We've hit the ball and it's in the other court. The committee's version now advances to the full House. It also is contained in riders attached to the House budget bill, setting the stage for a showdown in the conference committee resolving differences in the House and Senate versions of the 1998-99 state budget. The Senate budget bill does not address the contracting program. At issue are two versions of an initiative to expand state contracting and purchasing opportunities for businesses owned by women and minorities.
Current law sets goals for state agencies in contracting with such businesses.
The Senate voted to replace the current program with one designed to help any small business that meets the requirements of the U.S. Small Business Administration for gross receipts and number of employees. The House committee's version would preserve the current contracting program, with a significant change. The new contracting program would be open only to economically disadvantaged businesses owned by women and minorities. The Senate plan has come under fire from business owners who say it eliminated initiatives to help women and minorities compete. We're simply talking about economic development programs for women and minorities.