ASSEMBLY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND AFFAIRS
COMMITTEE
STATEMENT TO
ASSEMBLY, No. 992
with committee amendments
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
DATED: MARCH 7, 2022
The Assembly Community Development and Affairs Committee
reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 992, with committee
amendments.
This bill, as amended, would require the State Chief Diversity
Officer to conduct a disparity study to determine whether disparities
exist in the availability and utilization of minority-owned and women-
owned businesses in the State procurement process.
Following completion of the study, the Chief Diversity Officer
would be required to submit a report to the Governor and the
Legislature detailing the officer’s findings and making
recommendations for legislative or other actions that can be taken to
promote opportunities for minority-owned and women-owned business
enterprises in the procurement of goods and services for State
agencies. After the disparity study is submitted, the Chief Diversity
Officer may, in the officer’s discretion, prepare and submit additional
reports identifying the extent to which previous recommendations have
been successfully implemented and any apparent impact the
implementation of such recommendations have had on State
procurement in the preceding years.
Studies which demonstrate the disparity between the availability
and utilization of minority-owned and women-owned businesses in the
State procurement process can help provide the basis for goal-based
procurement programs to alleviate historic discrimination against
minority-owned and women-owned business enterprises.
Every four years following the issuance of the first report the Chief
Diversity Officer must submit an additional report to the Legislature
on whether a study concerning the utilization of minority-owned and
women-owned businesses in the procurement of goods and services
for State agencies is needed. The officer may request an appropriation
of funding for the study. 2
COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS
The committee amendments to the bill require the Chief Diversity
Officer to prepare and submit a report upon completion of the study.
The bill previously required that the report be prepared and submitted
within 18 months following enactment of the bill.