SB0688 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB099 04909 NHT 24938 b

99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2015 and 2016
SB0688

Introduced 2/3/2015, by Sen. Kimberly A. Lightford

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

110 ILCS 205/9.34 new

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Provides that the Board of Higher Education shall require all public and private institutions of higher education located in this State to submit an annual report on or before April 15, 2016 and on or before each April 15 thereafter, in a searchable Adobe PDF format, on all procurement goals and actual spending for female-owned, minority-owned, veteran-owned, and small business enterprises in the previous calendar year. Provides that each institution shall include certain information in its annual report. Provides that the Board and all institutions shall hold an annual workshop open to the public in July of 2016 and each July thereafter on the state of supplier diversity to collaboratively seek solutions to structural impediments to achieving stated goals. Sets forth other Board requirements. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning education.

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

Section 5. The Board of Higher Education Act is amended by adding Section 9.34 as follows:

(110 ILCS 205/9.34 new)

Sec. 9.34. Supplier diversity goals.

(a) The public policy of this State is to collaboratively work with colleges and universities located in this State to improve their supplier diversity in a non-antagonistic manner.

(b) The Board shall require all public and private institutions of higher education located in this State, including community colleges, colleges, and universities, to submit an annual report on or before April 15, 2016 and on or before each April 15 thereafter, in a searchable Adobe PDF format, on all procurement goals and actual spending for female-owned, minority-owned (with breakdowns of African American-owned and Latino-owned), veteran-owned, and small business enterprises in the previous calendar year. These goals must be expressed as a percentage of the total work performed by the institution of higher education submitting the report, and the actual spending for all female-owned, minority-owned (with breakdowns of African American-owned and Latino-owned), veteran-owned, and small business enterprises must also be expressed as a percentage of the total work performed by the institution of higher education submitting the report.

(c) Each institution of higher education, in its annual report, shall include the following information:

(1) an explanation of the plan for the next year to increase participation;

(2) an explanation of the plan to increase the goals;

(3) the areas of procurement the institution of higher education shall be actively seeking more participation in during the next year;

(4) an outline of the plan to alert and encourage potential vendors in that area to seek business from the institution of higher education;

(5) an explanation of the challenges faced in finding quality vendors and any suggestions for what the Board could do to be helpful in identifying those vendors;

(6) a list of the certifications proving status as a female-owned, minority-owned, veteran-owned, or small business enterprise the institution of higher education recognizes;

(7) the point of contact for any potential vendor who wishes to do business with the institution of higher education and an explanation of the process for a vendor to enroll with the institution of higher education as a female-owned, minority-owned, veteran-owned, or small business enterprise; and

(8) any particular success stories to encourage other institutions of higher education to emulate best practices.

(d) Each annual report shall include the rules, regulations, and definitions used for the procurement goals in the annual report.

(e) The Board and all institutions of higher education required to submit an annual report under this Section shall hold an annual workshop open to the public in July of 2016 and each July thereafter on the state of supplier diversity to collaboratively seek solutions to structural impediments to achieving stated goals, including testimony from each institution of higher education, as well as subject matter experts and advocates. The Board shall publish a database on its Internet website of the points of contact for supplier diversity listed in the annual report by each institution of higher education, along with a list of certifications proving status as a female-owned, minority-owned, veteran-owned, or small business enterprise that each institution of higher education recognizes from the information submitted in the annual report. The Board shall publish each annual report on its Internet website and shall maintain each annual report for at least 5 years.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.