103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB5606
 
Introduced 2/9/2024, by Rep. Kam Buckner
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
20 ILCS 605/605-1032 new
    Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law. Creates the Office of Economic Equity and Empowerment. Provides that the Office shall assist minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses, veteran-owned businesses, businesses owned by persons with disabilities, and other underserved communities and constituencies through targeted programs, resources, and outreach and promotional activities. Provides that the Office may engage in or conduct 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, and businesses owned by persons with disabilities and other underserved communities and constituencies in applying for and receiving loan funds in the State. Provides that the Office may engage in other specified workshops, public forums, and other functions that assist minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses, veteran-owned businesses, businesses owned by persons with disabilities, and other underserved communities and constituencies.


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A BILL FOR
 
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1    AN ACT concerning transportation.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
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    "Office" means the Office of Economic Equity and 
11Empowerment.
12    (b) The Office of Economic Equity and Empowerment is 
13hereby created within the Department. The Office shall assist 
14minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses, 
15veteran-owned businesses, businesses owned by persons with 
16disabilities, and other underserved communities and 
17constituencies through targeted programs, resources, and 
18outreach and promotional activities. The Office may engage in 
19or conduct the following activities:
20        (1) promoting and conducting outreach efforts to 
21    ensure access to State and federal funding opportunities, 
22    and assisting minority-owned businesses, women-owned 
23    businesses, veteran-owned businesses, businesses owned by 
 
 
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1    persons with disabilities, and other underserved 
2    communities and constituencies in applying for and 
3    receiving loan funds in the State;
4        (2) providing and hosting workshops and public forums 
5    and engaging in outreach efforts for minority-owned 
6    businesses, women-owned businesses, veteran-owned 
7    businesses, businesses owned by persons with disabilities, 
8    and other underserved communities and constituencies to 
9    encourage participation in programs under the Business 
10    Enterprise for Minorities, Women, and Persons with 
11    Disabilities Act, and assisting those businesses in 
12    becoming designated under that Act and under similar 
13    certification programs;
14        (3) providing and hosting workshops and public forums 
15    and engaging in outreach efforts that assist and educate 
16    minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses, 
17    veteran-owned businesses, businesses owned by persons with 
18    disabilities, and other underserved communities and 
19    constituencies on the process of applying for and becoming 
20    certified to apply for State grant funds under the Grant 
21    Accountability and Transparency Act;
22        (4) providing and hosting workshops and public forums 
23    and engaging in outreach efforts that assist and educate 
24    aspiring and existing minority-owned businesses, 
25    women-owned businesses, veteran-owned businesses, 
26    businesses owned by persons with disabilities, and other 
 
 
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1    underserved communities and constituencies with 
2    understanding concepts such as, but not limited to, 
3    business formation, business planning, capital access, and 
4    marketing a business;
5        (5) administering programs established by the 
6    Department or the General Assembly to provide grants to 
7    minority-owned businesses, woman-owned businesses, 
8    veteran-owned businesses, businesses owned by persons with 
9    disabilities, and other underserved communities and 
10    constituencies;
11        (6) coordinating assistance for minority-owned 
12    businesses, woman-owned businesses, veteran-owned 
13    businesses, businesses owned by persons with disabilities, 
14    and other underserved communities and constituencies with 
15    other State agencies;
16        (7) providing staff, administration, and related 
17    support required to administer this Section; and
18        (8) establishing applications, notifications, 
19    contracts, and other forms and procedures, and adopting 
20    rules deemed necessary and appropriate.
21    (c) The Office may use vendors or contract work to carry 
22out the purposes of this Act.