Bill Text: NJ A785 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: "Invest in New Jersey First Act;" requires preference in awarding certain contracts for critical infrastructure projects.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-01-14 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Commerce and Economic Development Committee [A785 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2020-A785-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
219th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2020 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman BRIAN E. RUMPF
District 9 (Atlantic, Burlington and Ocean)
Assemblywoman DIANNE C. GOVE
District 9 (Atlantic, Burlington and Ocean)
SYNOPSIS
"Invest in New Jersey First Act;" requires preference in awarding certain contracts for critical infrastructure projects.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning public contracts and supplementing Title 52 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. As used in P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill):
"Critical" means sited, recommended, or promoted by a State department or agency or by the Governor as a project of economic necessity which will increase employment during a period of economic downturn.
"Infrastructure project" means any transportation or highway project; sewerage project; water supply project; or building project constructed by the State or any political subdivision thereof, including, but not limited to, a school district.
2. Notwithstanding any provision of law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, a State department or agency, or political subdivision of the State, in making or awarding a contract for a critical infrastructure project or part or portion thereof to be financed from State funds, shall grant a preference for such contract to qualified businesses located in the State of New Jersey employing residents of the State, up to the limits set forth under rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to section 3 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
3. The Department of the Treasury shall promulgate rules and regulations, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) to identify qualified businesses under section 2 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill). The rules and regulations shall also set forth limits on the amount of preference that may be given to a qualified business located in New Jersey employing residents of the State.
4. This act shall take effect immediately, except that section 2 shall remain inoperative until the rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to section 3 shall have become effective.
STATEMENT
This bill attempts to respond to the need for an economic stimulus in New Jersey and an increase in employment in the State by requiring State departments and agencies, or political subdivisions of the State, to give a limited preference to qualified businesses located within the State of New Jersey that employ New Jersey residents when awarding or making public contracts on critical infrastructure projects financed from State funds. A critical infrastructure project is a transportation or highway project; sewerage project; water supply project; or building project constructed by the State or political subdivision thereof, including but not limited to, a school district, which is sited, recommended, or promoted by the Executive Branch as a project of economic necessity.
Under the bill, the Department of the Treasury is to be responsible for identifying qualified businesses and establishing preference limits on the amount of preference granted to New Jersey businesses.
The Governor has stated in his address to a joint session of the Legislature that there exists an economic emergency in the State, and that these public projects are necessary to revive and advance New Jersey's economy. The hiring of New Jersey firms employing New Jersey residents is vital to achieving that goal.
