Public Act 103-0889
 
SB0859 EnrolledLRB103 03318 KTG 48324 b

    AN ACT concerning State government.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 
represented in the General Assembly: 
 
    Section 5. The Department of Commerce and Economic 
Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois 
is amended by adding Section 605-1032 as follows:
 
    (20 ILCS 605/605-1032 new)
    Sec. 605-1032. Office of Economic Equity and Empowerment.
    (a) As used in this Section:
    "Eligible not-for-profit corporation" means a 
not-for-profit corporation, as defined in Section 101.80 of 
the General Not For Profit Corporation Act of 1986, that 
primarily serves minorities, women, veterans, or persons with 
a disability. 
    "Office" means the Office of Economic Equity and 
Empowerment.
    (b) The Office of Economic Equity and Empowerment is 
hereby created within the Department. The Office shall assist 
minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses, 
veteran-owned businesses, businesses owned by persons with 
disabilities, eligible not-for-profit corporations, and other 
underserved communities and constituencies through targeted 
programs, resources, and outreach and promotional activities. 
The Office may engage in or conduct the following activities:
        (1) promoting and conducting outreach efforts to 
    ensure access to State and federal funding opportunities, 
    and assisting minority-owned businesses, women-owned 
    businesses, veteran-owned businesses, businesses owned by 
    persons with disabilities, eligible not-for-profit 
    corporations, and other underserved communities and 
    constituencies in applying for and receiving loan funds in 
    the State;
        (2) providing and hosting workshops and public forums 
    and engaging in outreach efforts for minority-owned 
    businesses, women-owned businesses, veteran-owned 
    businesses, businesses owned by persons with disabilities, 
    and other underserved communities and constituencies to 
    encourage participation in programs under the Business 
    Enterprise for Minorities, Women, and Persons with 
    Disabilities Act, and assisting those businesses in 
    becoming designated under that Act and under similar 
    certification programs;
        (3) providing and hosting workshops and public forums 
    and engaging in outreach efforts that assist and educate 
    minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses, 
    veteran-owned businesses, businesses owned by persons with 
    disabilities, eligible not-for-profit corporations, and 
    other underserved communities and constituencies on the 
    process of applying for and becoming certified to apply 
    for State grant funds under the Grant Accountability and 
    Transparency Act;
        (4) providing and hosting workshops and public forums 
    and engaging in outreach efforts that assist and educate 
    aspiring and existing minority-owned businesses, 
    women-owned businesses, veteran-owned businesses, 
    businesses owned by persons with disabilities, eligible 
    not-for-profit corporations, and other underserved 
    communities and constituencies with understanding concepts 
    including, but not limited to, business formation and 
    not-for-profit incorporation, business planning, capital 
    access, and marketing a business or not-for-profit 
    corporation;
        (5) administering programs established by the 
    Department or the General Assembly to provide grants to 
    minority-owned businesses, woman-owned businesses, 
    veteran-owned businesses, businesses owned by persons with 
    disabilities, eligible not-for-profit corporations, and 
    other underserved communities and constituencies;
        (6) coordinating assistance for minority-owned 
    businesses, woman-owned businesses, veteran-owned 
    businesses, businesses owned by persons with disabilities, 
    eligible not-for-profit corporations, and other 
    underserved communities and constituencies with other 
    State agencies;
        (7) providing staff, administration, and related 
    support required to administer this Section; and
        (8) establishing applications, notifications, 
    contracts, and other forms and procedures, and adopting 
    rules deemed necessary and appropriate.
    (c) The Office may use vendors or enter into contracts to 
carry out the purposes of this Section.

Effective Date:  1/1/2025