Substitute House Bill No. 6476
Special Act No. 21-8
AN ACT CONCERNING A DISPARITY STUDY.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. (Effective from passage) (a) Not later than ninety days after
the effective date of this section, the Commission on Human Rights and
Opportunities shall, in consultation with the Department of
Administrative Services, develop and issue a request for proposals for
the conducting of a disparity study. The commission shall, in
consultation with such department, develop criteria for evaluating
proposals relating to conducting a disparity study, including, but not
limited to: (1) The anticipated cost of completing such a study, (2) the
anticipated timeline for completing such a study, and (3) the proposing
firm's experience in conducting and completing such a study. The
deadline for responding to the request for proposals shall be not later
than sixty days from the issuing of the request by the commission.
(b) Not later than January 1, 2022, the commission, in consultation
with the department, shall evaluate the proposals submitted under
subsection (a) of this section and select the firm which shall conduct the
study.
(c) The study shall provide an analysis of existing statistical data
concerning the state's set-aside program, established under section 4a- Substitute House Bill No. 6476
Special Act No. 21-8 2 of 2
60g of the general statutes, to determine whether its current form
achieves the goal of facilitating the participation in state contracts of
small contractors and minority business enterprises. The study shall
include, but shall not be limited to, a review of the state's current set-
aside program practices and the best practices of other states or
governmental entities. The study shall examine:
(1) Whether, based on available data and analysis, there is significant
statistical evidence of past or continuing discrimination in the awarding
of state contracts;
(2) The number of small contractors or minority business enterprises,
based on available data and analysis, that are qualified for eligibility for
state contracts under the set-aside program established under section
4a-60g of the general statutes, and a determination of whether such
businesses are legitimate small contractors or legitimately owned by
members of a minority; and
(3) The state's contracting processes, to determine if there are any
contracting practices or unintentional but existing barriers in the process
that prevent small contractors and minority business enterprises from
fully participating in such contracting process.
(d) The executive director of the Commission on Human Rights and
Opportunities shall submit the findings of such study and any
recommendations for legislative action concerning such study, in
accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes,
to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having
cognizance of matters relating to government administration and labor.