By Bob Eschliman
Editor
State Rep. Chris Hall (D-Sioux City) has sponsored a bill this week that would provide benefits to business owners who are service-disabled veterans.
House File 463, if approved, would establish state procurement goals and preferences in government contracting for those businesses. It also would expand the definition of a targeted small business to include them.
Under current law the state, Board of Regents institutions, counties, townships, school districts, community colleges, cities, and other public entities, and every person acting as contracting agent for such entities, are required to make a good-faith effort to utilize minority- and female-owned businesses necessary to carry out the issuance of bonds or other obligations. The bill would require those same entities to make the same good-faith effort to utilize businesses owned by service-disabled veterans.
Current law also establishes a goal that at least 40 percent of the total value of anticipated procurements from certified targeted small businesses be procured from minority-owned businesses and 40 percent from female-owned businesses. The bill establishes an additional goal that at least 40 percent of the total value of anticipated procurements from certified targeted small businesses be procured from businesses owned by service-disabled veterans.
A number of lobbyist groups have declared they are “undecided” on HF 463. None have declared that they are either for or against the proposed legislation at this time.
Follow Us