SB161 Summary

• Amends Section 41-16-20 of the Code of Alabama 1975 to add a new Priority #4 category for preferred vendor status in state competitive bidding.

• Grants preferred vendor status to businesses physically located in Alabama that are owned by veterans deployed at least once to Afghanistan or Iraq as part of Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom.

• Defines eligible veterans as persons who served in the army, air force, navy, marine corps, or coast guard and received an honorable or general discharge.

• Allows state higher education institutions and other state entities to award contracts to veteran-owned preferred vendors if their bid is no more than 5% greater than the lowest responsible bidder's bid.

• Becomes effective on the first day of the third month following passage and approval by the Governor.