Prohibits disqualification of certain minority-owned and women-owned businesses for certification.

This bill (A 1709) modifies certification rules for minority-owned and women-owned businesses in New Jersey. It prevents disqualification for businesses engaged in procurement (not production) if they: place orders with manufacturers, take possession by payment, assume ownership risk, and ship products to customers. The bill establishes a uniform certification procedure requiring guidance to prevent shell companies from evading ownership rules. It directly affects businesses that source materials rather than manufacture inventory but meet these four conditions. The policy change ensures these businesses can qualify for state contract opportunities under the same criteria as other certified minority/women-owned businesses.