Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has expanded statewide enforcement efforts across transportation and supply chain-related industries through separate actions targeting commercial driver training schools and corporate supplier diversity programs. The moves come as Texas and federal officials increase scrutiny of issues ranging from commercial driver qualification standards and English-language proficiency enforcement to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) practices tied to supply chain contracting. In one of the latest actions, Paxton’s office announced Tuesday that it sent a warning letter to CVS Health regarding the company’s supplier diversity practices tied to procurement and supply chain operations. According to the attorney general’s office, CVS reserves a portion of its contracts for suppliers meeting certain demographic criteria, including minority-owned, women-owned and LGBTQ-owned businesses. Paxton’s office said such programs “may violate state and federal civil rights laws” and could expose the company to liability under the Texas Health Care Program Fraud Prevention Act because CVS participates as a Medicaid pharmacy provider. The attorney general’s office said CVS has 14 days to inform the state about steps it has taken to comply with state and federal anti-discrimination laws. CVS Health operates a supply chain network with more than 22 distribution centers and a fleet of 2,500 delivery vehicles across the U.S. supporting more than 9,000 retail stores, pharmacy services and e-commerce platforms, according to its website. A 2016 report indicated CVS Health’s supplier diversity initiatives supported more than 21,145 jobs within its supply chain at that time. Related: Feds tell states: Enforce trucker English rules or…
