2025 SESSION

INTRODUCED

25103540D

SENATE BILL NO. 872

Offered January 8, 2025

Prefiled January 3, 2025

A BILL to amend Chapter 640 of the Acts of Assembly of 2011, which provided a charter for the City of Portsmouth, by adding sections numbered 13.03 and 13.04, relating to city manager; minority-owned and women-owned businesses.

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Patron—Lucas

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Referred to Committee on Local Government

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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That Chapter 640 of the Acts of Assembly of 2011 is amended and reenacted by adding sections numbered 13.03 and 13.04 as follows:

§ 13.03. City Manager action to address disparities or discrimination in minority and women-owned business enterprise availability or utilization.

Wherever there exists (a) a compelling government interest, (b) an analysis that documents a statistically significant disparity between the availability and utilization of women-owned and minority-owned businesses, or (c) direct evidence by minority-owned businesses or women-owned businesses of the impact of race by discrimination or otherwise, the City Manager is authorized and encouraged to require city departments to implement appropriate enhancement or remedial measures, including race-conscious remedies consistent with prevailing law, ordinances, and resolutions. City departments shall submit annual progress reports on minority-owned business and women-owned business procurement to the City Manager.

§ 13.04. Definitions of minority-owned and women-owned business.

The terms minority-owned business and women-owned business shall have the meanings provided in § 2.2-1604 of the Code of Virginia, as may be amended from time to time.