An Act relative to the fair participation of minority and women-owned businesses on public construction projects

This bill allows minority-owned and women-owned businesses to participate in specific Massachusetts public construction projects by enabling prime contractors to subcontract portions of their work to meet participation goals. It applies to projects costing $5 million or more managed by state agencies and permits contractors to subcontract up to 10 percent of the work value to these businesses, with an additional 10 percent allowance for subcontracting work that would normally be done by the contractor's own employees. The legislation also requires state officials to create a process for contractors to request waivers or reductions of these participation goals if they cannot be met.