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Committee reports out bill package designed to help small business, including those owned by minorities, women and the disadvantaged

HARRISBURG, June 29 – The House State Government Committee has reported out nine bills that would help ensure participation in state contracts and purchasing by small businesses, especially those owned by minorities, women and the disadvantaged.

State Rep. Babette Josephs, chairwoman of the committee, helped to steer the package of legislation through committee approval, which included a bill she introduced. That bill (H.B. 2144) would create a cabinet-level position of secretary of minority and women business development.

"Creation of a cabinet-level position would signify the seriousness of the state to help these small businesses grow," Josephs said. "Such a position subscribes to the idea of fair play by helping firms address their unique situations and take advantage of available opportunities that, as small businesses, they may not know are out there.

"Overall, this bill package will help us encourage diversity in state contracts. Together, the legislation will help level the playing field and grow small businesses, which are the backbone of our economy. After all, it is the small businesses that craft a novel procedure, new product or imaginative service and grow those ideas into big companies."

The other eight bills address additional areas to ensure diversity in state contracts and purchasing, which would include

changing the definition of small business to include more employees;

creating a statewide bonding program to enable small businesses to bid on public contracts;

· establishing a mentor program to help small businesses compete for contracts by partnering them with larger companies;

· requiring state agencies to set aside a share of their procurement dollars for contract awards to qualified small businesses; and

requiring contractors doing business with the state to provide documentation of their good-faith effort to encourage participation by businesses owned by the disadvantaged.

This package is the result of recommendations made by the House Select Committee on Minority, Women and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Inclusion on which Josephs served last year. The bills are designed to ensure that these small businesses across Pennsylvania have fair access to state procurement contracts and they also demonstrate that the Commonwealth wants small businesses to succeed.

Eight of the bills were reported out today; the ninth was reported out last week.

All bills move to the full House for consideration.

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