2019 -- H 5036

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LC000180

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC PROPERTY AND WORKS - DISABILITY BUSINESS

ENTERPRISES

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Ruggiero, Azzinaro, McNamara, Abney, and
Marszalkowski

     Date Introduced: January 04, 2019

     Referred To: House Veterans` Affairs

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Sections 37-2.2-2 and 37-2.2-3.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 37-2.2

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entitled "Disability Business Enterprises" are hereby amended to read as follows:

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     37-2.2-2. Definitions.

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     As used in this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the following

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meanings unless the context shall indicate another or different meaning or intent:

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     (1) "Persons with disabilities" or "person with a disability" shall mean any individual who

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has a physical or mental impairment which constitutes a substantial barrier to employment as

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certified by the department of human services or the department of behavioral healthcare,

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developmental disabilities and hospitals, the U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs, the Social

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Security Administration, or any other certifying state or federal entity.

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     (2) "Small disadvantaged businesses owned and controlled by persons with disabilities "

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shall mean small business concern, which is at least fifty-one percent (51%) owned by one or

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more person(s) with disabilities or, in the case of a publicly owned business, at least fifty-one

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percent (51%) of the stock of which is owned by one or more disabled person, whose

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management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more person(s) with

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disabilities, and have fifty or fewer employees.

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     (3) "A physical or mental impairment" shall mean any physiological disorder or

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condition, cosmetic disfigurement, or anatomical loss affecting one or more of the following body

 

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systems: neurological; musculoskeletal; special sense organs; respiratory, including speech

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organs; cardiovascular; reproductive; digestive; genito-urinary; hemic and lymphatic; skin; and

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endocrine; or any mental psychological disorder, such as mental retardation, organic brain

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syndrome, emotional or mental illness, and specific learning disabilities.

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     37-2.2-3.1. Policy and applicability.

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     (a) It is the policy of the state of Rhode Island that small disadvantaged disability

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businesses shall have the maximum opportunity to participate in the performance of procurements

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and projects as outlined in this chapter. This chapter shall apply to any and all state purchasing,

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including, but not limited to, the procurement of goods and services, construction projects, or

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contracts funded in whole or in part by state funds, or funds which, in accordance with a federal

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grant or otherwise, the state expends or administers or in which the state is a signatory to the

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construction contract.

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     (b) The director of administration, in consultation with the governor's commission on

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disabilities, is authorized and directed to establish rules and regulation formulas for awarding

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contracts to small disadvantaged businesses owned and controlled by persons with disabilities in

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the procurement of goods, services, construction projects, or contracts funded in whole or in part

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by state funds, in accordance with § 37-2-9(b)(14) on or before January 1, 2013.

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     (c) The state's annual goal for disability business enterprises to participate in state

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procurements and construction projects under this chapter shall be no less than three percent (3%)

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of the total value of all contracts available to businesses in each fiscal year. The director of the

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department of administration is further authorized to establish, by rules and regulations, formulas

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for giving disability business enterprises a preference in contract and subcontract awards.

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     SECTION 2. Chapter 37-2.2 of the General Laws entitled "Disability Business

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Enterprises" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following sections:

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     37-2.2-6. Sanctions.

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     The director of the department of administration shall have the power to impose sanctions

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upon contractors not in compliance with this chapter including, but not limited to:

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     (1) Suspension of payments;

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     (2) Termination of the contract;

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     (3) Recovery by the state of ten percent (10%) of the contract award price as liquidated

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damages; and

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     (4) Denial of right to participate in future projects for up to three (3) years.

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     37-2.2-7. Reporting.

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     By August 1, 2020, and each August 1 thereafter, the department of administration shall

 

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submit an annual report to the governor, speaker of the house, senate president, and executive

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secretary of the governor’s commission on disabilities for the period from July 1 to June 30 on

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the actual utilization of disability-owned small business enterprises as contractors, subcontractors,

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suppliers, and professional service providers for the state. The annual report shall include a list of

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all disability-owned small businesses that participated as contractors, subcontractors, suppliers,

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and professional service providers for the state during the previous fiscal year.

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     SECTION 3. Chapter 37-2.4 of the General Laws entitled "Habilitation Procurement

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Program" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     37-2.4-4. Habilitation facilities participation.

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     The state's annual goal for the habilitation facilities to participate in state procurements

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and construction projects under this chapter shall be no less than three percent (3%) of the total

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value of all contracts available to businesses in each fiscal year. The director of the department of

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administration is further authorized to establish, by rules and regulations, formulas for giving

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disability business enterprises a preference in contract and subcontract awards.

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     37-2.4-5. Sanctions.

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     The director of the department of administration shall have the power to impose sanctions

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upon contractors not in compliance with this chapter including, but not limited to:

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     (1) Suspension of payments;

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     (2) Termination of the contract;

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     (3) Recovery by the state of ten percent (10%) of the contract award price as liquidated

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damages; and

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     (4) Denial of right to participate in future projects for up to three (3) years.

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     37-2.4-5. Reporting.

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     By August 1, 2020, and each August 1 thereafter, the department of administration shall

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submit an annual report to the governor, speaker of the house, senate president, secretary of the

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executive office of health and human services, the director of the department of behavioral

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healthcare, developmental disabilities, and hospitals and the director of the office of rehabilitation

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services for the period from July 1 to June 30 on the actual utilization of habilitation facilities as

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contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and professional service providers for the state. The annual

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report shall include a list of all disability-owned small businesses that participated as contractors,

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subcontractors, suppliers, and professional service providers for the state during the previous

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fiscal year.

 

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     SECTION 4. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC PROPERTY AND WORKS - DISABILITY BUSINESS

ENTERPRISES

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     This act would expand the existing disability business enterprises program by allowing

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Veterans' Affairs, the Social Security Administration and others to verify that a business owner

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has a disability and is eligible for the current program. This act would set a goal of no less than

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three percent (3%) for state procurement.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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