Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia

Filed: 4/7/2015

 

 


 

 


 
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1
AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 642

2    AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend House Bill 642 by replacing
3everything after the enacting clause with the following:
 
4    "Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5Women's Business Ownership Act of 2015.
 
6    Section 5. Women's Business Ownership Council. The Women's
7Business Ownership Council is created within the Department of
8Commerce and Economic Opportunity. The Council shall consist of
99 members, with 5 persons appointed by the Governor, one of
10whom shall be the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
11or his or her designee, one person appointed by the President
12of the Senate, one person appointed by the Minority Leader of
13the Senate, one person appointed by the Speaker of the House of
14Representatives, and one person appointed by the Minority
15Leader of the House of Representatives.
16    Appointed members shall be uniquely qualified by

 

 

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1education, professional knowledge, or experience to serve on
2the Council and shall reflect the ethnic, cultural, and
3geographic diversity of the State. Of the 9 members, at least 5
4shall be women business owners. As used this Act, "woman
5business owner" means a woman who is either:
6        (1) the principal of a company or business concern, at
7    least 51% of which is owned, operated, and controlled by
8    women; or
9        (2) a senior officer or director of a company or
10    business concern who also has either:
11            (A) material responsibility for the daily
12        operations and management of the overall company or
13        business concern; or
14            (B) material responsibility for the policy making
15        of the company or business concern.
16    Of the initial appointments, members shall be randomly
17assigned to staggered terms; 3 members shall be appointed for a
18term of 3 years, 3 members shall be appointed for a term of 2
19years, and 3 members shall be appointed for a term of one year.
20Upon the expiration of each member's term, a successor shall be
21appointed for a term of 3 years. In the case of a vacancy in the
22office of any member, a successor shall be appointed for the
23remainder of the unexpired term by the person designated as
24responsible for making the appointment. No member shall serve
25more than 3 consecutive terms. Members shall serve without
26compensation but shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred in

 

 

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1connection with the performance of their duties as members.
2    One of the members shall be designated as Chairperson by
3the Governor. In the event the Governor does not appoint the
4Chairperson within 60 days after the effective date of this
5Act, the Council shall convene and elect a Chairperson by a
6simple majority vote. Upon a vacancy in the position of
7Chairperson, the Governor shall have 30 days from the date of
8the resignation to appoint a new Chairperson. In the event the
9Governor does not appoint a new Chairperson within 30 days, the
10Council shall convene and elect a new Chairperson by a simple
11majority vote.
12    The first meeting of the Council shall be held within 90
13days after the effective date of this Act. The Council shall
14meet quarterly and may hold other meetings on the call of the
15Chairperson. Five members shall constitute a quorum. The
16Council may adopt rules it deems necessary to govern its own
17procedures. The Department of Commerce and Economic
18Opportunity shall cooperate with the Council to fulfill the
19purposes of this Act and shall provide the Council with
20necessary staff and administrative support. The Council may
21apply for grants from the public and private sector and is
22authorized to accept grants, gifts, and donations, which shall
23be deposited into the Women's Business Ownership Fund.
 
24    Section 10. Duties and responsibilities of the Council.
25    (a) The Council shall conduct hearings, as necessary, and

 

 

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1issue an annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly
2regarding the status of women business owners within the State.
3In that regard, the Council shall review the following:
4        (1) The status of women-owned businesses statewide,
5    including progress made and barriers that remain, in order
6    to assist these businesses to enter the mainstream of the
7    Illinois economy.
8        (2) The role of State and local government in assisting
9    and promoting aid to, and the promotion of, women-owned
10    businesses.
11        (3) Data collected by private and public sector
12    entities relating to women-owned businesses.
13        (4) Any other government initiatives that may exist
14    relating to women-owned businesses, including but not
15    limited to those relating to State and local procurement.
16    (b) The Council shall recommend to the Governor and the
17General Assembly, on an annual basis, all of the following:
18        (1) New private sector initiatives that would provide
19    management and technical assistance to women-owned
20    businesses.
21        (2) Ways to promote greater access to public and
22    private sector financing and procurement opportunities for
23    these businesses.
24        (3) Detailed multi-year plans of action, with specific
25    goals and timetables, for both public and private sector
26    actions needed to overcome discriminatory barriers to full

 

 

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1    participation in the economic mainstream.
2    (c) The Council may hold hearings, take testimony, and
3request information from State agencies.
 
4    Section 15. The Women's Business Ownership Fund. The
5Women's Business Ownership Fund is created as a special fund in
6the State treasury. The Fund shall consist of all public and
7private moneys donated to further the work of the Council under
8this Act. All moneys deposited into the Fund shall be subject
9to appropriation by the General Assembly.
 
10    Section 90. The State Finance Act is amended by adding
11Section 5.866 as follows:
 
12    (30 ILCS 105/5.866 new)
13    Sec. 5.866. The Women's Business Ownership Fund.
 
14    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
15becoming law.".