Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Procurement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Advocates urge amendments to cooperative‑purchasing bill to protect jobs for people with disabilities
Summary
Access New Jersey warned the committee that some out‑of‑state cooperative contracts have displaced jobs created under the rehabilitation facility set‑aside program; the committee said it would accept suggested amendments and released S 34 73.
The committee considered S 34 73, a bill that revises the definition of a contracting unit for government cooperative purchasing agreements. Jacob Kaplan, director of advocacy and government affairs for Access New Jersey, told the committee that his organization operates the rehabilitation facility set‑aside program and that increased use of out‑of‑state cooperative contracts has, in some cases, reduced employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
Kaplan said the state has seen instances where jobs created under set‑aside contracts have shifted when contracts were rebid on cooperative vehicles, leaving disabled workers and the set‑aside program with little recourse. He urged the sponsors to consider mandatory language or amendments that would ensure transparency and accountability so state contracting does not inadvertently move tax dollars and jobs out of state or harm vulnerable workers.
The bill's sponsor invited Kaplan and other stakeholders to provide amendment language and said he would consider floor amendments to address those concerns; the committee released the bill.
The committee recorded affirmative votes from members present and indicated openness to follow-up conversations; no formal amendment language was adopted during the hearing.
