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