SB2272 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 12169 SPS 22270 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB2272

Introduced 2/7/2025, by Sen. Celina Villanueva

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

30 ILCS 500/45-85 new

Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Provides that each chief procurement officer has the authority to designate as employment social enterprises set-asides a fair proportion of construction, supply, and service contracts for award to employment social enterprises in the State. Sets forth provisions administering employment social enterprises set-asides.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning finance.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Illinois Procurement Code is amended by adding Section 45-85 as follows:

(30 ILCS 500/45-85 new)

Sec. 45-85. Employment social enterprises.

(a) The General Assembly finds that employment social enterprises are mission-driven businesses that provide employment opportunities and supportive services to individuals facing significant barriers to employment, including those impacted by incarceration, homelessness, or disabilities. The General Assembly also finds that employment social enterprises foster economic inclusion, reduce recidivism, and strengthen local economies by reinvesting their profits into workforce development and community support initiatives. The General Assembly also finds that promoting employment social enterprises aligns with this State's commitment to innovation, workforce equity, and economic resilience.

(b) As used in this Section, "employment social enterprise" means a non-profit or for-profit entity that provides services or produces or assembles goods and demonstrates a mission to provide employment and social supports, including on-the-job training and life skills training, to employees who are individuals with a barrier to employment. The chief procurement officer shall establish a detailed definition by rule.

(c) Each chief procurement officer has the authority to designate as employment social enterprises set-asides a fair proportion of construction, supply, and service contracts for award to employment social enterprises in this State. Advertisements for bids or offers for those contracts shall specify designation as employment social enterprises set-asides. In awarding the contracts, only bids or offers from qualified employment social enterprises shall be considered.

(d) For the purpose of subsection (c), for executive State agencies, a fair proportion of construction contracts shall be no less than 25% nor more than 40% of the annual total contracts for construction.

(e) An employment social enterprises set-aside designation may be withdrawn by the purchasing agency when deemed in the best interests of this State. Upon withdrawal, all bids or offers shall be rejected, and the bidders or offerors shall be notified of the reason for rejection. The contract shall then be awarded in accordance with this Code without the designation of an employment social enterprises set-aside.

(f) By November 1 of each year, each chief procurement officer shall report to the Commission on Equity and Inclusion on the following for the immediately preceding fiscal year, and by March 1 of each year, the Commission on Equity and Inclusion shall compile and report that information to the General Assembly:

(1) the total number of employment social enterprises and the number of employment social enterprises that submitted bids for contracts under this Code; and

(2) the total number of employment social enterprises, the number of employment social enterprises that entered into contracts under this Code, and the total value of those contracts.