Public Act 099-0233
 
HB0642 EnrolledLRB099 04448 SXM 24476 b

    AN ACT concerning finance.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
Women's Business Ownership Act of 2015.
 
    Section 5. Women's Business Ownership Council. The Women's
Business Ownership Council is created within the Department of
Commerce and Economic Opportunity. The Council shall consist of
9 members, with 5 persons appointed by the Governor, one of
whom shall be the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
or his or her designee, one person appointed by the President
of the Senate, one person appointed by the Minority Leader of
the Senate, one person appointed by the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, and one person appointed by the Minority
Leader of the House of Representatives.
    Appointed members shall be uniquely qualified by
education, professional knowledge, or experience to serve on
the Council and shall reflect the ethnic, cultural, and
geographic diversity of the State. Of the 9 members, at least 5
shall be women business owners. As used in this Act, "woman
business owner" means a woman who is either:
        (1) the principal of a company or business concern, at
    least 51% of which is owned, operated, and controlled by
    women; or
        (2) a senior officer or director of a company or
    business concern who also has either:
            (A) material responsibility for the daily
        operations and management of the overall company or
        business concern; or
            (B) material responsibility for the policy making
        of the company or business concern.
    Of the initial appointments, members shall be randomly
assigned to staggered terms; 3 members shall be appointed for a
term of 3 years, 3 members shall be appointed for a term of 2
years, and 3 members shall be appointed for a term of one year.
Upon the expiration of each member's term, a successor shall be
appointed for a term of 3 years. In the case of a vacancy in the
office of any member, a successor shall be appointed for the
remainder of the unexpired term by the person designated as
responsible for making the appointment. No member shall serve
more than 3 consecutive terms. Members shall serve without
compensation but shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred in
connection with the performance of their duties as members.
    One of the members shall be designated as Chairperson by
the Governor. In the event the Governor does not appoint the
Chairperson within 60 days after the effective date of this
Act, the Council shall convene and elect a Chairperson by a
simple majority vote. Upon a vacancy in the position of
Chairperson, the Governor shall have 30 days from the date of
the resignation to appoint a new Chairperson. In the event the
Governor does not appoint a new Chairperson within 30 days, the
Council shall convene and elect a new Chairperson by a simple
majority vote.
    The first meeting of the Council shall be held within 90
days after the effective date of this Act. The Council shall
meet quarterly and may hold other meetings on the call of the
Chairperson. Five members shall constitute a quorum. The
Council may adopt rules it deems necessary to govern its own
procedures. The Department of Commerce and Economic
Opportunity shall cooperate with the Council to fulfill the
purposes of this Act and shall provide the Council with
necessary staff and administrative support. The Council may
apply for grants from the public and private sector and is
authorized to accept grants, gifts, and donations, which shall
be deposited into the Women's Business Ownership Fund.
 
    Section 10. Duties and responsibilities of the Council.
    (a) The Council shall conduct hearings, as necessary, and
issue an annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly
regarding the status of women business owners within the State.
In that regard, the Council shall review the following:
        (1) The status of women-owned businesses statewide,
    including progress made and barriers that remain, in order
    to assist these businesses to enter the mainstream of the
    Illinois economy.
        (2) The role of State and local government in assisting
    and promoting aid to, and the promotion of, women-owned
    businesses.
        (3) Data collected by private and public sector
    entities relating to women-owned businesses.
        (4) Any other government initiatives that may exist
    relating to women-owned businesses, including but not
    limited to those relating to State and local procurement.
    (b) The Council shall recommend to the Governor and the
General Assembly, on an annual basis, all of the following:
        (1) New private sector initiatives that would provide
    management and technical assistance to women-owned
    businesses.
        (2) Ways to promote greater access to public and
    private sector financing and procurement opportunities for
    these businesses.
        (3) Detailed multi-year plans of action, with specific
    goals and timetables, for both public and private sector
    actions needed to overcome discriminatory barriers to full
    participation in the economic mainstream.
    (c) The Council may hold hearings, take testimony, and
request information from State agencies.
 
    Section 15. The Women's Business Ownership Fund. The
Women's Business Ownership Fund is created as a special fund in
the State treasury. The Fund shall consist of all public and
private moneys donated to further the work of the Council under
this Act. All moneys deposited into the Fund shall be subject
to appropriation by the General Assembly.
 
    Section 90. The State Finance Act is amended by adding
Section 5.866 as follows:
 
    (30 ILCS 105/5.866 new)
    Sec. 5.866. The Women's Business Ownership Fund.
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.