SENATE STATE GOVERNMENT, WAGERING, TOURISM & HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 318

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JANUARY 14, 2021

      The Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 318.

      This bill requires the State, local contracting units, boards of education, and public institutions of higher education, within six months of its effective date and at five year intervals thereafter, to conduct a study of racial and ethnic disparity in the awarding of public contracts by that public entity during the immediately preceding five-year period. These studies will assess vendor utilization by the public entity and determine if there have been disparities in procurement related to race and ethnicity.  The public entity will prepare a report of its findings within one year of commencing the study which will be submitted to the Governor and the Legislature and will be a government record that is accessible to the public.

      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.