(305 ILCS 5/5-30.16)

Sec. 5-30.16. Medicaid Business Opportunity Commission.

(a) The Medicaid Business Opportunity Commission is created within the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to develop a program to support and grow minority, women, and persons with disability owned businesses.

(b) The Commission shall consist of the following members:

(1) Two members appointed by the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus.

(2) Two members appointed by the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus.

(3) Two members appointed by the Conference of Women Legislators of the Illinois General Assembly.

(4) Two members representing a statewide Medicaid health plan association, appointed by the Governor.

(5) One member representing the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, appointed by the Governor.

(6) Three members representing businesses currently registered with the Business Enterprise Program, appointed by the Governor.

(7) One member representing the disability community, appointed by the Governor.

(8) One member representing the Business Enterprise Council, appointed by the Governor.

(c) The Director of Healthcare and Family Services and chief of staff, or their designees, shall serve as the Commission's executive administrators in providing administrative support, research support, and other administrative tasks requested by the Commission's co-chairs. Any expenses, including, but not limited to, travel and housing, shall be paid for by the Department's existing budget.

(d) The members of the Commission shall receive no compensation for their services as members of the Commission.

(e) The members of the Commission shall designate co-chairs of the Commission to lead their efforts at the first meeting of the Commission.

(f) The Commission shall meet at least monthly beginning as soon as is practicable after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly.

(g) The Commission shall:

(1) Develop a recommendation on a Medicaid Business Opportunity Program for Minority, Women, and Persons with Disability Owned business contracting requirements to be included in the contracts between the Department of Healthcare and Family Services and the Managed Care entities for the provision of Medicaid Services.

(2) Make recommendations on the process by which vendors or providers would be certified as eligible to be included in the program and appropriate eligibility standards relative to the healthcare industry.

(3) Make a recommendation on whether to include not for profit organizations, diversity councils, or diversity chambers as eligible for certification.

(4) Make a recommendation on whether diverse staff shall be considered within the goals set for managed care entities.

(5) Make a recommendation on whether a new platform for certification is necessary to administer this program or if the existing platform for the Business Enterprise Program is capable of including recommended changes coming from this Commission.

(6) Make a recommendation on the ongoing activity of the Commission including structure, frequency of meetings, and agendas to ensure ongoing oversight of the program by the Commission.

(h) The Commission shall provide recommendations to the Department and the General assembly by April 15, 2021 in order to ensure prompt implementation of the Medicaid Business Opportunity Program.

(i) Beginning January 1, 2022, and for each year thereafter, the Commission shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly. The report to the General Assembly shall be filed with the Clerk of the House of Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate in electronic form only, in the manner that the Clerk and the Secretary shall direct.

(Source: P.A. 102-4, eff. 4-27-21.)