ASSEMBLY LABOR COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 547

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  FEBRUARY 5, 2024

      The Assembly Labor Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 547.

      This bill requires a public agency that is receiving State funds for the purpose of public work to post on its main website for public inspection an accounting of how much of those funds were used for public work contracts in which the public agency contracted with businesses owned by minorities, women, and veterans.  The accounting will also provide how much of those funds were used for public work contracts in which the public agency contracted with other businesses that are not owned by minorities, women, or veterans, and the accounting is required to be updated monthly. 

      Whenever a public agency does not maintain a website, the information is required to be forwarded by the public agency to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development and posted on that department’s main website, which is to be updated monthly.

      The bill also requires the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, on an annual basis, to submit a report that summarizes each public agency’s use of State funds for public work and how much of those funds went to contracts with businesses owned by minorities, women, and veterans.

      This bill was prefiled for introduction in the 2024-2025 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.