or by a nonprofit organization as a historically underutilized business under this chapter. (c) To maximize the number of certified historically underutilized businesses, the comptroller shall enter into agreements with local governments in this state that conduct certification programs described by Subsection (b) and with nonprofit organizations. The comptroller may terminate an agreement if a local government or nonprofit organization fails to meet the standards established by the comptroller for certifying historically underutilized businesses. The agreements must take effect immediately and: (1) allow for automatic certification of businesses certified by the local government or nonprofit organization; (2) provide for the efficient updating of the comptroller database containing information about historically underutilized businesses and potential historically underutilized businesses; and (3) provide for a method by which the comptroller may efficiently communicate with businesses certified by the local government or nonprofit organization and provide those businesses with information about the state historically underutilized business program. (d) A local government or a nonprofit organization that certifies historically underutilized businesses, minority business enterprises, women's business enterprises, or disadvantaged business enterprises as described in Subsections (b) and (c) shall complete the certification of an applicant or provide an applicant with written justification of its certification denial within the period established by the comptroller in its rules for certification activities. (e) A local government or a nonprofit organization that certifies historically underutilized businesses under Subsection (c) or that conducts a certification program described by and approved under Subsection (b) shall make available to the public an online searchable database containing information about historically underutilized businesses, minority business enterprises, women's business enterprises, and disadvantaged business enterprises certified by the local government or nonprofit organization, including: (1) the name of the business; (2) the contact person or owner of the business; (3) the address and telephone number of the business; (4) the type or category of business, including relevant capabilities of the business and the North American Industry Classification System codes for the business; and (5) the expiration date of the business's certification. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 41, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 17.03(a), eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1499, Sec. 2.03, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1422, Sec. 13.01, eff. Sept. 1, 2001. Amended by: Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 937 (H.B. 3560), Sec. 1.22, eff. September 1, 2007. Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1071 (H.B. 1524), Sec. 85, eff. September 1, 2019. Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1071 (H.B. 1524), Sec. 86, eff. September 1, 2019.