Title
Calling for the Committee on State Government of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to hold public hearings and advance the legislative process for House Bill #1563, which amends Title 62 (Procurement) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes providing for minority, women, and disadvantaged-owned business enterprises and presents an opportunity to increase and improve their participation in providing goods and services to the Commonwealth.
Body
WHEREAS, House Bill #1563 was authored by State Representative LeAnna Washington, co-sponsored by thirty-nine (39) members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and assigned to the State Government Committee on June 9, 2003, with the legislative intent of granting full public deliberation on the issues contained therein and pursuing timely enactment; and
WHEREAS, The Commonwealth's record, to date, has been described as "abysmal" in creating economic opportunity for minority, women, and disadvantaged-owned businesses ("MWDBEs"), and in calendar year 2002, the Commonwealth spent under 2% of its budget with these businesses; and
WHEREAS, This poor performance has been brought to light and amplified by the State Auditor General's departmental investigations, the Governor's "Minority and Women-Owned Business Initiative" Advisory Committee, and a statewide MWDBE Task Force organized by, among others, the Auditor General's Office, the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus, and additional MWDBE advocacy groups; and
WHEREAS, House Bill #1563 seeks to increase and improve economic opportunity and business participation for MWDBEs in the Commonwealth by creating an independent "Minority and Women-Owned Business Commission", incorporating a consistent and uniform certification process, establishing monitor, protégé, and partnership programs, requiring aggressive training and development initiatives, and assuring comprehensive resource and technical assistance plans;...
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