Comptroller Don Huffines has issued an executive order barring entities with financial participation by certain convicted human-trafficking offenders from receiving contracts or grants administered by his office.
The order requires contractors and grant recipients to certify that no person with financial participation in their organization has been convicted within the preceding five years of an offense related to the direct support or promotion of human trafficking.
According to the comptroller’s office, Texas Government Code Section 2155.0061 already prohibits state agencies from accepting bids or awarding contracts involving financial participation by individuals with those convictions. However, that prohibition does not extend to grants.
Huffines’ order applies the eligibility certification to both contracts and grants administered by his agency.
“Human trafficking is pure evil, and Texas will not allow a single dollar of public money to flow to anyone connected to it,” Huffines said. “The government’s first duty is to defend the innocent. No agency, no nonprofit, no contractor should ever benefit from state funding if the organization has financial participation from someone convicted of such a horrific crime.”
Under the order, contractors and grantees must also acknowledge that the comptroller’s office may withhold payment or immediately terminate an agreement without further obligation if their certification is inaccurate.
The requirements will be incorporated into all relevant future solicitations and agreements, according to the agency.
“Texans should never have to worry that their tax dollars are supporting criminals engaged in the exploitation of women, children, or any vulnerable person,” Huffines said.
The announcement follows three other orders establishing restrictions on comptroller-administered funding.
An October 13 order barred the use of comptroller grant money for Flock cameras, automated license plate readers, and other vehicle-identification systems. An October 15 order prohibited taxpayer funding for discriminatory diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, while an October 21 order barred businesses requiring COVID-19 vaccine passports from receiving comptroller contracts and grants.
The comptroller’s office said additional contract and grant requirements will be announced in the coming weeks.
