S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   9997
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                                May 1, 2024
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. SEPTIMO -- read once and referred to the Commit-
   tee on Economic Development
 
 AN ACT to amend the economic development law, in relation to  establish-
   ing  the  minority  and  women-owned business enterprise center within
   empire state development corporation
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  The  economic  development law is amended by adding a new
 section 121 to read as follows:
   § 121. MWBE CENTER. 1. AS USED IN THIS SECTION:
   A. "DIRECTOR" MEANS THE DIRECTOR OF THE MWBE CENTER  CREATED  IN  THIS
 SECTION;
   B.  "MWBE" MEANS AN ORGANIZATION DESCRIBED IN ARTICLE FIFTEEN-A OF THE
 EXECUTIVE LAW; AND
   C. "CENTER" MEANS THE MWBE CENTER CREATED BY THIS SECTION.
   2. THE MINORITY AND WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE (MWBE)  CENTER  IS
 HEREBY  CREATED  WITHIN THE EMPIRE STATE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION TO HAVE
 AND EXERCISE THE FUNCTIONS, POWERS AND DUTIES PROVIDED BY THE PROVISIONS
 OF THIS SECTION AND ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW.
   3. THE HEAD OF THE CENTER SHALL BE THE DIRECTOR.  THE  DIRECTOR  SHALL
 RECEIVE  A  SALARY TO BE FIXED BY THE GOVERNOR WITHIN THE AMOUNTS APPRO-
 PRIATED THEREFOR. THE DIRECTOR  SHALL  REPORT  TO  THE  COMMISSIONER  OF
 EMPIRE STATE DEVELOPMENT.
   A.  THE DIRECTOR MAY, FROM TIME TO TIME, CREATE, ABOLISH, TRANSFER AND
 CONSOLIDATE UNITS NOT EXPRESSLY ESTABLISHED BY LAW AS THE  DIRECTOR  MAY
 DETERMINE  NECESSARY  FOR THE EFFICIENT OPERATION OF THE CENTER, SUBJECT
 TO THE APPROVAL OF THE COMMISSIONER OF EMPIRE STATE DEVELOPMENT.
   B. THE DIRECTOR MAY APPOINT ASSISTANTS, AND OTHER OFFICERS AND EMPLOY-
 EES, COMMITTEES AND CONSULTANTS AS  THE  DIRECTOR  MAY  DEEM  NECESSARY,
 PRESCRIBE  THEIR  POWERS  AND  DUTIES, FIX THEIR COMPENSATION WITHIN THE
 AMOUNTS APPROPRIATED THEREFOR, SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL  OF  THE  COMMIS-
 SIONER OF EMPIRE STATE DEVELOPMENT AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE BUDGET.
   C. THE DIRECTOR MAY REQUEST AND RECEIVE FROM ANY DEPARTMENT, DIVISION,
 BOARD,  BUREAU,  COMMISSION OR OTHER AGENCY OF THE STATE ANY INFORMATION
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD13523-01-3
 A. 9997                             2
 
 AND NON-FINANCIAL RESOURCES THAT WILL  ENABLE  THE  CENTER  TO  PROPERLY
 CARRY OUT ITS FUNCTIONS, POWERS AND DUTIES. REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE FROM
 SUCH  ENTITIES  SHALL  BE SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE COMMISSIONER OF
 EMPIRE STATE DEVELOPMENT.
   4. THE CENTER SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING FUNCTIONS, POWERS AND DUTIES:
   A.  TO MAKE THE SERVICES OF THE DIVISION OF MINORITY AND WOMEN'S BUSI-
 NESS DEVELOPMENT ACCESSIBLE IN-PERSON IN CITIES WITH A POPULATION OF ONE
 MILLION OR MORE;
   B. TO ASSIST MWBE'S IN A CITY WITH A POPULATION OF ONE MILLION OR MORE
 WITH ACCESSIBLE, IN-PERSON CERTIFICATION, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT,  CAPACI-
 TY-BUILDING, CONTRACT IDENTIFICATION, AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT;
   C.  TO  PROVIDE  INFORMATION  ABOUT EXISTING FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL
 MWBE AND BUSINESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS;
   D. TO  PROVIDE  EDUCATION  RELATING  TO  CERTIFICATION  AND  LICENSURE
 REQUIREMENTS; AND
   E.  TO PERIODICALLY COORDINATE WITH AGENCIES REGARDING THE INTERPRETA-
 TION AND CLARIFICATION OF STATE REGULATIONS.
   5. ON OR BEFORE SEPTEMBER THIRTIETH OF EACH  YEAR,  THE  CENTER  SHALL
 SUBMIT  A REPORT TO THE COMMISSIONER OF EMPIRE STATE DEVELOPMENT SETTING
 FORTH THE FOLLOWING:
   A. THE NUMBER OF MWBES ACCESSING THE CENTER'S SERVICES;
   B. AGGREGATE INFORMATION REGARDING THE LOCATION AND OWNERSHIP  OF  THE
 BUSINESSES ACCESSING THE CENTER'S SERVICES;
   C.  AGGREGATE  INFORMATION REGARDING THE TYPES OF SERVICES PROVIDED TO
 BUSINESSES ACCESSING THE CENTER'S SERVICES;
   D. AGGREGATE INFORMATION REGARDING CERTIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS WON BY
 BUSINESSES RECEIVING ASSISTANCE OF THE CENTER; AND
   E. RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CENTER AS TO HOW TO BETTER SERVE MWBE  BUSI-
 NESSES.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.