§2233.2. Political subdivisions; authority for procurement from minority businesses; set-aside; preference to disadvantaged; preference to women

A. Every political subdivision in the state, as defined in this Section, through its respective fiscal officer or director of finance, is hereby authorized and empowered for each fiscal year to designate and set aside for awarding to minority businesses, as defined in this Section, an amount up to ten percent of the value of anticipated local procurement of goods and services including construction. However, should the governing authority of said political subdivision choose to set aside a greater amount, then nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit such set-aside levels above ten percent.

B.(1) Such parishes and municipalities may for each fiscal year designate and set aside for awarding to minority businesses an amount up to ten percent of the value of anticipated total procurement of goods and services including construction by said entity. The procurements so designated shall be divided into contract award units of economically feasible production runs in order to facilitate offers or bids from minority businesses. In making the annual designation of set-aside procurements, an attempt shall be made to vary the included procurements so that a variety of goods and services produced by different minority businesses may be set aside each year. The failure to set aside particular procurements shall not be considered to prohibit or discourage minority businesses from seeking the procurement award through the normal solicitation and bidding processes.

(2) To implement the foregoing, there shall be established a contract procedure in accordance with law for the awarding of a contract under the set-aside program established hereby.

(3) Before making a set-aside award, an evaluation shall be made to determine whether the minority business scheduled to receive the award is able to perform the set-aside contract. This determination shall include consideration of production and financial capacity and technical competence.

(4) At least ten percent of the value of the contracts designated for set-aside awards shall be awarded, if possible, to businesses owned and operated by socially or economically disadvantaged persons. In the event minority businesses owned and operated by socially or economically disadvantaged persons are unable to perform at least ten percent of the set-aside awards, then the balance of the set-aside contracts shall be awarded to other minority businesses.

(5) At least ten percent of the value of the contracts designated for set-aside awards shall be awarded, if possible, to businesses owned and operated by women. In the event minority businesses owned and operated by women are unable to perform at least ten percent of the set-aside award contracts, then the balance of the set-aside contracts shall be awarded to other minority businesses.

(6) In the event that the provisions of this Section do not operate to extend a contract award to minority business, the award shall be placed pursuant to the existing solicitation and award provisions established by law, whereupon additional contracts corresponding in approximate value to the contract unable to be awarded pursuant to the provisions of this Section shall be designated and set aside for minority businesses.

(7) All laws and rules pertaining to solicitations, bid evaluations, contract awards, and other contract matters shall apply as consistent to procurements set aside for minority businesses. In the event of conflict with other rules, the provisions of this Section shall govern.

C. In order to implement the provisions hereof, the governing body of such political subdivision shall adopt rules, standards, and procedures for certifying that minority businesses, minority businesses owned and operated by socially economically disadvantaged persons, and minority businesses owned and operated by women are small businesses owned and operated under the requirements of this Section. The procedure for determination of eligibility may include self-certification by a business, provided that the governing body retains the ability to verify a self-certification. Other rules as may be necessary to carry out the duties of this Section may also be adopted.

D. The governing authority may also adopt a requirement that the prime contractor award a certain percentage of the total dollar bid to minority subcontractors. This requirement may be waived if the prime contractor, after a good faith effort, is unable to comply with the requirement.

E.(1) "Minority" means a person who is a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States and who is:

(a) American Indian or Alaskan Native: having origins in any of the original peoples of North America.

(b) Asian American: having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, or the Pacific Islands.

(c) Black: having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa.

(d) Female.

(e) Hispanic: of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or South American, or other Spanish or Portuguese culture or origin regardless of race.

(2) "Minority business enterprise" or "minority-owned business" means a small business organized for profit performing a commercially useful function which is owned and controlled by one or more minority individuals or minority business enterprises. "Owned and controlled" means a business in which one or more minorities or minority business enterprises own at least fifty-one percent or in the case of a corporation at least fifty-one percent of the voting stock and control at least fifty-one percent of the management and daily business operations of the business.

(3) "Political subdivision" means any political subdivision situated wholly or partially within the geographic boundaries of Calcasieu Parish or St. John the Baptist Parish; or the Chennault International Airport Authority; the New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority; the Board of Commissioners of the Port of New Orleans; the city of Shreveport and any board, agency, or commission of that city; the parish of St. John the Baptist, and any board, agency, or commission thereof; the city of Monroe and any board, agency, or commission of that city; and any board, agency, or commission of or for the city of New Orleans or parish of Orleans which has been created by the constitution or laws of this state, which is not under the authority or control of the state of Louisiana for the purposes of letting and awarding contracts, and which is subject to Chapter 10 of Title 38 or Chapter 17 of Title 39, both of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, or any other state law relative to competitive bidding.

F. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section to the contrary, the amount designated and set aside by the city of Shreveport or any board, agency, or commission of that city pursuant to this Section shall not exceed ten percent of the value of anticipated local procurement of goods and services including construction. The city of Shreveport and any board, agency, or commission of that city further shall limit participation in any such minority set-aside program to minority businesses having a bona fide permanent office located in Caddo Parish or Bossier Parish.

G. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section to the contrary, the amount designated and set aside by the city of Monroe or any board, agency, or commission of that city pursuant to this Section shall not exceed ten percent of the value of anticipated local procurement of goods and services including construction. The city of Monroe and any board, agency, or commission of that city shall further limit participation in any such minority set-aside program to minority businesses having a bona fide permanent office located in Ouachita Parish.

Acts 1986, No. 530, §1, eff. July 2, 1986. Acts 1987, No. 387, §1; Acts 1987, No. 764, §1, eff. July 16, 1987; Acts 1987, No. 917, §1; Acts 1987, No. 942, §1, eff. July 20, 1987; Acts 1988, No. 207, §1; Acts 1988, No. 266, §1; Acts 1988, No. 400, §1; Acts 1988, No. 441, §1; Acts 1993, No. 1024, §1; Acts 1996, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 29, §2; Acts 1997, No. 458, §2.

NOTE: SEE ACTS 1987, NO. 764, §2.