Sen. Celina Villanueva
Filed: 4/5/2024
 
 

 
 

 
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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.
 
 
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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;
 
 
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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;
 
 
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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.".