Sen. Celina Villanueva

Filed: 4/5/2024

 

 


 

 


 
10300SB0859sam001LRB103 03318 HLH 71783 a

1
AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 859

2    AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 859 by replacing
3everything after the enacting clause with the following:
 
4    "Section 5. The Department of Commerce and Economic
5Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois
6is amended by adding Section 605-1032 as follows:
 
7    (20 ILCS 605/605-1032 new)
8    Sec. 605-1032. Office of Economic Equity and Empowerment.
9    (a) As used in this Section:
10    "Eligible not-for-profit corporation" means a
11not-for-profit corporation, as defined in Section 101.80 of
12the General Not For Profit Corporation Act of 1986, that
13primarily serves minorities, women, veterans, or persons with
14a disability.
15    "Office" means the Office of Economic Equity and
16Empowerment.

 

 

10300SB0859sam001- 2 -LRB103 03318 HLH 71783 a

1    (b) The Office of Economic Equity and Empowerment is
2hereby created within the Department. The Office shall assist
3minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses,
4veteran-owned businesses, businesses owned by persons with
5disabilities, eligible not-for-profit corporations, and other
6underserved communities and constituencies through targeted
7programs, resources, and outreach and promotional activities.
8The Office may engage in or conduct the following activities:
9        (1) promoting and conducting outreach efforts to
10    ensure access to State and federal funding opportunities,
11    and assisting minority-owned businesses, women-owned
12    businesses, veteran-owned businesses, businesses owned by
13    persons with disabilities, eligible not-for-profit
14    corporations, and other underserved communities and
15    constituencies in applying for and receiving loan funds in
16    the State;
17        (2) providing and hosting workshops and public forums
18    and engaging in outreach efforts for minority-owned
19    businesses, women-owned businesses, veteran-owned
20    businesses, businesses owned by persons with disabilities,
21    and other underserved communities and constituencies to
22    encourage participation in programs under the Business
23    Enterprise for Minorities, Women, and Persons with
24    Disabilities Act, and assisting those businesses in
25    becoming designated under that Act and under similar
26    certification programs;

 

 

10300SB0859sam001- 3 -LRB103 03318 HLH 71783 a

1        (3) providing and hosting workshops and public forums
2    and engaging in outreach efforts that assist and educate
3    minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses,
4    veteran-owned businesses, businesses owned by persons with
5    disabilities, eligible not-for-profit corporations, and
6    other underserved communities and constituencies on the
7    process of applying for and becoming certified to apply
8    for State grant funds under the Grant Accountability and
9    Transparency Act;
10        (4) providing and hosting workshops and public forums
11    and engaging in outreach efforts that assist and educate
12    aspiring and existing minority-owned businesses,
13    women-owned businesses, veteran-owned businesses,
14    businesses owned by persons with disabilities, eligible
15    not-for-profit corporations, and other underserved
16    communities and constituencies with understanding concepts
17    including, but not limited to, business formation and
18    not-for-profit incorporation, business planning, capital
19    access, and marketing a business or not-for-profit
20    corporation;
21        (5) administering programs established by the
22    Department or the General Assembly to provide grants to
23    minority-owned businesses, woman-owned businesses,
24    veteran-owned businesses, businesses owned by persons with
25    disabilities, eligible not-for-profit corporations, and
26    other underserved communities and constituencies;

 

 

10300SB0859sam001- 4 -LRB103 03318 HLH 71783 a

1        (6) coordinating assistance for minority-owned
2    businesses, woman-owned businesses, veteran-owned
3    businesses, businesses owned by persons with disabilities,
4    eligible not-for-profit corporations, and other
5    underserved communities and constituencies with other
6    State agencies;
7        (7) providing staff, administration, and related
8    support required to administer this Section; and
9        (8) establishing applications, notifications,
10    contracts, and other forms and procedures, and adopting
11    rules deemed necessary and appropriate.
12    (c) The Office may use vendors or enter into contracts to
13carry out the purposes of this Section.".