(a)
(1)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, each awarding department shall have annual statewide participation goals of not less than 3 percent for disabled veteran business enterprises for contracts entered into by the awarding department during the year for professional bond services. This section shall not apply if a contract for professional bond services of an underwriter is to be obtained by competitive bid. However, each awarding department shall establish goals for contracts to be obtained by competitive bid for professional bond services.
(2)
These goals shall apply to the overall dollar amount expended by the awarding department with respect to the contracts for professional bond services relating to the issuance of bonds by the awarding department, including amounts spent as underwriter’s discounts.
(b)
In attempting to meet the goals set forth in subdivision (a), the awarding department shall consider establishing cocounsel, joint venture, and subcontracting relationships, including disabled veteran business enterprises, in all contracts for professional bond services. It shall be the responsibility of the head of each awarding department to be supportive of the Treasurer’s program for assigning representative portions of professional bond services contracts for purposes of meeting the goals established pursuant to this section. However, nothing in this article shall preclude the awarding department from achieving the goals set forth in this section without
requiring joint ventures, cocounsel, or subcontracting arrangements.
(c)
This section shall not limit the ability of any awarding department to meet a goal higher than those set forth in subdivision (a) for the participation of disabled veteran business enterprises in contracts awarded by the awarding department.