Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter, Chair of the Legislative Black Caucus, Assemblyman Benjie Wimberly, Speaker Pro Tempore, and other legislators and community leaders on Monday advanced a package of legislation designed to address the findings of the New Jersey Disparity Study earlier this year.
“The findings of the New Jersey Disparity Study make it clear that while we’ve made strides, much work remains to achieve true equity,” Sumter (D-Bergen, Passaic), Chair of the Assembly Community Development and Women’s Affairs Committee, said. “This comprehensive package of bills is designed to directly address these disparities, ensuring that minority- and women-owned businesses not only have fair access to government contracts but also the resources needed to compete and succeed. Our focus is on holding state agencies accountable, expanding opportunities, and fostering a truly inclusive and equitable economy that benefits every resident of New Jersey.”
Assemblywoman Sumter noted that Black-owned companies in New Jersey represent 9.19% of the available construction businesses, yet they receive only a small fraction of the dollars in construction contracts.
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Tom Bracken, president & CEO, New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, applauded the legislation.
“The imbalances outlined in the study have long been articulated by those affected – and is the focus of one of the Chamber’s economic priorities that calls for equal opportunities for MWBEs when it comes to securing not only public but also private sector contracts,” Bracken said. “Increasing supplier diversity spending with MWBEs has economic and social benefits for all by enhancing competition, encouraging innovation, increasing job creation and supporting communities. Solving for this inequity in a timely manner is what is best for New Jersey and its residents.
“While there are some bills in the introduced legislative package that we support today, we are reviewing and assessing other bills that might impact our membership due to proposed specific changes to state contracting.”
The bills advanced today include:
A4487 (Sumter/Reynolds-Jackson) – Requires State Contract Mangers to monitor work conducted by subcontractors on State contracts.
A4548 (Sumter/Hall) – Provides corporate business tax and gross income tax credits for employers of certain persons with disabilities.
A4586 (Sumter/Reynolds-Jackson/Hall) – Establishes “Minority and Women-Owned Businesses State Contractor Remedies Act.”
A4648 (Sumter/Reynolds-Jackson) – Provides for State agencies to issue advanced payments to certified business enterprises awarded State contracts.
A4719 (Reynolds-Jackson/Haider/Atkins/Sampson) – Requires certain notifications to subcontractors listed on bid for State contract by prime contractor.
A4720 (Morales/Ramirez/Rodriguez/Haider) – Requires Chief Diversity Officer in Department of Treasury and other State officers to conduct certain outreach events, training workshops, and educational programs for minority and women-owned businesses.
A4721 (Wimberly/Park/Collazos-Gill/Spearman) – Requires Department of Treasury to update New Jersey Disparity Study every five years.
A4722 (Wimberly/Lopez/Carter/Spearman) – Requires State agencies to make good faith effort to increase awarding of contracts procured without advertisement to minority- and women-owned businesses.
A4723 (Wimberly/Reynolds-Jackson/Park/Atkins) – Modifies title and role of Chief Diversity Officer; establishes New Jersey Office of Supplier Diversity and Business Opportunities.
A4724 (Stanley/Quijano/McCoy) – Establishes sheltered market program for certain business enterprises seeking State contracts.
A4725 (Wimberly/Speight/Bagolie) – Requires State agencies to make good faith effort towards certain goals to use certified minority and women-owned businesses as prime contractors and subcontractors.
A4744 (Wimberly/Morales/McCoy/Ramirez) – Requires NJTA, SJTA, EDA, CRDA, PANYNJ, and DRPA to consider minorities and women when hiring or awarding contracts.
