Bill > S3505

Introduced Session

This bill modifies the title and role of the Chief Diversity Officer and establishes the New Jersey Office of Supplier Diversity and Business Opportunities. Under current law, the Chief Diversity Officer monitors 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 minority-owned and women-owned business enterprises. This bill changes the title of Chief Diversity Officer to Chief Equity Officer and requires the Chief Equity Officer to monitor and publicly report the State's public contracting process for the purpose of compiling information on the awarding of contracts to small and diverse business enterprises, and to monitor the total value of all contracts and the percentage of the value of those contracts awarded to all small and diverse business enterprises. Each State agency will be required to submit the necessary data and information to the Chief Equity Officer. The Chief Equity Officer will be required to report directly to the State Treasurer. This bill also establishes the New Jersey Office of Supplier Diversity and Business Opportunities in the Department of the Treasury. The office will be under the immediate supervision of the Chief Equity Officer, who can, within the limits of funds appropriated by the Legislature, hire and employ staff. The office must: (1) support the Chief Equity Officer in achieving their mission; (2) review existing State procurement policies and practices; (3) expand outreach to, and develop capacity-building opportunities for, small and diverse business enterprises; (4) process and manage business certifications for minority businesses, female businesses, economically disadvantaged businesses, socially disadvantaged businesses, and disabled veterans' businesses; (5) monitor the awarding of contracts to small and diverse business enterprises, and measure progress towards lawfully established and implemented contracting and subcontracting programs; (6) provide ongoing and relevant training to State agencies to assist with the State's public procurement process; and (7) evaluate the feasibility of establishing a cloud-based data management system for all State agencies to utilize for awarding and providing payments for State contracts. Each State agency will be required to develop, and submit to the office within not less than 180 calendar days prior to the end of each State fiscal year, a plan for the following fiscal year to comply with the certification programs for small and diverse business enterprises. The office will analyze these plans and provide feedback and guidance to the State agencies as may be necessary.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Raj Mukherji (D)*,  Nellie Pou (D)*,  Angela Mcknight (D), 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee (on 06/26/2024)

Official Document