ASSEMBLY STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 3785

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 17, 2020

      The Assembly State and Local Government Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 3785.

      This bill would require State contracting units, including State colleges, to use an electronic procurement process for public works construction contracts when the project requires public advertisement.

     The bill requires the State Treasurer to promulgate regulations to effectuate the electronic procurement of public works construction as required in the bill.  The regulations would set forth each of the steps the State Treasurer deems appropriate to be taken by each State contracting unit for contracts that meet those criteria.  The regulations would also set forth a procedure to be followed for the awarding of a contract for the administration of the electronic procurement process.

     The bill permits local units of government, county colleges, and school districts to use an electronic procurement process for public works construction contracts.  The electronic construction procurement process to be used by those public entities will be the process developed by the Director of the Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs by regulations promulgated for the electronic procurement practices authorized in the “Local Unit Electronic Procurement Act,” P.L.2018, c.156 (C.40A:11-4.7 et al.).

      This bill is identical to Senate Bill No. 2085.