8. a. The department shall establish reasonable regulations appropriate for controlling the designation of prospective disabled veterans’ business bidders and shall maintain lists of designated businesses.

b. The department shall establish a procedure whereby businesses may request inclusion on appropriate lists for disabled veterans’ businesses.

c. The department shall establish a procedure for annually reviewing the lists and determining whether the businesses on the lists shall continue to be designated as disabled veterans’ businesses.

d. The department shall establish a procedure whereby the designation of a business as a disabled veterans’ business may be challenged by a third party.

e. Any procedures established pursuant to subsections b., c., and d. of this section shall include notice to the business whose designation is at issue and an opportunity for a hearing at the department. The hearing shall not be considered a contested case under the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C. 52:14B-1 et seq.).

L.2015, c.116, s.8.