Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 50, December 14, 2024
Section 1141a.32 - Diversity goals(a) In accordance with section 615 of the act (35 P.S. § 10231.615), this section establishes the procedures for promoting and ensuring the involvement of diverse participants and diverse groups in the activities permitted by the act and this part.(b) In furtherance of the policy in section 615 of the act, the Department will: (1) Allocate appropriate staff of the Department to assist medical marijuana organizations in fostering the involvement of diverse participants and diverse groups in their operations.(2) Provide enhanced publicity of permitting opportunities and information to assist diverse participants and diverse groups in learning how to apply for permits to be issued under the act and this part.(3) Compile, maintain and make available to medical marijuana organizations lists of diverse participants and diverse groups for the purpose of encouraging medical marijuana organizations to provide employment and contracting opportunities consistent with the act.(c) Each medical marijuana organization shall include in its permit application a diversity plan that establishes a goal of equal opportunity and access in employment and contracting by the medical marijuana organization. The Department will determine whether the stated goals in the diversity plan meet the diversity goals of section 615(a) of the act.(d) A medical marijuana organization may demonstrate achievement of its diversity goals by employing diverse participants and transacting business with diverse groups.(e) The list of diverse groups that are verified by the Department of General Services, Bureau of Diversity, Inclusion and Small Business Opportunities may be used by a medical marijuana organization to establish the eligibility of a diverse group for purposes of this section.(f) As part of each application to renew a permit submitted to the Department, a medical marijuana organization shall include information of its efforts to meet the diversity goals of the act and the effectiveness of its diversity plan. The report must include information regarding the following, as applicable: (1) Representation of diverse participants in the medical marijuana organization's workforce.(2) Efforts to reach out to and recruit diverse participants for employment, including for executive and managerial positions.(3) Employee retention efforts.(4) A list of all contracts entered into or transactions conducted by the medical marijuana organization for goods or services with diverse groups.(g) A medical marijuana organization may request that any proprietary information submitted to the Department under this section be treated as confidential proprietary information and shall clearly mark this information as confidential proprietary information or trade secret under the Right-to-Know Law (65 P.S. §§ 67.101-67.3104) as set forth in § 1141a.22 (relating to records subject to disclosure; confidentiality).(h) The Department will review the diversity plan and provide the medical marijuana organization with information regarding activities that may be undertaken by the medical marijuana organization to improve its efforts to encourage and promote participation by diverse participants and diverse groups to comply with the diversity goals of the act. The Department may consult with the Department of General Services, Bureau of Diversity, Inclusion and Small Business Opportunities in the review of diversity plans and the reports submitted by medical marijuana organizations under this section.Adopted by Pennsylvania Bulletin, Vol 53, No. 09. March 4, 2023, effective 3/4/2023 This section cited in 28 Pa. Code § 1141a.29 (relating to initial permit application).