SENATE STATE GOVERNMENT, WAGERING, TOURISM & HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 300

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MARCH 5, 2020

      The Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 300.    This bill requires the Division of Purchase and Property in the Department of the Treasury to issue an annual report on public contracts awarded to women-owned and minority-owned businesses.  This bill requires the Division of Revenue to administer, operate, and continue to develop the Selective Assistance Vendor Information (SAVI) database.

      Currently, the Chief Diversity Officer in the Division of Purchase and Property is required to monitor the State’s public contracting process for the purpose of compiling information on the awarding of contracts to minority-owned and women-owned business enterprises, the total value of all contracts, and the percentage of the value of those contracts awarded to such enterprises.  This bill would require the division to issue an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature utilizing the information compiled by the Chief Diversity Officer.

      The SAVI database currently compiles businesses that are registered as a small business enterprise, including businesses certified as a minority-owned or women-owned business enterprise with the State of New Jersey. The purpose of the database is to identify businesses eligible for mandated State programs such as the New Jersey Small Business Set Aside program, and to aid in matching buyers and vendors for contracting opportunities.

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2020-2021 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.