Connecticut House Bill HB05504

Connecticut 2018 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/9/18
• Refer: 3/9/18

Caption

An Act Concerning Expedited Approval Of Affirmative Action Plans Submitted By Contractors To The Commission On Human Rights And Opportunities.

Impact

By mandating a review timeline for affirmative action plans, HB 5504 aims to reduce bureaucratic delays that can hinder project initiations and contractor compliance. If plans fail to receive formal approval from the commission within the designated timeframe, they are automatically deemed approved. This shift could encourage greater contractor participation in public works projects, ensuring a diverse and equal opportunity for various disadvantaged demographics in the workforce. However, contractors failing to develop or maintain an approved plan are barred from bidding on future contracts, which emphasizes the importance of adherence to affirmative action policies.

Summary

House Bill 5504, titled 'An Act Concerning Expedited Approval of Affirmative Action Plans Submitted by Contractors to the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities', focuses on streamlining the approval process for affirmative action plans that contractors must submit in order to qualify for public works contracts. Under the new provisions proposed in this bill, contractors with fifty or more employees who are awarded contracts valued over fifty thousand dollars will be required to file affirmative action plans with the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities. The bill stipulates that these plans must be reviewed within a strict timeframe of sixty days, effectively expediting the approval process.

Contention

While supporters of the bill view it as a necessary reform to improve efficiency within the public contracting system, there might be concerns raised regarding the adequate monitoring of compliance, as well as ensuring that the expedited process does not sacrifice the quality of affirmative action plans required from contractors. Critics might argue that hastening the approval process could lead to a superficial assessment of these plans, potentially undermining the goals of promoting diversity and inclusion in public works projects. The bill also repeals existing statutes and substitutes new provisions, emphasizing a significant overhaul in how affirmative action is managed within the context of public projects.