Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman SHAVONDA E. SUMTER
District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes State contract goal for socially and economically disadvantaged businesses.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act establishing State contract goal for socially and economically disadvantaged businesses and amending P.L.2023, c.300.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 3 of P.L.2023, c.300 (C.52:32-31.17) is amended to read as follows:
3. a. (1) The department shall establish contracting agency procurement goals of at least 30 percent for contracting with qualified business enterprises in the awarding of contracts. These goals may, where appropriate, be attained by the direct designation of prime contracts for qualified business enterprises or by subcontracting, and in accordance with and supported by available data and information. Each contracting agency shall make a good faith effort to attain the goals established in this section.
(2) The department shall develop a process for evaluating and adjusting goals to determine what adjustments are necessary to achieve participation goals.
b. Each contracting agency shall annually develop, in consultation with the department, a plan for achieving its qualified business enterprise goals.
(cf: P.L.2023, c.300, s.3)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill establishes a State contract goal for socially and economically disadvantaged businesses.
The bill establishes a goal that contracting agencies award at least 30 percent of their contracts to socially and economically disadvantaged businesses.
Socially disadvantaged businesses are defined as businesses owned by individuals who can demonstrate membership in a racial minority group or show personal disadvantage due to color, ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical disability, long-term residence in an environment isolated from the mainstream of American society, or location in an area of high unemployment.
Economically disadvantaged businesses are defined as businesses owned by individuals who can demonstrate their ability to compete for State contracts has been impaired due to diminished capital and credit opportunities compared to others in the same line of business who are not socially disadvantaged and a personal net worth below a certain level.