Requires NJTA, SJTA, EDA, CRDA, PANYNJ, and DRPA to consider minorities and women when hiring or awarding contracts.

S3790

SENATE, No. 3790

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MARCH 5, 2026

Sponsored by:

Senator� M. TERESA RUIZ

District 29 (Essex and Hudson)

SYNOPSIS

���� Requires NJTA, SJTA, EDA, CRDA, PANYNJ, and DRPA to
consider minorities and women when hiring or awarding contracts.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act
concerning the hiring and contract awarding processes
of certain authorities and Interstate authorities in New Jersey and
supplementing
Title 27, Title 34, Title 5, and Title 32 of the Revised
Statutes
.

����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� a.� As used in this
section:

���� �Minority� means a person who
is: (1) Black, which is a person having origins in any of the black racial
groups in Africa; (2) Hispanic, which is a person of Spanish or Portuguese
culture with origins in Mexico, South or Central America, or the Caribbean
islands, regardless of race; (3) Asian American, which is a person having
origins in any of the original people of the Far East, Southeast Asia, the
Indian Subcontinent, Hawaii, or the Pacific Islands; or (4) American Indian or
Alaskan native, which is a person having origins in any of the original peoples
of North America.

���� �Minority business� means a
business which is: (1) a sole proprietorship owned and controlled by a
minority; (2) a partnership or joint venture owned and controlled by minorities
in which at least 51 percent of the ownership interest is held by minorities
and the management and daily business operations of which are controlled by one
or more of the minorities who own it; or (3) a corporation or other entity of
which the management and daily business operations are controlled by one or
more minorities who own it and which is at least 51 percent owned by one or
more minorities, or, if stock is issued, at least 51 percent of the stock of
which is owned by one or more minorities.

���� �Women's business� means a
business which is: (1) a sole proprietorship owned and controlled by a woman;
(2) a partnership or joint venture owned and controlled by women in which at
least 51 percent of the ownership is held by women; or (3) a corporation or
other entity of which the management and daily business operations are
controlled by one or more women who own it, and which is at least 51 percent
owned by women, or, if stock is issued, at least 51 percent of the stock of
which is owned by one or more women.

���� b.� When offering employment,
the New Jersey Turnpike Authority shall consider, and when feasible prioritize,
individuals who are minorities and women.

���� c.� When awarding contracts
for service, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority shall consider, and when
feasible prioritize, minority businesses and women�s businesses.

���� d.� The New Jersey Turnpike
Authority shall publish on its Internet website information concerning:

���� (1) the number of employees
employed by the authority by gender, race, and ethnicity, and the average
salary range for each group; and

���� (2) the number of contractors
the authority has contracted with by gender, race, and ethnicity, and the
average contract awarded for each group.

���� The New Jersey Turnpike
Authority shall maintain and update this information on a quarterly basis.

���� 2.��� a.� As used in this
section:

���� �Minority� means a person who
is: (1) Black, which is a person having origins in any of the black racial
groups in Africa; (2) Hispanic, which is a person of Spanish or Portuguese
culture with origins in Mexico, South or Central America, or the Caribbean
islands, regardless of race; (3) Asian American, which is a person having
origins in any of the original people of the Far East, Southeast Asia, the
Indian Subcontinent, Hawaii, or the Pacific Islands; or (4) American Indian or
Alaskan native, which is a person having origins in any of the original peoples
of North America.

���� �Minority business� means a
business which is: (1) a sole proprietorship owned and controlled by a
minority; (2) a partnership or joint venture owned and controlled by minorities
in which at least 51 percent of the ownership interest is held by minorities
and the management and daily business operations of which are controlled by one
or more of the minorities who own it; or (3) a corporation or other entity of
which the management and daily business operations are controlled by one or
more minorities who own it and which is at least 51 percent owned by one or
more minorities, or, if stock is issued, at least 51 percent of the stock of
which is owned by one or more minorities.

���� �Women's business� means a
business which is: (1) a sole proprietorship owned and controlled by a woman;
(2) a partnership or joint venture owned and controlled by women in which at
least 51 percent of the ownership is held by women; or (3) a corporation or
other entity of which the management and daily business operations are
controlled by one or more women who own it, and which is at least 51 percent
owned by women, or, if stock is issued, at least 51 percent of the stock of
which is owned by one or more women.

���� b.� When offering employment,
the South Jersey Transportation Authority shall consider, and when feasible
prioritize, individuals who are minorities and women.

���� c.� When awarding contracts
for service, the South Jersey Transportation Authority shall consider, and when
feasible prioritize, minority businesses and women�s businesses.

���� d.� The South Jersey
Transportation Authority shall publish on its Internet website information
concerning:

���� (1) the number of employees
employed by the authority by gender, race, and ethnicity, and the average
salary range for each group; and

���� (2) the number of contractors
the authority has contracted with by gender, race, and ethnicity, and the
average contract awarded for each group.

���� The South Jersey
Transportation Authority shall maintain and update this information on a
quarterly basis.

���� 3.��� a.� As used in this
section:

���� �Minority� means a person who
is: (1) Black, which is a person having origins in any of the black racial
groups in Africa; (2) Hispanic, which is a person of Spanish or Portuguese
culture with origins in Mexico, South or Central America, or the Caribbean
islands, regardless of race; (3) Asian American, which is a person having
origins in any of the original people of the Far East, Southeast Asia, the
Indian Subcontinent, Hawaii, or the Pacific Islands; or (4) American Indian or
Alaskan native, which is a person having origins in any of the original peoples
of North America.

���� �Minority business� means a
business which is: (1) a sole proprietorship owned and controlled by a
minority; (2) a partnership or joint venture owned and controlled by minorities
in which at least 51 percent of the ownership interest is held by minorities
and the management and daily business operations of which are controlled by one
or more of the minorities who own it; or (3) a corporation or other entity of
which the management and daily business operations are controlled by one or
more minorities who own it and which is at least 51 percent owned by one or
more minorities, or, if stock is issued, at least 51 percent of the stock of
which is owned by one or more minorities.

���� �Women's business� means a
business which is: (1) a sole proprietorship owned and controlled by a woman;
(2) a partnership or joint venture owned and controlled by women in which at
least 51 percent of the ownership is held by women; or (3) a corporation or
other entity of which the management and daily business operations are
controlled by one or more women who own it, and which is at least 51 percent
owned by women, or, if stock is issued, at least 51 percent of the stock of
which is owned by one or more women.

���� b.� When offering employment,
the New Jersey Economic Development Authority shall consider, and when feasible
prioritize, individuals who are minorities and women.

���� c.� When awarding contracts
for service, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority shall consider, and
when feasible prioritize, minority businesses and women�s businesses.

���� d.� The New Jersey Economic
Development Authority shall publish on its Internet website information
concerning:

���� (1) the number of employees
employed by the authority by gender, race, and ethnicity, and the average
salary range for each group; and

���� (2) the number of contractors
the authority has contracted with by gender, race, and ethnicity, and the
average contract awarded for each group.

���� The New Jersey Economic
Development Authority shall maintain and update this information on a quarterly
basis.

���� 4.��� a.� As used in this
section:

���� �Minority� means a person who
is: (1) Black, which is a person having origins in any of the black racial
groups in Africa; (2) Hispanic, which is a person of Spanish or Portuguese
culture with origins in Mexico, South or Central America, or the Caribbean
islands, regardless of race; (3) Asian American, which is a person having
origins in any of the original people of the Far East, Southeast Asia, the
Indian Subcontinent, Hawaii, or the Pacific Islands; or (4) American Indian or
Alaskan native, which is a person having origins in any of the original peoples
of North America.

���� �Minority business� means a
business which is: (1) a sole proprietorship owned and controlled by a
minority; (2) a partnership or joint venture owned and controlled by minorities
in which at least 51 percent of the ownership interest is held by minorities
and the management and daily business operations of which are controlled by one
or more of the minorities who own it; or (3) a corporation or other entity of
which the management and daily business operations are controlled by one or
more minorities who own it and which is at least 51 percent owned by one or
more minorities, or, if stock is issued, at least 51 percent of the stock of
which is owned by one or more minorities.

���� �Women's business� means a
business which is: (1) a sole proprietorship owned and controlled by a woman;
(2) a partnership or joint venture owned and controlled by women in which at
least 51 percent of the ownership is held by women; or (3) a corporation or
other entity of which the management and daily business operations are
controlled by one or more women who own it, and which is at least 51 percent
owned by women, or, if stock is issued, at least 51 percent of the stock of
which is owned by one or more women.

���� b.� When offering employment,
the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority shall consider, and when feasible
prioritize, individuals who are minorities and women.

���� c.� When awarding contracts
for service, the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority shall consider, and
when feasible prioritize, minority businesses and women�s businesses.

���� d.� The Casino Reinvestment
Development Authority shall publish on its Internet website information
concerning:

���� (1) the number of employees
employed by the authority by gender, race, and ethnicity, and the average
salary range for each group; and

���� (2) the number of contractors
the authority has contracted with by gender, race, and ethnicity, and the
average contract awarded for each group.

���� The Casino Reinvestment
Development Authority shall maintain and update this information on a quarterly
basis.

���� 5.��� a.� As used in this
section:

���� �Minority� means a person who
is: (1) Black, which is a person having origins in any of the black racial
groups in Africa; (2) Hispanic, which is a person of Spanish or Portuguese
culture with origins in Mexico, South or Central America, or the Caribbean
islands, regardless of race; (3) Asian American, which is a person having
origins in any of the original people of the Far East, Southeast Asia, the
Indian Subcontinent, Hawaii, or the Pacific Islands; or (4) American Indian or
Alaskan native, which is a person having origins in any of the original peoples
of North America.

���� �Minority business� means a
business which is: (1) a sole proprietorship owned and controlled by a
minority; (2) a partnership or joint venture owned and controlled by minorities
in which at least 51 percent of the ownership interest is held by minorities
and the management and daily business operations of which are controlled by one
or more of the minorities who own it; or (3) a corporation or other entity of
which the management and daily business operations are controlled by one or
more minorities who own it and which is at least 51 percent owned by one or
more minorities, or, if stock is issued, at least 51 percent of the stock of
which is owned by one or more minorities.

���� �Women's business� means a
business which is: (1) a sole proprietorship owned and controlled by a woman;
(2) a partnership or joint venture owned and controlled by women in which at
least 51 percent of the ownership is held by women; or (3) a corporation or
other entity of which the management and daily business operations are
controlled by one or more women who own it, and which is at least 51 percent
owned by women, or, if stock is issued, at least 51 percent of the stock of
which is owned by one or more women.

���� b.� When offering employment,
the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey shall consider, and when feasible
prioritize, individuals who are minorities and women.

���� c.� When awarding contracts
for service, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey shall consider, and
when feasible prioritize, minority businesses and women�s businesses.

���� d.� The Port Authority of New
York and New Jersey shall publish on its Internet website information
concerning:

���� (1) the number of employees
employed by the port authority by gender, race, and ethnicity, and the average
salary range for each group; and

���� (2) the number of contractors
the port authority has contracted with by gender, race, and ethnicity, and the
average contract awarded for each group.

���� The Port Authority of New York
and New Jersey shall maintain and update this information on a quarterly basis.

���� 6.��� a.� As used in this
section:

���� �Minority� means a person who
is: (1) Black, which is a person having origins in any of the black racial
groups in Africa; (2) Hispanic, which is a person of Spanish or Portuguese
culture with origins in Mexico, South or Central America, or the Caribbean
islands, regardless of race; (3) Asian American, which is a person having
origins in any of the original people of the Far East, Southeast Asia, the
Indian Subcontinent, Hawaii, or the Pacific Islands; or (4) American Indian or
Alaskan native, which is a person having origins in any of the original peoples
of North America.

���� �Minority business� means a
business which is: (1) a sole proprietorship owned and controlled by a
minority; (2) a partnership or joint venture owned and controlled by minorities
in which at least 51 percent of the ownership interest is held by minorities
and the management and daily business operations of which are controlled by one
or more of the minorities who own it; or (3) a corporation or other entity of
which the management and daily business operations are controlled by one or
more minorities who own it and which is at least 51 percent owned by one or
more minorities, or, if stock is issued, at least 51 percent of the stock of
which is owned by one or more minorities.

���� �Women's business� means a
business which is: (1) a sole proprietorship owned and controlled by a woman;
(2) a partnership or joint venture owned and controlled by women in which at
least 51 percent of the ownership is held by women; or (3) a corporation or
other entity of which the management and daily business operations are
controlled by one or more women who own it, and which is at least 51 percent
owned by women, or, if stock is issued, at least 51 percent of the stock of
which is owned by one or more women.

���� b.� When offering employment,
the Delaware River Port Authority shall consider, and when feasible prioritize,
individuals who are minorities and women.

���� c.� When awarding contracts
for service, the Delaware River Port Authority shall consider, and when
feasible prioritize, minority businesses and women�s businesses.

���� d.� The Delaware River Port
Authority shall publish on its Internet website information concerning:

���� (1) the number of employees
employed by the port authority by gender, race, and ethnicity, and the average
salary range for each group; and

���� (2) the number of contractors
the port authority has contracted with by gender, race, and ethnicity, and the
average contract awarded for each group.

���� The Delaware River Port
Authority shall maintain and update this information on a quarterly basis.

���� 7.� Sections 1 through 4 of
P.L.����� , c.���� (C.����� ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill)
shall take effect immediately but shall not be construed to impair any vested
right or obligation under any contract or collective bargaining agreement prior
to the date of enactment.� Section 5 of P.L.����� , c.���� (C.����� ) (pending
before the Legislature as this bill) shall remain inoperative until the
enactment into law of legislation substantially similar to P.L.����� , c.����
(C.����� ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) by the State of New York;
however, if such legislation shall have been enacted prior to the enactment of P.L.�����
, c.���� (C.����� ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), section 5 of
P.L.����� , c.���� (C.����� ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) shall
take effect immediately but shall not be construed to impair any vested right
or obligation under any contract or collective bargaining agreement prior to
the date of enactment.� Section 6 of P.L.����� , c.���� (C.����� ) (pending
before the Legislature as this bill) shall remain inoperative until the
enactment into law of legislation substantially similar to P.L.����� , c.����
(C.����� ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) by the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania; however, if such legislation shall have been enacted prior to the
enactment of P.L.����� , c.���� (C.����� ) (pending before the Legislature as
this bill), section 6 of P.L.����� , c.���� (C.��� ) (pending before the
Legislature as this bill) shall take effect immediately but shall not be
construed to impair any vested right or obligation under any contract or
collective bargaining agreement prior to the date of enactment.

STATEMENT

���� This bill requires the New
Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA), South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA),
New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA), Casino Reinvestment
Development Authority (CRDA), Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
(PANYNJ), and Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA), when offering employment,
to consider, and when feasible prioritize, individuals who are minorities and
women.� The bill also requires the NJTA, SJTA, EDA, CRDA, PANYNJ, and DRPA,
when awarding contracts for service, to consider, and when feasible prioritize,
minority businesses and women�s businesses.� Finally, the bill requires the NJTA,
SJTA, EDA, CRDA, PANYNJ, and DRPA to publish on their respective Internet
websites information concerning: (1) the number of employees employed by the
entity by gender, race, and ethnicity, and the average salary range for each
group; and (2) the number of contractors the entity has contracted with by
gender, race, and ethnicity, and the average contract awarded for each group.

The bill requires the information
to be maintained and updated on a quarterly basis.

���� The enactment of substantially
similar legislation by New York and Pennsylvania, respectively, is required
before the bill�s provisions concerning the PANYNJ and the DRPA become
operative.