New Jersey 2024-2025 Regular Session

New Jersey Assembly Bill A4744

Introduced

9/12/24

Refer

9/12/24

Refer

9/23/24

Caption

Requires NJTA, SJTA, EDA, CRDA, PANYNJ, and DRPA to consider minorities and women when hiring or awarding contracts.

Impact

The implementation of A4744 is expected to foster greater equity and inclusion within state-funded projects by mandating that diversity is a key factor in employment and contracting decisions. By applying these guidelines to agencies such as the South Jersey Transportation Authority and the Economic Development Authority, the bill aims to enhance opportunities for those who might otherwise be overlooked in traditional hiring and contracting processes. Additionally, it requires these agencies to maintain transparency by publishing data on their workforce demographics and contractor statistics online, at regular intervals.

Summary

Assembly Bill A4744 is proposed legislation which mandates that various authorities within New Jersey, including the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA) and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ), consider and prioritize minorities and women when making hiring decisions and awarding contracts for services. The intention behind this bill is to increase employment opportunities for underrepresented groups and to encourage the participation of minority- and women-owned businesses in governmental contracts. The bill establishes criteria for what constitutes a minority or women-owned business, ensuring clarity in the types of businesses that should be prioritized under this law.

Contention

While proponents argue that this bill represents a significant step towards correcting historical disparities in employment and contracting, critics may express concern regarding the potential for reverse discrimination or the implementation challenges that may arise. The requirement for similar legislation to be enacted by neighboring states, New York and Pennsylvania, before certain provisions take effect for the PANYNJ and the Delaware River Port Authority might also ignite discussions about inter-state collaborations and the effectiveness of such mandates in achieving the desired outcomes.

Latest A4744 Activity

Companion Bills

NJ S3576

Same As Requires NJTA, SJTA, EDA, CRDA, PANYNJ, and DRPA to consider minorities and women when hiring or awarding contracts.

Similar Bills

NJ S4237

Includes Jewish persons with definitions of "minority," "minority group member," and "minority business."

NJ A1795

Provides that definition of minority business enterprise include persons of Middle Eastern and North African descent for State certification and assistance purposes; revises definition for school board and local government contract set-aside purposes.

NJ A3788

Requires Commissioner of Transportation to publish notice of certain transportation-related infrastructure projects and activities on Internet website, and directs State Comptroller to monitor publication of notifications.

VA HB2751

Virginia Public Procurement Act; discrimination prohibited, military family owned businesses.

VA HB2588

Virginia Public Procurement Act; discrimination prohibited, military spouse-owned businesses.

VA HB1922

Small SWaM Business Procurement Enhancement Program; established, report.

CA AB2287

Inuit.

KS SB464

Creating the Kansas small, minority, woman, disadvantaged and service-disabled veteran business enterprise development act, providing for development of such business enterprises through greater participation in providing goods and services to state agencies and postsecondary educational institutions and requiring development of plans and goals for such participation, establishing the office of minority and women business development within the department of commerce and providing for an advisory committee on certified small business enterprises.