(a) The Commissioner of Administrative Services shall be responsible for the administration of the set-aside program for public works contracts and state contracts for goods and services, as described in subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of section 4a-60g. The commissioner shall conduct regular training sessions, as often as the commissioner deems necessary, for state agencies to explain the state set-aside program and to specify the factors that must be addressed in calculating awarding agency goals under the program. The commissioner shall conduct informational workshops to inform businesses of state set-aside opportunities and responsibilities.

(b) The Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities shall be responsible for the administration of the set-aside program for municipal public works contracts and contracts for quasi-public agency projects, as described in subdivisions (3) and (4) of subsection (b) of section 4a-60g. The commission shall conduct regular training sessions, as often as the commission deems necessary, for municipalities, quasi-public agencies and contractors to explain the municipal and quasi-public agency project set-aside program. The commission may adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to carry out the purposes of sections 4a-60g to 4a-60j, inclusive, in regard to the municipal and quasi-public agency project set-aside program.

(c) In any case where an individual contract is both a public works contract of an awarding agency and a quasi-public agency project contract, the provisions of this chapter governing awarding agency public works contracts shall apply to such contract.

(d) The Commissioner of Administrative Services shall adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 to carry out the purposes of sections 4a-60g to 4a-60j, inclusive, in regard to the state set-aside program. Such regulations shall include (1) provisions concerning the application of the program to individuals with a disability; (2) guidelines for a legally acceptable format for, and content of, letters of credit authorized under subsection (j) of section 4a-60g; (3) procedures for random site visits to the place of business of an applicant for certification at the time of application and at subsequent times, as necessary, to ensure the integrity of the application process; and (4) time limits for approval or disapproval of applications.

(e) On or before January 1, 1994, the Commissioner of Administrative Services shall, by regulations adopted in accordance with chapter 54, establish a process to ensure that small contractors, small businesses and minority business enterprises have fair access to all competitive state contracts outside of the state set-aside program.

(P.A. 76-185, S. 2; P.A. 77-425, S. 3; 77-614, S. 284, 610; P.A. 92-189, S. 3; P.A. 93-409, S. 2; P.A. 95-250, S. 1; 95-334, S. 9, 13; P.A. 96-211, S. 1, 5, 6; P.A. 99-233, S. 2, 7; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5, S. 62.)

History: P.A. 77-425 replaced department of commerce with commissioner of commerce; P.A. 77-614 replaced commissioner of commerce with commissioner of economic development, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 92-189 added provision requiring regulations to address application of program to individuals with a disability; P.A. 93-409 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a) and added new Subsec. (b) requiring the commissioner to adopt regulations assuring fair access to state contracts for small contractors, small businesses and minority business enterprises; P.A. 95-250 and P.A. 96-211 replaced Commissioner and Department of Economic Development with Commissioner and Department of Economic and Community Development; P.A. 95-334 inserted Subdiv. indicators in Subsec. (a) and added provision requiring that regulations include guidelines re letters of credit, effective July 13, 1995; P.A. 99-233 divided existing Subsec. (a) into (a) and (b), redesignating existing Subsec. (b) as (c), amended Subsecs. (a) and (c) by replacing Commissioner of Economic and Community Development with Commissioner of Administrative Services, added provisions re training and workshops in Subsec. (a) and amended Subsec. (b) to authorize regulations to implement Secs. 32-9e to 32-9g, inclusive, adding Subdiv. (3) re random site visits and Subdiv. (4) re time limits for approval of application, effective June 29, 1999; Sec. 32-9f transferred to Sec. 4a-60h in 2001; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5 amended Subsec. (a) by adding reference to public works contracts and state contracts for goods and services, making a technical change, changing “agency” to “awarding agency” and adding “state” re references to set-aside program, added new Subsec. (b) re administration of the set-aside program for municipal public works contracts and quasi-public agency project contracts, added new Subsec. (c) re contracts that are both a public works contract and quasi-public agency project contract, redesignated existing Subsecs. (b) and (c) as Subsecs. (d) and (e), amended redesignated Subsec. (d) by making a technical change and adding reference to state set-aside program and amended redesignated Subsec. (e) by adding “state” re “contracts” and “set-aside program”.