Sponsored by:
Senator SHIRLEY K. TURNER
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
Senator ANGELA V. MCKNIGHT
District 31 (Hudson)
SYNOPSIS
Requires Chief Diversity Officer in Department of Treasury and other State officers to conduct certain outreach events, training workshops, and educational programs for minority and women-owned businesses.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning certain outreach events, training workshops, and educational programs by the State and supplementing Title 52 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. As used in P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill):
Authority means the New Jersey Economic Development Authority established pursuant to section 4 of P.L.1974, c.80 (C.34:1B-4).
Business Action Center means the Business Action Center established in the New Jersey Department of State pursuant to Reorganization Plan No. 003-2011.
Chief Diversity Officer means the position established in the Division of Purchase and Property in the New Jersey Department of the Treasury pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2017, c.95 (C.52:32-18.1).
Department means the New Jersey Department of the Treasury.
Womens business shall have the same meaning as in section 2 of P.L.1986, c.195 (C.52:27H-21.18).
"Minority business" shall have the same meaning as in section 2 of P.L.1986, c.195 (C.52:27H-21.18).
Certified business enterprise" means a minority business or women's business certified in accordance with the provisions of P.L.1986, c.195 (C.52:27H-21.17 et seq.).
2. a. The Chief Diversity Officer and the department, in partnership with the Business Action Center and the authority, shall conduct regular outreach events, training workshops, seminars, and other such educational programs virtually and throughout the State for internal stakeholders, external stakeholders, and the public to promote awareness, access, and utilization of certified business enterprises in State contracting and subcontracting.
b. The Chief Diversity Officer and the department, in partnership with the Business Action Center and the authority, shall conduct regular outreach events, training workshops, seminars, and other such educational programs virtually and throughout the State to ensure that certified business enterprises have access to and can benefit from technical, managerial, and financial training, including marketing assistance, personnel skill development, project management assistance, technology assistance, and financing assistance.
c. The outreach events, training workshops, seminars, and other such educational programs conducted pursuant to subsections a. and b. of this section shall be held at community locations deemed suitable by the Chief Diversity Officer, which may include, but are not limited to, locations provided by non-profit organizations or faith-based entities.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the Chief Diversity Officer in the Department of the Treasury, in partnership with the Business Action Center and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, to conduct regular outreach events, training workshops, seminars, and other such educational programs virtually and throughout the State to promote awareness, access, and utilization of women-owned and minority-owned businesses in State contracting and subcontracting. Under the bill, these events can be held at community locations deemed suitable by the Chief Diversity Officer, which may include, but are not limited to, locations provided by non-profit organizations and faith-based entities.
Additionally, the bill requires the Chief Diversity Officer in the Department of the Treasury, in partnership with the Business Action Center and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, to conduct regular outreach events, training workshops, seminars, and other such educational programs virtually and throughout the State to provide women-owned and minority-owned businesses with technical, managerial, and financial training, including marketing assistance, personnel skill development, project management assistance, technology assistance, and financing assistance.