Bill Text: IL SB0859 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Enrolled

---

Bill Title: Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Creates the Office of Economic Equity and Empowerment within the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Provides that the Office shall assist minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses, veteran-owned businesses, businesses owned by persons with disabilities, eligible not-for-profit corporations, and other underserved communities and constituencies through targeted programs, resources, and outreach and promotional activities. Provides that the Office may engage in or conduct certain activities in support of minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses, veteran-owned businesses, businesses owned by persons with disabilities, eligible not-for-profit corporations, and other underserved communities. Authorizes the Office to use vendors or enter into contracts to carry out its purposes.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-0)

Status: (Enrolled) 2024-06-20 - Sent to the Governor [SB0859 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-SB0859-Enrolled.html

---

SB0859 Enrolled LRB103 03318 KTG 48324 b
AN ACT concerning State government.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Department of Commerce and Economic
Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois
is amended by adding Section 605-1032 as follows:
(20 ILCS 605/605-1032 new)
Sec. 605-1032. Office of Economic Equity and Empowerment.
(a) As used in this Section:
"Eligible not-for-profit corporation" means a
not-for-profit corporation, as defined in Section 101.80 of
the General Not For Profit Corporation Act of 1986, that
primarily serves minorities, women, veterans, or persons with
a disability.
"Office" means the Office of Economic Equity and
Empowerment.
(b) The Office of Economic Equity and Empowerment is
hereby created within the Department. The Office shall assist
minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses,
veteran-owned businesses, businesses owned by persons with
disabilities, eligible not-for-profit corporations, and other
underserved communities and constituencies through targeted
programs, resources, and outreach and promotional activities.

SB0859 Enrolled - 2 - LRB103 03318 KTG 48324 b
The Office may engage in or conduct the following activities:
(1) promoting and conducting outreach efforts to
ensure access to State and federal funding opportunities,
and assisting minority-owned businesses, women-owned
businesses, veteran-owned businesses, businesses owned by
persons with disabilities, eligible not-for-profit
corporations, and other underserved communities and
constituencies in applying for and receiving loan funds in
the State;
(2) providing and hosting workshops and public forums
and engaging in outreach efforts for minority-owned
businesses, women-owned businesses, veteran-owned
businesses, businesses owned by persons with disabilities,
and other underserved communities and constituencies to
encourage participation in programs under the Business
Enterprise for Minorities, Women, and Persons with
Disabilities Act, and assisting those businesses in
becoming designated under that Act and under similar
certification programs;
(3) providing and hosting workshops and public forums
and engaging in outreach efforts that assist and educate
minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses,
veteran-owned businesses, businesses owned by persons with
disabilities, eligible not-for-profit corporations, and
other underserved communities and constituencies on the
process of applying for and becoming certified to apply

SB0859 Enrolled - 3 - LRB103 03318 KTG 48324 b
for State grant funds under the Grant Accountability and
Transparency Act;
(4) providing and hosting workshops and public forums
and engaging in outreach efforts that assist and educate
aspiring and existing minority-owned businesses,
women-owned businesses, veteran-owned businesses,
businesses owned by persons with disabilities, eligible
not-for-profit corporations, and other underserved
communities and constituencies with understanding concepts
including, but not limited to, business formation and
not-for-profit incorporation, business planning, capital
access, and marketing a business or not-for-profit
corporation;
(5) administering programs established by the
Department or the General Assembly to provide grants to
minority-owned businesses, woman-owned businesses,
veteran-owned businesses, businesses owned by persons with
disabilities, eligible not-for-profit corporations, and
other underserved communities and constituencies;
(6) coordinating assistance for minority-owned
businesses, woman-owned businesses, veteran-owned
businesses, businesses owned by persons with disabilities,
eligible not-for-profit corporations, and other
underserved communities and constituencies with other
State agencies;
(7) providing staff, administration, and related

SB0859 Enrolled - 4 - LRB103 03318 KTG 48324 b