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