Measure would track some Utah businesses

A bill that would create a way to track women- and minority-owned businesses is expected to go before the House Workforce Services and Community and Economic Development Committee soon.

The bill was held briefly so sponsor Rep. Mark Wheatley, D-Murray, could meet with department heads and Sen. Curt Bramble, R-Provo, to decide which agency should be responsible for collecting the data. Wheatley said Wednesday that businesses would have the option to provide the information to the Department of Commerce when they register or renew their license.

"It would be an optional self-disclosed area if they chose to disclose the business as woman-owned or minority-owned," Wheatley said. "Rather than rely on data that's over 9 years old from the feds, hopefully this would provide a reflection of how many minority-owned businesses we have and how many women-owned businesses."

Wheatley introduced a similar bill last year, which was voted out of committee but wasn't heard on the floor. The bill, HB237, is the Utah Office of Ethnic Affairs' top legislative priority. Bramble is sponsoring a Senate version.