S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   4914
 
                        2019-2020 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             February 5, 2019
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  TITUS,  LAVINE, PERRY, COOK, BARRON, PAULIN,
   PEOPLES-STOKES -- Multi-Sponsored  by  --  M.  of  A.  COLTON,  GALEF,
   GUNTHER,  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.
   § 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.
   §  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.
              

                                                            LBD05419-01-9

 A. 4914                             2
 
   § 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.
   § 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.