Social Justice — Nevada Black Legislative Caucus

African American/Black Social Issues Study

This study examined the importance of key social issues facing African-Americans/ Blacks who are age 50 or older. It also gauged their optimism in regard to these social issues.

Key findings from the study show:

Access to high quality health care and having a financially secure retirement are the most important issues facing age 50+ African-Americans/Blacks age 50 and older.
The respondents are more optimistic that the country is moving in the right direction in regard to access to high quality health care.
There is less optimism that the country is moving in the right direction in regard to having a financially secure retirement.
Respondents age 75 and older are more optimistic than those ages 50-64 that the country is moving in the right direction about having a financially secure retirement.

Those with incomes less than $50,000 are more optimistic than those with incomes above that level that the country is moving in the right direction in regard to having a financially secure retirement.This nationally representative telephone survey of 650 African Americans/Blacks age 50+ was fielded in early February 2014. Results were weighted to reflect the national demographics of the U.S. African American/Black population.

Nevada Department of Transportation Disparity Study Final Report

he federal government requires agencies such as the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) to implement the Federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program. NDOT periodically conducts disparity studies to help it make decisions concerning its future operation of the Program for its federally-funded contracts. The last such study was completed in 2007. NDOT’s operation of the federally-required DBE Program is guided by regulations in 49 Code of Federal

Regulations (CFR) Part 26, USDOT guidance and court decisions. NDOT engaged a team led by Keen Independent Research LLC (Keen Independent) to prepare the 2013 disparity study, which focuses on participation of minority-and women-owned firms (MBEs and WBEs) in NDOT’s contracts from 2007 through June 2012. The disparity study also analyzes conditions for MBE/WBEs within the Nevada marketplace. The study examines steps to encourage utilization of all small businesses in NDOT contracts as well as programs specific to DBEs. Information from the disparity study will be useful as NDOT:

Sets an overall annual goal for DBE participation in its FHWA-funded contracts for the next three years;
Considers whether or not the overall DBE goal can be attained solely through neutral measures (or whether race- or gender -based measures are also needed); and
Determines the specific race, ethnic and gender groups that may be eligible for any race – or gender -conscious program elements such as DBE contract goals.

Regional Transportation Commission Disparity Study

Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTCSNV) is part of a consortium that has retained BBC Research & Consulting (BBC) to conduct a disparity study that will provide information to help each participating entity implement the Federal Disadvantage Business Enterprise (DBE) Program. The study includes analyses of the participation of minorityand women-owned businesses in prime contracts and subcontracts that each participating entity awarded during the study period (Oct 1, 2010 through Sept 30, 2014). Other members of the consortium include Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County (RTCWC), McCarran International Airport (McCarran), and Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority (RTAA). For the purposes of the study, those agencies and institutions are referred to as “participating entities.”

In addition, RTCSNV operates the Federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program for certain United States Department of Transportation (USDOT)-funded contracts. RTCSNV can use information from the study to refine future implementations of the Federal DBE Program. The study kicked off in August 2015 and is expected to be complete by October 31, 2016. Learn more about the study schedule details.