Legislative Package Designed to Address Findings of NJ Disparity Study Clears Assembly Committee

Bills would ensure fairness in government contracting opportunities?

Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter , Chair of the Legislative Black Caucus, Assemblyman Benjie E. Wimberly , Speaker Pro Tempore, and other legislators and community leaders gathered to announce a package of legislation designed to address the findings of the New Jersey Disparity Study earlier this year. Following the announcement, the Assembly Community Development and Women’s Affairs Committee advanced the bills.

“The findings of the New Jersey Disparity Study make it clear that while we’ve made strides, much work remains to achieve true equity,” said Assemblywoman Sumter (D-Bergen, Passaic), Chair of the Assembly Community Development and Women’s Affairs Committee. “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. Additional data determined within the New Jersey Disparity Study can be found here.

“We’re not just dealing with equity here; we’re putting policies in place that will drive real, lasting change that will benefit business owners and the New Jersey economy for generations. Since the findings of the Disparity Study were released, we’ve met with many stakeholders, listened to their concerns, and now we are taking steps towards leveling the playing field,” said Assemblyman Wimberly (D-Bergen, Passaic), who also co-chairs the Joint Committee on Economic Justice and Equal Employment Opportunity. “These bills are a direct response to those concerns, and the wide range of sponsors on these bills—representing different communities and perspectives—demonstrates that this is a shared priority for all of us.”

?The bills advanced on Monday, September 23, 2024 include:

• A4487 (Sumter/ Verlina Reynolds-Jackson ) - Requires State Contract Mangers to monitor work conducted by subcontractors on State contracts.
• A4548 (Sumter/ Garnet R 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/ Reginald Atkins /Sampson) - Requires certain notifications to subcontractors listed on bid for State contract by prime contractor.
• A4720 ( Carmen T. Morales, Ed.S / Jessica Ramirez / Gabriel 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/ Alixon Collazos -Gill/Spearman) - Requires Department of Treasury to update New Jersey Disparity Study every five years.
• A4722 (Wimberly/ Yvonne Lopez / Linda S. 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/ Annette Quijano / Tennille R. McCoy, MBA, MLER ) - Establishes sheltered market program for certain business enterprises seeking State contracts.
• A4725 (Wimberly/Speight/ Rosaura "Rosy" 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.