Page 3 of 4
9. What is the Minority and Women’s Business Enterprise Program? The Minority and Women’s Business Enterprise Program was created by the legislature to provide the maximum practicable opportunity for increased participation by minority- and women-owned businesses for participation in public works contracts and the procurement of goods and service by state agencies and educational institutions. The Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises is the sole agency with
the authority to certify women- and minority-owned firms. 10. What is the veteran owned business program?
The Veteran Owned Business program was created by the legislature to encourage state agencies to conduct outreach to the veteran owned business community and increase the participation of Veteran owned businesses in state contracting and procurement. 11. What is the Business Diversity Subcabinet Community of Practice? It is a network for state procurement professionals to share best practices and ideas to increase utilization of certified minority-, women- and veteran-owned businesses. The Community of Practice has created an online resource directory to house the vetted best practices and tools to access, share and implement supplier diversity best practices. The Subcabinet has been beta testing items, and will be focusing on continuing to build and expand the community of practice. 12. When does I-1000 go into effect? The answer to this question depends on whether the sponsor of Referendum 88 submits sufficient signatures. If sufficient signatures are not submitted by July 27, 2019, then I-1000 will take effect on July 28, 2019. Bills take effect 90 days after adjournment of the legislative session at which they were enacted. Referendum petitions must be submitted not later than 90 days after the adjournment of the session at which the measure was enacted. If sufficient signatures are submitted in support of Referendum 88, then I-1000 will appear on the November 2019 general election ballot as a referendum. If the voters vote to “approve” the measure, then I-1000 will take effect on December 5, 2019. If the voters “reject” the measure, then I-1000 will not take effect and the law will remain what it was before I-1000. The submission of sufficient signatures in support of Referendum 88 would suspend I-1000 from taking effect until after the November 2019 general election 13. Does I-1000 allow use of quotas in awarding public contracts? No. I-1000 bans the use of quotas. Under I-1000, a person’s race, sex, ethnicity, national origin, age, veteran status, or disability cannot be the sole reason for selecting a lesser qualified candidate over a more qualified candidate for a public education, public employment, or public contracting. Having a specific set-aside (i.e. quota) is illegal under federal law. However, I-1000 permits factors such as a person’s race, sex, ethnicity, national origin, age, veteran status, or disability to be considered as part of a group of several other factors (e.g., education, experience, etc.) in selecting a qualified candidate for public contracting. For selection in public contracting, federal law may also limit the use of some of the factors listed in I-1000. 14. How will agencies implement race and gender neutral programs after I-1000 is effective?
All agencies are encouraged to work with their assigned Assistant Attorneys General to address
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker