S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  1259

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                             January 8, 2015
                               ___________

Introduced  by  M. of A. TITUS, CLARK, LAVINE, ROBINSON, PERRY, MORELLE,
  COOK, BARRON, PAULIN, PEOPLES-STOKES -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A.
  BRENNAN, COLTON, GALEF, GUNTHER, HEASTIE,  RIVERA  --  read  once  and
  referred to the Committee on Small Business

AN  ACT  to  amend  the  executive law, in relation to creating regional
  minority and women-owned business enterprise advocate

  THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. Section 310 of the executive law is amended by adding a new
subdivision 24 to read as follows:
  24.  "REGIONAL ADVOCATE" SHALL MEAN THE PERSON APPOINTED BY THE STATE-
WIDE ADVOCATE TO SERVE IN THE CAPACITY OF MINORITY AND WOMEN-OWNED BUSI-
NESS ENTERPRISE REGIONAL ADVOCATE.
  S  2. Subdivision 2 of section 311-a of the executive law, as added by
section 4 of part BB of chapter 59 of the laws of 2006,  is  amended  to
read as follows:
  2.  The  advocate  shall act as a liaison for minority and women-owned
business enterprises (MWBEs) to  assist  them  in  obtaining  technical,
managerial,  financial and other business assistance for certified busi-
nesses and applicants. The advocate shall investigate complaints brought
by or on behalf of MWBEs concerning certification delays  and  instances
of  violations  of  law  by state agencies. The statewide advocate shall
assist certified businesses and applicants in the certification process,
DIRECT REGIONAL  LOCAL  ADVOCATES  IN  DEVELOPING  EDUCATIONAL  OUTREACH
PROGRAMS  AND  CREATE  AWARENESS  OF COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAMS.   Other
functions of the statewide advocate shall be directed by the commission-
er. The advocate may request and the  director  may  appoint  staff  and
employees  of the division of minority and women business development to
support the administration of the office of the statewide advocate.
  S 3. The executive law is amended by adding a  new  section  311-b  to
read as follows:

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD06602-01-5
              

A. 1259                             2

  S  311-B.  MINORITY AND WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE REGIONAL ADVO-
CATES. 1.  REGIONAL ADVOCATE. THERE IS HEREBY ESTABLISHED WITHIN EACH OF
THE REGIONAL OFFICES ESTABLISHED  PURSUANT  TO  ARTICLE  ELEVEN  OF  THE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LAW AN OFFICE OF THE MINORITY AND WOMEN-OWNED BUSI-
NESS ENTERPRISE REGIONAL ADVOCATE.
  2. POWERS AND DUTIES. THE REGIONAL ADVOCATES SHALL:
  (A)  PROVIDE  TECHNICAL,  MANAGERIAL,  FINANCIAL  AND  OTHER  BUSINESS
ASSISTANCE TO CERTIFIED MINORITY AND WOMEN BUSINESSES OR APPLICANTS;
  (B) CONDUCT OUTREACH PROGRAMS FOR MWBES ON A BI-ANNUAL BASIS;
  (C) CONDUCT EDUCATIONAL SEMINARS  FOR  STATE  AGENCIES  ON  AN  ANNUAL
BASIS; AND
  (D)  SHALL  BE  RESPONSIBLE FOR REPORTING THE NUMBER AND CERTIFICATION
APPLICATIONS RECEIVED AND PROCESSED BY ITS REGION.
  3. THE REGIONAL ADVOCATE SHALL DOCUMENT REASONS  FOR  ANY  DENIALS  OR
DELAYS  IN THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS. REGIONAL ADVOCATES SHALL REPORT TO
THE STATEWIDE ADVOCATE AND DIRECTOR BY SEPTEMBER THIRTIETH ON AN  ANNUAL
BASIS  OF  RECOMMENDATIONS  TO THE STATE CERTIFICATION PROCESS, OUTREACH
EFFORTS AND COMPLAINTS RECEIVED OR RESOLVED.
  S 4. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
it shall have become a law; provided, however, that  the  amendments  to
article  15-A of the executive law made by this act shall not affect the
expiration of such article and shall expire therewith.