Bill > S0311

This bill requires the Rhode Island Department of Administration to provide a list of certified minority and women-owned business enterprises to each prospective contractor for construction projects. The bill expands existing minority business enterprise (MBE) participation requirements by mandating that 15% of project dollar value be awarded to such businesses, with 7.5% allocated to minority-owned businesses and 7.5% to women-owned businesses. Importantly, the bill introduces new provisions that prohibit granting waivers to these requirements until the contractor receives assistance from the department in understanding compliance. When waivers are issued, the department must publicly disclose detailed records about each waiver, including contract value, contracting agency, contractor name, waiver date, and specific contract provisions covered. Additionally, contracting agencies that fail to make a good faith effort to maximize minority and women-owned business participation will be required to submit a remedial action plan to the department. The bill also requires a disparity study every five years, starting in fiscal year 2025, to evaluate the need for programs enhancing minority and women-owned business participation in state contracts.

Labor and Employment

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