RS 2261 - Preference for goods manufactured, or services performed, by individuals with disabilities through supported employment providers; non-applicability of competitive bidding requirements; coordinating council
A. Every agency as defined in R.S. 39:1556 shall give a preference in its purchasing practices to goods manufactured and services performed by individuals with disabilities through supported employment providers.
B. The requirements for competitive bidding contained in Part II of this Chapter shall be inapplicable to cases in which an agency as defined in R.S. 39:1556 uses goods manufactured, or services performed, by individuals with disabilities through supported employment providers, provided the goods manufactured or services performed are equal in quality and reasonable in the rate charged based upon those goods and services available from other providers.
C. The State Use Council for the Purchase of Goods and Services Provided by Individuals with Disabilities established pursuant to R.S. 39:1604.4(B) shall coordinate and facilitate the carrying out of the provisions of this Section. The membership of this council shall be determined by the secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health.
D. For the purposes of this Section, the following terms are defined as follows:
(1) "Goods manufactured and services performed by individuals with disabilities" shall have the meaning as defined in R.S. 39:1604.4(D).
(2) "Individuals with disabilities" shall have the meaning as defined in R.S. 39:1604.4(D).
(3) "Supported employment provider" shall have the meaning as defined in R.S. 39:1604.4(D).
Added by Acts 1983, No. 363, §1; Acts 2010, No. 939, §5, eff. July 1, 2010 (Subsection C), and Jan. 1, 2011 (Subsection D); Acts 2014, No. 811, §20, eff. June 23, 2014; Acts 2019, No. 312, §2, eff. July 1, 2019.