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| Public Act 099-0233 | ||||
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AN ACT concerning finance.
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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represented in the General Assembly:
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Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the | ||||
Women's Business
Ownership Act of 2015.
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Section 5. Women's Business Ownership Council. The Women's | ||||
Business Ownership
Council is created within the
Department of | ||||
Commerce and Economic Opportunity. The Council shall consist of | ||||
9 members, with 5 persons appointed by
the Governor, one of | ||||
whom shall be the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity | ||||
or his or her designee, one person appointed by the
President | ||||
of the Senate, one person appointed by the Minority Leader of | ||||
the
Senate,
one person appointed by the Speaker of the House of | ||||
Representatives, and one
person appointed by the Minority | ||||
Leader of the House of Representatives.
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Appointed members shall be uniquely qualified by | ||||
education, professional
knowledge, or experience to serve on | ||||
the Council and shall reflect the ethnic,
cultural, and | ||||
geographic diversity of the State. Of the 9 members, at least 5
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shall be women business owners. As used in this Act, "woman | ||||
business
owner" means a woman who is either:
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(1) the principal of a company or business concern, at | ||||
least 51% of which is owned,
operated, and controlled by | ||||
women; or
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(2) a senior officer or director of a company or | ||
business concern who also
has either:
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(A) material responsibility for the daily | ||
operations and management of the
overall company or | ||
business concern; or
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(B) material responsibility for the policy making | ||
of the company or
business concern.
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Of the initial appointments, members shall be randomly | ||
assigned to staggered
terms; 3 members shall be appointed for a | ||
term of 3 years, 3 members shall be
appointed for a term of 2 | ||
years, and 3 members shall be appointed for a term of
one year. | ||
Upon the expiration of each member's term, a successor shall
be | ||
appointed for a term of 3 years. In the case of a vacancy in the | ||
office of
any member, a successor shall be appointed for the | ||
remainder of the unexpired
term by the person designated as | ||
responsible for making the appointment. No
member shall serve | ||
more than 3 consecutive terms. Members shall serve without
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compensation but shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred in | ||
connection with
the performance of their duties as members.
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One of the members shall be designated as Chairperson by | ||
the Governor. In
the event the Governor does not appoint the | ||
Chairperson within 60 days after
the effective date of this | ||
Act, the Council shall convene and elect a
Chairperson by a | ||
simple majority vote. Upon a vacancy in the position of
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Chairperson, the
Governor shall have 30 days from the date of | ||
the resignation to appoint a new
Chairperson. In the event the | ||
Governor does not appoint a new Chairperson
within 30 days, the | ||
Council shall convene and elect a new Chairperson by a
simple | ||
majority vote.
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The first meeting of the Council shall be held within 90 | ||
days after the
effective date of this Act. The Council shall | ||
meet quarterly and may hold
other
meetings on the call of the | ||
Chairperson. Five members shall constitute a
quorum. The | ||
Council may adopt rules it deems necessary to
govern its own | ||
procedures. The Department of Commerce and Economic | ||
Opportunity
shall cooperate with the Council to fulfill the | ||
purposes of this Act and shall
provide the Council with | ||
necessary staff and administrative support. The
Council may | ||
apply for grants from the public and private sector and is
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authorized to accept grants, gifts, and donations, which shall | ||
be deposited
into the
Women's Business Ownership Fund.
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Section 10. Duties and responsibilities of the Council.
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(a) The Council shall conduct hearings, as necessary, and | ||
issue an annual
report to the Governor and the General Assembly | ||
regarding the status of women
business owners within the State. | ||
In that regard, the Council shall review the
following:
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(1) The status of women-owned businesses statewide, | ||
including progress
made and barriers that remain, in order | ||
to assist these businesses to enter the
mainstream of the | ||
Illinois economy.
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(2) The role of State and local government in assisting | ||
and promoting aid
to, and the promotion of, women-owned | ||
businesses.
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(3) Data collected by private and public sector | ||
entities relating to
women-owned businesses.
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(4) Any other government initiatives that may exist | ||
relating to
women-owned businesses, including but not | ||
limited to those relating to State
and
local procurement.
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(b) The Council shall recommend to the Governor and the | ||
General Assembly, on
an annual basis, all of the following:
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(1) New private sector initiatives that would provide | ||
management and
technical assistance to women-owned | ||
businesses.
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(2) Ways to promote greater access to public and | ||
private sector financing
and procurement opportunities for | ||
these businesses.
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(3) Detailed multi-year plans of action, with specific | ||
goals and
timetables, for both public and private sector | ||
actions needed to overcome
discriminatory barriers to full | ||
participation in the economic mainstream.
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(c) The Council may hold hearings, take testimony, and | ||
request information
from State agencies.
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Section 15. The Women's Business Ownership Fund. The | ||
Women's Business Ownership Fund is created as a special fund in | ||
the State treasury. The Fund shall
consist of all public and | ||
private moneys donated to further the work of the
Council under | ||
this Act. All moneys deposited into the Fund shall be subject | ||
to
appropriation by the General Assembly.
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Section 90. The State Finance Act is amended by adding | ||
Section 5.866 as follows: | ||
(30 ILCS 105/5.866 new) | ||
Sec. 5.866. The Women's Business Ownership Fund. | ||
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon | ||
becoming law. | ||