Signed by Governor Phil Murphy

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with house amendments and pass a bill that establishes a state certification process for LGBTQ+ businesses in New Jersey.

Highlights:

• Authorizes businesses to apply to be a certified LGBTQ+ business (Sec. 2A). 

• Eligible businesses are required to have at least 51 percent owned and operated persons to be a part of the LGBTQ+ community (Sec. 2B). 

• Require businesses to meet the ownership, business entity, licensing, and registration requirements (Sec. 2C). 

• Required documents for first time applications can be abbreviated application must include names and addresses of members of the board of directors, officers of the business, the number of shares of stock issued and outstanding, article of incorporation, organizational charts, birth certificate, and an affidavit (Sec. 3 1-8).

• Businesses that are first time applicants receive a certification for one year and then reapply before the expiration of the business’s current certification (Sec. 3D). 

• Establishes an internet application for reapplication (Sec. 3).

• Specifies reapplication to include all initial application elements along with location of business, names and addresses of capital investors, personal and corporate tax returns, bonding capacity, affiliation of the business with other businesses, updated organizational chart, representative list of current and prior clients, property holdings, disclosure of financial statements, list of banking institutions, and listing of previous certifications (Sec. 3 2a-l).

• Establishes certification valid for five years, then business must comply with certification procedures (Sec. 3);

• Rescinds certification if the applicant fails to comply with the request within 30 days and if the applicant provides false information (Sec. 3F). 

• Requires certified businesses be added to SAVI database (Sec. 4). 

• Authorizes any certification be withdrawn per request of the business (Sec. 6). 

• Specifies that a third party may challenge the businesses certification and submit an appeal to the director of the challenged business (Sec. 8). 

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes a state certification process for LGBTQ+ businesses in New Jersey.

Highlights:

• Authorizes businesses to apply to be a certified LGBTQ+ business (Sec. 2A). 

• Eligible businesses are required to have at least 51 percent owned and operated persons to be a part of the LGBTQ+ community (Sec. 2B). 

• Require businesses to meet the ownership, business entity, licensing, and registration requirements (Sec. 2C). 

• Required documents for first time applications can be abbreviated application must include names and addresses of members of the board of directors, officers of the business, the number of shares of stock issued and outstanding, article of incorporation, organizational charts, birth certificate, and an affidavit (Sec. 3 1-8).

• Businesses that are first time applicants receive a certification for one year and then reapply before the expiration of the business’s current certification (Sec. 3D). 

• Establishes an internet application for reapplication (Sec. 3).

• Specifies reapplication to include all initial application elements along with location of business, names and addresses of capital investors, personal and corporate tax returns, bonding capacity, affiliation of the business with other businesses, updated organizational chart, representative list of current and prior clients, property holdings, disclosure of financial statements, list of banking institutions, and listing of previous certifications (Sec. 3 2a-l).

• Establishes certification valid for five years, then business must comply with certification procedures (Sec. 3);

• Rescinds certification if the applicant fails to comply with the request within 30 days and if the applicant provides false information (Sec. 3F). 

• Requires certified businesses be added to SAVI database (Sec. 4). 

• Authorizes any certification be withdrawn per request of the business (Sec. 6). 

• Specifies that a third party may challenge the businesses certification and submit an appeal to the director of the challenged business (Sec. 8). 

Full Bill Text