HB2425: Relating to ensuring that forced labor is not used for electric products that public bodies procure; declaring an emergency.

Legislative Summary

Sets up a task force to look at who is supplying the goods and services that public bodies in this state buy and to make sure that the products don't involve forced labor or child labor. (Flesch Readability Score: 66.8). [Digest: Tells a public body that buys electric cars or solar panels that it needs proof from the vendor that no forced labor was used in producing the car or panel. Specifies penalties for lying about the proof. (Flesch Readability Score: 66.8).] [Requires public bodies that procure electric vehicles and solar photovoltaic energy systems to receive before entering a contract for the electric vehicle or solar photovoltaic energy system a certification from the manufacturer, distributor, vendor or supplier that the production, assembly, transportation or sale of the electric vehicle or solar photovoltaic energy system did not use or involve forced labor or oppressive child labor. Requires probative evidence to accompany the certification.] [Provides that a person that supplies a certification that is false, materially misleading, illegitimate, untruthful, forged or substantially inaccurate is liable for a civil penalty of not more than $10,000 or half of the price the public body paid for the electric vehicle or solar photovoltaic energy system. Subjects the public body to similar penalties for knowingly or intentionally accepting a certification that the public body knows is false, materially misleading, illegitimate, untruthful, forged or substantially inaccurate.] [Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.] Establishes the Task Force on Ethical Procurement with 11 members appointed by the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Governor. Requires the task force to devise methods for verifying the identities of manufacturers, distributors, vendors or suppliers of products that public bodies procure in this state and ensuring that the public bodies do not procure products for which production, assembly, transportation or sale used or involved forced labor or oppressive child labor. Specifies methods by which the task force may carry out the task force's purpose. Sunsets on December 31, 2026. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.