ASSEMBLY STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 2768

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  DECEMBER 9, 2021

      The Assembly State and Local Government Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 2768

      This bill would require the State Chief Diversity Officer to conduct a study to determine whether disparities exist in the availability and utilization of minority-owned and women-owned businesses in the State procurement process.

      As amended, 18 months from the date of enactment, the Chief Diversity Officer is to submit a report detailing the officer’s findings and making recommendations for legislative or other actions that can be taken to promote opportunities for minority-owned and women-owned business enterprises in the procurement of goods and services for State agencies.  After the disparity study is submitted, the Chief Diversity Officer may, in his or her discretion, prepare and submit additional reports updating progress on implementing previous recommendations and the impact the recommendations have had on State procurement in the preceding years.

      Studies which demonstrate the disparity between the availability and utilization of minority-owned and women-owned businesses in the State procurement process can help provide the basis for goal-based procurement programs to alleviate historic discrimination against minority-owned and women-owned business enterprises.

      As amended, every four years following the issuance of the first report the Chief Diversity Officer must submit an additional report to the Legislature on whether a study concerning the utilization of minority-owned and women-owned businesses in the procurement of goods and services for State agencies is needed. The officer may request an appropriation of funding for the study.

      As reported by the committee, this bill is identical to Assembly Bill No. 4664, which is also reported by the committee on this date.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to:

      (1)  change the timeframe that the Chief Diversity Officer has to submit the officer’s report to the Legislature from within one year to within 18 months; and

      (2)  require that every four years following the issuance of the first report the Chief Diversity Officer submits an additional report to the Legislature on whether a study concerning the utilization of minority-owned and women-owned businesses in the procurement of goods and services for State agencies is needed and provide that the officer may request an appropriation of funding for the study.