H-4722.1          _______________________________________________

                            SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2481

                  _______________________________________________

State of Washington              52nd Legislature             1992 Regular Session

By House Committee on Local Government (originally sponsored by Representatives Wang and J. Kohl)

Read first time 02/07/92.  Revising requirements for the solicitation and employment of women and minority businesses by contractors with first class cities.

     AN ACT Relating to contracts let by first class cities; and amending RCW 35.22.650.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

     Sec. 1.  RCW 35.22.650 and 1975 1st ex.s. c 56 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

     All contracts by and between a first class city and contractors for any public work or improvement exceeding the sum of ((ten)) twenty-five thousand dollars, or ((fifteen)) thirty thousand dollars for construction of water mains, shall contain the following clause:

     "Contractor agrees that he shall actively solicit the employment of women and minority group members.  Contractor further agrees that he shall actively solicit bids for the subcontracting of goods or services from qualified women businesses and minority businesses which are certified by the office of minority and women's business enterprises.  Contractor shall furnish evidence of his compliance with these requirements of ((minority)) employment and solicitation.  Contractor further agrees to consider the grant of subcontracts to ((said)) the minority bidders on the basis of substantially equal proposals in the light most favorable to ((said)) the women businesses and minority businesses.  The contractor ((shall be)) is required to submit evidence of compliance with this section as part of the bid."

     ((As used in this section, the term "minority business" means a business at least fifty-one percent of which is owned by minority group members.  Minority group members include, but are not limited to, blacks, women, native Americans, Orientals, Eskimos, Aleuts, and Spanish Americans.))