HB4865 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB101 19316 RJF 68785 b

101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
HB4865

Introduced 2/18/2020, by Rep. Kambium Buckner - Jehan Gordon-Booth - Mary E. Flowers, La Shawn K. Ford and Camille Y. Lilly

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

5 ILCS 315/9.5 new
30 ILCS 575/2
30 ILCS 575/4	from Ch. 127, par. 132.604
30 ILCS 575/4f
30 ILCS 575/6	from Ch. 127, par. 132.606
30 ILCS 575/7	from Ch. 127, par. 132.607
30 ILCS 575/8f

Amends the Business Enterprise for Minorities, Women, and Persons with Disabilities Act. Provides that it shall be established as an aspirational goal to award State contracts to businesses owned by Descendants of American Slavery in a total dollar amount that is proportionate to the percentage of such persons who are residents of this State. Provides further requirements concerning the awarding of State contracts to businesses owned by Descendants of American Slavery. Requires reporting concerning the disparity between the representation of Descendants of American Slavery in State contracts compared to the percentage of such persons who are residents of this State. Specifies further requirements concerning waiver requests under the Act. Amends the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act. Requires labor organizations to establish and maintain membership that includes Descendants of American Slavery that is proportionate to the percentage of such persons who are residents of this State, and report those actions. Defines the term "minority person" to include a Descendant of American Slavery. Makes conforming changes.

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 Public Labor Relations Act is amended by adding Section 9.5 as follows:

(5 ILCS 315/9.5 new)

Sec. 9.5. Labor organization diverse membership. Any labor organization that is selected as the exclusive representative of the employees of a bargaining unit and subject to the provisions of this Act shall take actions to establish and maintain membership that includes Descendants of American Slavery that is proportionate to the percentage of such persons who are residents of this State, and shall report those actions to the Business Enterprise Council for Minorities, Women, and Persons with Disabilities. For the purposes of this Section, "Descendants of American Slavery" means a person as described within the meaning of "minority person" under Section 2 of the Business Enterprise for Minorities, Women, and Persons with Disabilities Act.

Section 10. The Business Enterprise for Minorities, Women, and Persons with Disabilities Act is amended by changing Sections 2, 4, 4f, 6, 7, and 8f as follows:

(30 ILCS 575/2)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on June 30, 2024)

Sec. 2. Definitions.

(A) For the purpose of this Act, the following terms shall have the following definitions:

(1) "Minority person" shall mean a person who is a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States and who is any of the following:

(a) American Indian or Alaska Native (a person having origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America, including Central America, and who maintains tribal affiliation or community attachment).

(b) Asian (a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, but not limited to, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam).

(c) Black or African American (a person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa).

(c-5) Descendant of American Slavery (a person having direct ancestral lineage to victims of slavery in the United States of America).

(d) Hispanic or Latino (a person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race).

(e) Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander (a person having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands).

(2) "Woman" shall mean a person who is a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States and who is of the female gender.

(2.05) "Person with a disability" means a person who is a citizen or lawful resident of the United States and is a person qualifying as a person with a disability under subdivision (2.1) of this subsection (A).

(2.1) "Person with a disability" means a person with a severe physical or mental disability that:

(a) results from:

amputation,

arthritis,

autism,

blindness,

burn injury,

cancer,

cerebral palsy,

Crohn's disease,

cystic fibrosis,

deafness,

head injury,

heart disease,

hemiplegia,

hemophilia,

respiratory or pulmonary dysfunction,

an intellectual disability,

mental illness,

multiple sclerosis,

muscular dystrophy,

musculoskeletal disorders,

neurological disorders, including stroke and epilepsy,

paraplegia,

quadriplegia and other spinal cord conditions,

sickle cell anemia,

ulcerative colitis,

specific learning disabilities, or

end stage renal failure disease; and

(b) substantially limits one or more of the person's major life activities.

Another disability or combination of disabilities may also be considered as a severe disability for the purposes of item (a) of this subdivision (2.1) if it is determined by an evaluation of rehabilitation potential to cause a comparable degree of substantial functional limitation similar to the specific list of disabilities listed in item (a) of this subdivision (2.1).

(3) "Minority-owned business" means a business which is at least 51% owned by one or more minority persons, or in the case of a corporation, at least 51% of the stock in which is owned by one or more minority persons; and the management and daily business operations of which are controlled by one or more of the minority individuals who own it.

(4) "Women-owned business" means a business which is at least 51% owned by one or more women, or, in the case of a corporation, at least 51% of the stock in which is owned by one or more women; and the management and daily business operations of which are controlled by one or more of the women who own it.

(4.1) "Business owned by a person with a disability" means a business that is at least 51% owned by one or more persons with a disability and the management and daily business operations of which are controlled by one or more of the persons with disabilities who own it. A not-for-profit agency for persons with disabilities that is exempt from taxation under Section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is also considered a "business owned by a person with a disability".

(4.2) "Council" means the Business Enterprise Council for Minorities, Women, and Persons with Disabilities created under Section 5 of this Act.

(5) "State contracts" means all contracts entered into by the State, any agency or department thereof, or any public institution of higher education, including community college districts, regardless of the source of the funds with which the contracts are paid, which are not subject to federal reimbursement. "State contracts" does not include contracts awarded by a retirement system, pension fund, or investment board subject to Section 1-109.1 of the Illinois Pension Code. This definition shall control over any existing definition under this Act or applicable administrative rule.

"State construction contracts" means all State contracts entered into by a State agency or public institution of higher education for the repair, remodeling, renovation or construction of a building or structure, or for the construction or maintenance of a highway defined in Article 2 of the Illinois Highway Code.

(6) "State agencies" shall mean all departments, officers, boards, commissions, institutions and bodies politic and corporate of the State, but does not include the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois, the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University, the Board of Trustees of Chicago State University, the Board of Trustees of Eastern Illinois University, the Board of Trustees of Governors State University, the Board of Trustees of Illinois State University, the Board of Trustees of Northeastern Illinois University, the Board of Trustees of Northern Illinois University, the Board of Trustees of Western Illinois University, municipalities or other local governmental units, or other State constitutional officers.

(7) "Public institutions of higher education" means the University of Illinois, Southern Illinois University, Chicago State University, Eastern Illinois University, Governors State University, Illinois State University, Northeastern Illinois University, Northern Illinois University, Western Illinois University, the public community colleges of the State, and any other public universities, colleges, and community colleges now or hereafter established or authorized by the General Assembly.

(8) "Certification" means a determination made by the Council or by one delegated authority from the Council to make certifications, or by a State agency with statutory authority to make such a certification, that a business entity is a business owned by a minority, woman, or person with a disability for whatever purpose. A business owned and controlled by women shall be certified as a "woman-owned business". A business owned and controlled by women who are also minorities shall be certified as both a "women-owned business" and a "minority-owned business".

(9) "Control" means the exclusive or ultimate and sole control of the business including, but not limited to, capital investment and all other financial matters, property, acquisitions, contract negotiations, legal matters, officer-director-employee selection and comprehensive hiring, operating responsibilities, cost-control matters, income and dividend matters, financial transactions and rights of other shareholders or joint partners. Control shall be real, substantial and continuing, not pro forma. Control shall include the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of the business and to make the day-to-day as well as major decisions in matters of policy, management and operations. Control shall be exemplified by possessing the requisite knowledge and expertise to run the particular business and control shall not include simple majority or absentee ownership.

(10) "Business" means a business that has annual gross sales of less than $75,000,000 as evidenced by the federal income tax return of the business. A firm with gross sales in excess of this cap may apply to the Council for certification for a particular contract if the firm can demonstrate that the contract would have significant impact on businesses owned by minorities, women, or persons with disabilities as suppliers or subcontractors or in employment of minorities, women, or persons with disabilities.

(11) "Utilization plan" means a form and additional documentations included in all bids or proposals that demonstrates a vendor's proposed utilization of vendors certified by the Business Enterprise Program to meet the targeted goal. The utilization plan shall demonstrate that the Vendor has either: (1) met the entire contract goal or (2) requested a full or partial waiver and made good faith efforts towards meeting the goal.

(12) "Business Enterprise Program" means the Business Enterprise Program of the Department of Central Management Services.

(B) When a business is owned at least 51% by any combination of minority persons, women, or persons with disabilities, even though none of the 3 classes alone holds at least a 51% interest, the ownership requirement for purposes of this Act is considered to be met. The certification category for the business is that of the class holding the largest ownership interest in the business. If 2 or more classes have equal ownership interests, the certification category shall be determined by the business.

(Source: P.A. 100-391, eff. 8-25-17; 101-601, eff. 1-1-20.)

(30 ILCS 575/4) (from Ch. 127, par. 132.604)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on June 30, 2024)

Sec. 4. Award of State contracts.

(a) Except as provided in subsections subsection (b) and (b-5), not less than 20% of the total dollar amount of State contracts, as defined by the Secretary of the Council and approved by the Council, shall be established as an aspirational goal to be awarded to businesses owned by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities; provided, however, that of the total amount of all State contracts awarded to businesses owned by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities pursuant to this Section, contracts representing at least 11% shall be awarded to businesses owned by minorities, contracts representing at least 7% shall be awarded to women-owned businesses, and contracts representing at least 2% shall be awarded to businesses owned by persons with disabilities.

The above percentage relates to the total dollar amount of State contracts during each State fiscal year, calculated by examining independently each type of contract for each agency or public institutions of higher education which lets such contracts. Only that percentage of arrangements which represents the participation of businesses owned by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities on such contracts shall be included. State contracts subject to the requirements of this Act shall include the requirement that only expenditures to businesses owned by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities that perform a commercially useful function may be counted toward the goals set forth by this Act. Contracts shall include a definition of "commercially useful function" that is consistent with 49 CFR 26.55(c).

(b) Except as provided in subsection (b-5), not Not less than 20% of the total dollar amount of State construction contracts is established as an aspirational goal to be awarded to businesses owned by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities; provided that, contracts representing at least 11% of the total dollar amount of State construction contracts shall be awarded to businesses owned by minorities; contracts representing at least 7% of the total dollar amount of State construction contracts shall be awarded to women-owned businesses; and contracts representing at least 2% of the total dollar amount of State construction contracts shall be awarded to businesses owned by persons with disabilities.

(b-5) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) and (b), it shall be established as an aspirational goal to award State contracts to businesses owned by Descendants of American Slavery in a total dollar amount that is proportionate to the percentage of such persons who are residents of this State.

Those who submit bids or proposals for State contracts subject to the provisions of this Act, whose bids or proposals are successful, but that fail to meet the goals set forth in this subsection (b-5), shall be notified of that deficiency and shall be afforded a period not to exceed 10 calendar days from the date of notification to cure that deficiency in the bid or proposal. The deficiency in the bid or proposal may only be cured by contracting with additional subcontractors who are owned by Descendants of American Slavery. Any increase in cost to a contract for the addition of a subcontractor to cure a bid's deficiency shall not affect the bid price, shall not be used in the request for an exemption in this Act, and in no case shall an identified subcontractor with a certification made pursuant to this Act be terminated from the contract without the written consent of the State agency or public institution of higher education entering into the contract.

A contractor submitting bids or proposals for State contracts subject to the provisions of this Act shall submit a plan to the Council outlining its efforts to utilize subcontractors owned by Descendants of American Slavery for the purposes of fulfilling the goals and requirements established under this Act.

(c) (Blank).

(d) Within one year after April 28, 2009 (the effective date of Public Act 96-8), the Department of Central Management Services shall conduct a social scientific study that measures the impact of discrimination on minority and women business development in Illinois. Within 18 months after April 28, 2009 (the effective date of Public Act 96-8), the Department shall issue a report of its findings and any recommendations on whether to adjust the goals for minority and women participation established in this Act. Copies of this report and the social scientific study shall be filed with the Governor and the General Assembly.

By December 1, 2020, the Department of Central Management Services shall conduct a new social scientific study that measures the impact of discrimination on minority and women business development in Illinois. By June 1, 2022, the Department shall issue a report of its findings and any recommendations on whether to adjust the goals for minority and women participation established in this Act. Copies of this report and the social scientific study shall be filed with the Governor, the Advisory Board, and the General Assembly. By December 1, 2022, the Department of Central Management Services Business Enterprise Program shall develop a model for social scientific disparity study sourcing for local governmental units to adapt and implement to address regional disparities in public procurement.

(e) Except as permitted under this Act or as otherwise mandated by federal law or regulation, those who submit bids or proposals for State contracts subject to the provisions of this Act, whose bids or proposals are successful and include a utilization plan but that fail to meet the goals set forth in subsection (b) of this Section, shall be notified of that deficiency and shall be afforded a period not to exceed 10 calendar days from the date of notification to cure that deficiency in the bid or proposal. The deficiency in the bid or proposal may only be cured by contracting with additional subcontractors who are owned by minorities or women. Any increase in cost to a contract for the addition of a subcontractor to cure a bid's deficiency shall not affect the bid price, shall not be used in the request for an exemption in this Act, and in no case shall an identified subcontractor with a certification made pursuant to this Act be terminated from the contract without the written consent of the State agency or public institution of higher education entering into the contract.

(f) Non-construction solicitations that include Business Enterprise Program participation goals shall require bidders and offerors to include utilization plans. Utilization plans are due at the time of bid or offer submission. Failure to complete and include a utilization plan, including documentation demonstrating good faith effort when requesting a waiver, shall render the bid or offer non-responsive.

(Source: P.A. 100-391, eff. 8-25-17; 101-170, eff. 1-1-20; 101-601, eff. 1-1-20.)

(30 ILCS 575/4f)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on June 30, 2024)

Sec. 4f. Award of State contracts.

(1) It is hereby declared to be the public policy of the State of Illinois to promote and encourage each State agency and public institution of higher education to use businesses owned by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities in the area of goods and services, including, but not limited to, insurance services, investment management services, information technology services, accounting services, architectural and engineering services, and legal services. Furthermore, each State agency and public institution of higher education shall utilize such firms to the greatest extent feasible within the bounds of financial and fiduciary prudence, and take affirmative steps to remove any barriers to the full participation of such firms in the procurement and contracting opportunities afforded.

(a) When a State agency or public institution of higher education, other than a community college, awards a contract for insurance services, for each State agency or public institution of higher education, it shall be the aspirational goal to use insurance brokers owned by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities as defined by this Act, for not less than 20% of the total annual premiums or fees; provided that, contracts representing at least 11% of the total annual premiums or fees shall be awarded to businesses owned by minorities; contracts representing at least 7% of the total annual premiums or fees shall be awarded to women-owned businesses; and contracts representing at least 2% of the total annual premiums or fees shall be awarded to businesses owned by persons with disabilities.

(a-5) Notwithstanding subsection (a), when a State agency or public institution of higher education awards a contract for insurance services, for each State agency or public institution of higher education, it shall be the aspirational goal to use insurance brokers owned by Descendants of American Slavery in a percentage of the total annual premiums or fees that is proportionate to the percentage of such persons who are residents of this State.

(b) When a State agency or public institution of higher education, other than a community college, awards a contract for investment services, for each State agency or public institution of higher education, it shall be the aspirational goal to use emerging investment managers owned by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities as defined by this Act, for not less than 20% of the total funds under management; provided that, contracts representing at least 11% of the total funds under management shall be awarded to businesses owned by minorities; contracts representing at least 7% of the total funds under management shall be awarded to women-owned businesses; and contracts representing at least 2% of the total funds under management shall be awarded to businesses owned by persons with disabilities. Furthermore, it is the aspirational goal that not less than 20% of the direct asset managers of the State funds be minorities, women, and persons with disabilities.

(b-5) Notwithstanding subsection (b), when a State agency or public institution of higher education awards a contract for investment services, for each State agency or public institution of higher education, it shall be the aspirational goal to use emerging investment managers owned by Descendants of American Slavery in a percentage of the total funds under management that is proportionate to the percentage of such persons who are residents of this State.

(c) When a State agency or public institution of higher education, other than a community college, awards contracts for information technology services, accounting services, architectural and engineering services, and legal services, for each State agency and public institution of higher education, it shall be the aspirational goal to use such firms owned by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities as defined by this Act and lawyers who are minorities, women, and persons with disabilities as defined by this Act, for not less than 20% of the total dollar amount of State contracts; provided that, contracts representing at least 11% of the total dollar amount of State contracts shall be awarded to businesses owned by minorities or minority lawyers; contracts representing at least 7% of the total dollar amount of State contracts shall be awarded to women-owned businesses or women who are lawyers; and contracts representing at least 2% of the total dollar amount of State contracts shall be awarded to businesses owned by persons with disabilities or persons with disabilities who are lawyers.

(c-5) Notwithstanding subsection (c), when a State agency or public institution of higher education awards contracts for information technology services, accounting services, architectural and engineering services, and legal services, for each State agency or public institution of higher education, it shall be the aspirational goal to use such firms owned by Descendants of American Slavery and lawyers who are Descendants of American Slavery in a percentage of the total dollar amount of State contracts that is proportionate to the percentage of such persons who are residents of this State.

(d) When a community college awards a contract for insurance services, investment services, information technology services, accounting services, architectural and engineering services, and legal services, it shall be the aspirational goal of each community college to use businesses owned by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities as defined in this Act for not less than 20% of the total amount spent on contracts for these services collectively; provided that, contracts representing at least 11% of the total amount spent on contracts for these services shall be awarded to businesses owned by minorities; contracts representing at least 7% of the total amount spent on contracts for these services shall be awarded to women-owned businesses; and contracts representing at least 2% of the total amount spent on contracts for these services shall be awarded to businesses owned by persons with disabilities. When a community college awards contracts for investment services, contracts awarded to investment managers who are not emerging investment managers as defined in this Act shall not be considered businesses owned by minorities, women, or persons with disabilities for the purposes of this Section.

(2) As used in this Section:

"Accounting services" means the measurement, processing and communication of financial information about economic entities including, but is not limited to, financial accounting, management accounting, auditing, cost containment and auditing services, taxation and accounting information systems.

"Architectural and engineering services" means professional services of an architectural or engineering nature, or incidental services, that members of the architectural and engineering professions, and individuals in their employ, may logically or justifiably perform, including studies, investigations, surveying and mapping, tests, evaluations, consultations, comprehensive planning, program management, conceptual designs, plans and specifications, value engineering, construction phase services, soils engineering, drawing reviews, preparation of operating and maintenance manuals, and other related services.

"Emerging investment manager" means an investment manager or claims consultant having assets under management below $10 billion or otherwise adjudicating claims.

"Information technology services" means, but is not limited to, specialized technology-oriented solutions by combining the processes and functions of software, hardware, networks, telecommunications, web designers, cloud developing resellers, and electronics.

"Insurance broker" means an insurance brokerage firm, claims administrator, or both, that procures, places all lines of insurance, or administers claims with annual premiums or fees of at least $5,000,000 but not more than $10,000,000.

"Legal services" means work performed by a lawyer including, but not limited to, contracts in anticipation of litigation, enforcement actions, or investigations.

(3) Each State agency and public institution of higher education shall adopt policies that identify its plan and implementation procedures for increasing the use of service firms owned by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities.

(4) Except as provided in subsection (5), the Council shall file no later than March 1 of each year an annual report to the Governor, the Bureau on Apprenticeship Programs, and the General Assembly. The report filed with the General Assembly shall be filed as required in Section 3.1 of the General Assembly Organization Act. This report shall: (i) identify the service firms used by each State agency and public institution of higher education, (ii) identify the actions it has undertaken to increase the use of service firms owned by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities, including encouraging non-minority-owned firms to use other service firms owned by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities as subcontractors when the opportunities arise, (iii) state any recommendations made by the Council to each State agency and public institution of higher education to increase participation by the use of service firms owned by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities, and (iv) include the following:

(A) For insurance services: the names of the insurance brokers or claims consultants used, the total of risk managed by each State agency and public institution of higher education by insurance brokers, the total commissions, fees paid, or both, the lines or insurance policies placed, and the amount of premiums placed; and the percentage of the risk managed by insurance brokers, the percentage of total commission, fees paid, or both, the lines or insurance policies placed, and the amount of premiums placed with each by the insurance brokers owned by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities by each State agency and public institution of higher education.

(B) For investment management services: the names of the investment managers used, the total funds under management of investment managers; the total commissions, fees paid, or both; the total and percentage of funds under management of emerging investment managers owned by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities, including the total and percentage of total commissions, fees paid, or both by each State agency and public institution of higher education.

(C) The names of service firms, the percentage and total dollar amount paid for professional services by category by each State agency and public institution of higher education.

(D) The names of service firms, the percentage and total dollar amount paid for services by category to firms owned by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities by each State agency and public institution of higher education.

(E) The total number of contracts awarded for services by category and the total number of contracts awarded to firms owned by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities by each State agency and public institution of higher education.

(5) For community college districts, the Business Enterprise Council shall only report the following information for each community college district: (i) the name of the community colleges in the district, (ii) the name and contact information of a person at each community college appointed to be the single point of contact for vendors owned by minorities, women, or persons with disabilities, (iii) the policy of the community college district concerning certified vendors, (iv) the certifications recognized by the community college district for determining whether a business is owned or controlled by a minority, woman, or person with a disability, (v) outreach efforts conducted by the community college district to increase the use of certified vendors, (vi) the total expenditures by the community college district in the prior fiscal year in the divisions of work specified in paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of subsection (1) of this Section and the amount paid to certified vendors in those divisions of work, and (vii) the total number of contracts entered into for the divisions of work specified in paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of subsection (1) of this Section and the total number of contracts awarded to certified vendors providing these services to the community college district. The Business Enterprise Council shall not make any utilization reports under this Act for community college districts for Fiscal Year 2015 and Fiscal Year 2016, but shall make the report required by this subsection for Fiscal Year 2017 and for each fiscal year thereafter. The Business Enterprise Council shall report the information in items (i), (ii), (iii), and (iv) of this subsection beginning in September of 2016. The Business Enterprise Council may collect the data needed to make its report from the Illinois Community College Board.

(6) The status of the utilization of services shall be discussed at each of the regularly scheduled Business Enterprise Council meetings. Time shall be allotted for the Council to receive, review, and discuss the progress of the use of service firms owned by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities by each State agency and public institution of higher education; and any evidence regarding past or present racial, ethnic, or gender-based discrimination which directly impacts a State agency or public institution of higher education contracting with such firms. If after reviewing such evidence the Council finds that there is or has been such discrimination against a specific group, race or sex, the Council shall establish sheltered markets or adjust existing sheltered markets tailored to address the Council's specific findings for the divisions of work specified in paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of subsection (1) of this Section.

(Source: P.A. 100-391, eff. 8-25-17; 101-170, eff. 1-1-20.)

(30 ILCS 575/6) (from Ch. 127, par. 132.606)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on June 30, 2024)

Sec. 6. Agency compliance plans. Each State agency and public institutions of higher education under the jurisdiction of this Act shall file with the Council an annual compliance plan which shall outline the goals of the State agency or public institutions of higher education for contracting with businesses owned by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities for the then current fiscal year, the manner in which the agency intends to reach these goals and a timetable for reaching these goals. The Council shall review and approve the plan of each State agency and public institutions of higher education and may reject any plan that does not comply with this Act or any rules or regulations promulgated pursuant to this Act.

(a) The compliance plan shall also include, but not be limited to, (1) a policy statement, signed by the State agency or public institution of higher education head, expressing a commitment to encourage the use of businesses owned by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities, (2) the designation of the liaison officer provided for in Section 5 of this Act, (3) procedures to distribute to potential contractors and vendors the list of all businesses legitimately classified as businesses owned by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities and so certified under this Act, (4) procedures to set separate contract goals on specific prime contracts and purchase orders with subcontracting possibilities based upon the type of work or services and subcontractor availability, (5) procedures to assure that contractors and vendors make good faith efforts to meet contract goals, (6) procedures for contract goal exemption, modification and waiver, and (7) the delineation of separate contract goals for businesses owned by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities.

(b) Approval of the compliance plans shall include such delegation of responsibilities to the requesting State agency or public institution of higher education as the Council deems necessary and appropriate to fulfill the purpose of this Act. Such responsibilities may include, but need not be limited to those outlined in subsections (1), (2) and (3) of Section 7, paragraph (a) of Section 8, and Section 8a of this Act.

(c) Each State agency and public institution of higher education under the jurisdiction of this Act shall file with the Council an annual report of its utilization of businesses owned by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities during the preceding fiscal year including lapse period spending and a mid-fiscal year report of its utilization to date for the then current fiscal year. The reports shall include a self-evaluation of the efforts of the State agency or public institution of higher education to meet its goals under the Act.

(d) Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary in this Act, any State agency or public institution of higher education which administers a construction program, for which federal law or regulations establish standards and procedures for the utilization of minority-owned and women-owned businesses and disadvantaged businesses, shall implement a disadvantaged business enterprise program to include minority-owned and women-owned businesses and disadvantaged businesses, using the federal standards and procedures for the establishment of goals and utilization procedures for the State-funded, as well as the federally assisted, portions of the program. In such cases, these goals shall not exceed those established pursuant to the relevant federal statutes or regulations. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 8b, the Illinois Department of Transportation is authorized to establish sheltered markets for the State-funded portions of the program consistent with federal law and regulations. Additionally, a compliance plan which is filed by such State agency or public institution of higher education pursuant to this Act, which incorporates equivalent terms and conditions of its federally-approved compliance plan, shall be deemed approved under this Act.

(e) Each State agency and public institution of higher education under the jurisdiction of this Act shall include, along with the compliance plan filed with the Council under this Section, an annual plan of action to specifically rectify the disparity between the representation of Descendants of American Slavery in State contracts compared to the percentage of such persons who are residents of this State. The plan of action shall outline actions to be taken by the State agency to increase representation of Descendants of American Slavery in State contracting, and include the percentage of contracts entered into between the State agency and businesses owned by Descendants of American Slavery.

(Source: P.A. 99-462, eff. 8-25-15; 100-391, eff. 8-25-17.)

(30 ILCS 575/7) (from Ch. 127, par. 132.607)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on June 30, 2024)

Sec. 7. Exemptions; waivers; publication of data.

(1) Individual contract exemptions. The Council, at the written request of the affected agency, public institution of higher education, or recipient of a grant or loan of State funds of $250,000 or more complying with Section 45 of the State Finance Act, may permit an individual contract or contract package, (related contracts being bid or awarded simultaneously for the same project or improvements) be made wholly or partially exempt from State contracting goals for businesses owned by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities prior to the advertisement for bids or solicitation of proposals whenever there has been a determination, reduced to writing and based on the best information available at the time of the determination, that there is an insufficient number of businesses owned by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities to ensure adequate competition and an expectation of reasonable prices on bids or proposals solicited for the individual contract or contract package in question. Any such exemptions shall be given by the Council to the Bureau on Apprenticeship Programs.

(a) Written request for contract exemption. A written request for an individual contract exemption must include, but is not limited to, the following:

(i) a list of eligible businesses owned by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities;

(ii) a clear demonstration that the number of eligible businesses identified in subparagraph (i) above is insufficient to ensure adequate competition;

(iii) the difference in cost between the contract proposals being offered by businesses owned by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities and the agency or public institution of higher education's expectations of reasonable prices on bids or proposals within that class; and

(iv) a list of eligible businesses owned by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities that the contractor has used in the current and prior fiscal years.

(b) Determination. The Council's determination concerning an individual contract exemption must consider, at a minimum, the following:

(i) the justification for the requested exemption, including whether diligent efforts were undertaken to identify and solicit eligible businesses owned by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities;

(ii) the total number of exemptions granted to the affected agency, public institution of higher education, or recipient of a grant or loan of State funds of $250,000 or more complying with Section 45 of the State Finance Act that have been granted by the Council in the current and prior fiscal years; and

(iii) the percentage of contracts awarded by the agency or public institution of higher education to eligible businesses owned by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities in the current and prior fiscal years.

(2) Class exemptions.

(a) Creation. The Council, at the written request of the affected agency or public institution of higher education, may permit an entire class of contracts be made exempt from State contracting goals for businesses owned by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities whenever there has been a determination, reduced to writing and based on the best information available at the time of the determination, that there is an insufficient number of qualified businesses owned by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities to ensure adequate competition and an expectation of reasonable prices on bids or proposals within that class. Any such exemption shall be given by the Council to the Bureau on Apprenticeship Programs.

(a-1) Written request for class exemption. A written request for a class exemption must include, but is not limited to, the following:

(i) a list of eligible businesses owned by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities;

(ii) a clear demonstration that the number of eligible businesses identified in subparagraph (i) above is insufficient to ensure adequate competition;

(iii) the difference in cost between the contract proposals being offered by eligible businesses owned by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities and the agency or public institution of higher education's expectations of reasonable prices on bids or proposals within that class; and

(iv) the number of class exemptions the affected agency or public institution of higher education requested in the current and prior fiscal years.

(a-2) Determination. The Council's determination concerning class exemptions must consider, at a minimum, the following:

(i) the justification for the requested exemption, including whether diligent efforts were undertaken to identify and solicit eligible businesses owned by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities;

(ii) the total number of class exemptions granted to the requesting agency or public institution of higher education that have been granted by the Council in the current and prior fiscal years; and

(iii) the percentage of contracts awarded by the agency or public institution of higher education to eligible businesses owned by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities the current and prior fiscal years.

(b) Limitation. Any such class exemption shall not be permitted for a period of more than one year at a time.

(3) Waivers. Where a particular contract requires a contractor to meet a goal established pursuant to this Act, the contractor shall have the right to request a waiver from such requirements. Except as otherwise provided in this Section, the The Council shall grant the waiver where the contractor demonstrates that there has been made a good faith effort to comply with the goals for participation by businesses owned by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities. Any such waiver shall also be transmitted in writing to the Bureau on Apprenticeship Programs.

(a) Request for waiver. A contractor's request for a waiver under this subsection (3) must include, but is not limited to, the following, if available:

(i) a list of eligible businesses owned by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities that pertain to the class of contracts in the requested waiver;

(ii) a clear demonstration that the number of eligible businesses identified in subparagraph (i) above is insufficient to ensure competition;

(iii) the difference in cost between the contract proposals being offered by businesses owned by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities and the agency or the public institution of higher education's expectations of reasonable prices on bids or proposals within that class; and

(iv) a list of businesses owned by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities that the contractor has used in the current and prior fiscal years.

(b) Determination. The Council's determination concerning waivers must include following:

(i) the justification for the requested waiver, including whether the requesting contractor made a good faith effort to identify and solicit eligible businesses owned by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities;

(ii) the total number of waivers the contractor has been granted by the Council in the current and prior fiscal years;

(iii) the percentage of contracts awarded by the agency or public institution of higher education to eligible businesses owned by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities in the current and prior fiscal years; and

(iv) the contractor's use of businesses owned by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities in the current and prior fiscal years.

(c) Contract value. Any waiver request submitted under this Section for which the contract has a total dollar amount valued between $100,000 and $999,000 must be approved by the Council. Any contract request submitted under this Section for which the contract has a total dollar amount valued at $1,000,000 or more must be approved by the General Assembly.

(3.5) (Blank).

(4) Conflict with other laws. In the event that any State contract, which otherwise would be subject to the provisions of this Act, is or becomes subject to federal laws or regulations which conflict with the provisions of this Act or actions of the State taken pursuant hereto, the provisions of the federal laws or regulations shall apply and the contract shall be interpreted and enforced accordingly.

(5) Each chief procurement officer, as defined in the Illinois Procurement Code, shall maintain on his or her official Internet website a database of the following: (i) waivers granted under this Section with respect to contracts under his or her jurisdiction; (ii) a State agency or public institution of higher education's written request for an exemption of an individual contract or an entire class of contracts; and (iii) the Council's written determination granting or denying a request for an exemption of an individual contract or an entire class of contracts. The database, which shall be updated periodically as necessary, shall be searchable by contractor name and by contracting State agency.

(6) Each chief procurement officer, as defined by the Illinois Procurement Code, shall maintain on its website a list of all firms that have been prohibited from bidding, offering, or entering into a contract with the State of Illinois as a result of violations of this Act.

Each public notice required by law of the award of a State contract shall include for each bid or offer submitted for that contract the following: (i) the bidder's or offeror's name, (ii) the bid amount, (iii) the name or names of the certified firms identified in the bidder's or offeror's submitted utilization plan, and (iv) the bid's amount and percentage of the contract awarded to businesses owned by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities identified in the utilization plan.

(Source: P.A. 100-391, eff. 8-25-17; 101-170, eff. 1-1-20; 101-601, eff. 1-1-20.)

(30 ILCS 575/8f)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on June 30, 2024)

Sec. 8f. Annual report. The Council shall file no later than March 1 of each year, an annual report that shall detail the level of achievement toward the goals specified in this Act over the 3 most recent fiscal years. The annual report shall include, but need not be limited to the following:

(1) a summary detailing expenditures subject to the goals, the actual goals specified, and the goals attained by each State agency and public institution of higher education;

(2) a summary of the number of contracts awarded and the average contract amount by each State agency and public institution of higher education;

(3) an analysis of the level of overall goal achievement concerning purchases from minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses, and businesses owned by persons with disabilities;

(4) an analysis of the number of businesses owned by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities that are certified under the program as well as the number of those businesses that received State procurement contracts; and

(5) a summary of the number of contracts awarded to businesses with annual gross sales of less than $1,000,000; of $1,000,000 or more, but less than $5,000,000; of $5,000,000 or more, but less than $10,000,000; and of $10,000,000 or more; and .

(6) a summary detailing the disparity between the representation of Descendants of American Slavery in State contracts compared to the percentage of such persons who are residents of this State, and a summary of the efforts to eliminate that disparity based upon the requirements of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 99-462, eff. 8-25-15; 100-391, eff. 8-25-17.)