The Montgomery County Chamber supports increased access to opportunity to participate in the State Procurement system.

SB 23 HB 28	Small Business Reserve Program-Sunset Extension. Continuing until September 30, 2010, the provisions of the Small Business Reserve Program that reserves 10% of State procurements to be provided by small businesses. Amended to direct a study of the Program to include the utilization by industry sector to determine whether the eligibility standards are appropriate and not a barrier to the agencies' being able to meet the 10% goal.	Conway Morhaim	SUPPORT with amendment to study utilization by industry sector
HB 430	State Procurement Contracts-Living Wage. Requires businesses who perform state service contracts in excess of $100,000, (except non-profits, contracts with a public service company, or between governmental units) to pay their employees performing the contract an hourly wage not less than $11.95, adjusted annually by the CPI; wages may be reduced by the amount of employer provided health insurance; requires posting of the wage rate and employee rights in English, Spanish and any other language commonly used by employees at the work site, and subjects employers violating the posting requirement to a $50 per violation fine; liquidated damages are established for wage violations at $20 per day for each employee who was paid less than the required hourly rate.	Taylor, et al	OPPOSE
HB 450	Procurement-Service Contracts-Employee Compensation Standards. Requires businesses who perform state service contracts in excess of $100,000, except non-profits, to pay their employees performing the contract an amount, including benefits, equivalent to a state employee performing similar duties; and requires employers to offer available positions to displaced, qualified state employees.	Rosenberg, et al	OPPOSE