HB3546 Summary

• Amends the Business Enterprise for Minorities, Women, and Persons with Disabilities Act to establish an automatic waiver provision when the Council fails to make a determination on a contractor's waiver request within 30 business days.

• Waiver requests from contractors must include documentation of eligible minority, women, and disability-owned businesses solicited, good faith negotiation efforts, and evidence that contract proposals are not excessive or unreasonable.

• Council determinations on waivers must consider whether the contractor made good faith efforts to identify eligible businesses, the total number of prior waivers granted to the contractor, and the contractor's historical use of such businesses.

• Requires chief procurement officers to maintain searchable databases on their websites containing granted waivers, exemption requests, and Council determinations, as well as lists of firms prohibited from bidding due to Act violations.

• Takes effect immediately upon becoming law.