HISTORICALLY UNDERUTILIZED BUSINESS FORUMS.

(a) The comptroller shall design a program of forums in which historically underutilized businesses are invited by state agencies to deliver technical and business presentations that demonstrate their capability to do business with the agency:

(1) to senior managers and procurement personnel at state agencies that acquire goods and services of a type supplied by the historically underutilized businesses; and

(2) to contractors with the state who may be subcontracting for goods and services of a type supplied by the historically underutilized businesses.

(b) The forums shall be held at state agency offices.

(c) Each state agency with a biennial appropriation that exceeds $10 million shall participate in the program by sending senior managers and procurement personnel to attend relevant presentations and by informing the agency's contractors about presentations that may be relevant to anticipated subcontracting opportunities.

(d) Each state agency that has a historically underutilized businesses coordinator shall:

(1) design its own program and model the program to the extent appropriate on the program developed by the comptroller under this section; and

(2) sponsor presentations by historically underutilized businesses at the agency.

(e) The comptroller and each state agency that has a historically underutilized businesses coordinator shall aggressively identify and notify individual historically underutilized businesses regarding opportunities to make a presentation regarding the types of goods and services supplied by the historically underutilized business and shall advertise in appropriate trade publications that target historically underutilized businesses regarding opportunities to make a presentation.