§ 118. Power and duties. In addition to the power and duties conferred
by section one hundred sixteen of this article, the division shall have
the additional power and duty to:

1. Coordinate with all state agencies performing functions affecting
the operations of minority business enterprises, and women-owned
business enterprises, as such terms are defined in section two hundred
ten of this chapter;

2. Receive complaints and inquiries of operators of minority and
women-owned business enterprises and refer them to the appropriate
federal, state or local agency for appropriate action on such
complaints;

3. Solicit recommendations from the operators of minority and
women-owned business enterprises for improving existing state programs
and refer such recommendations to the governor, the legislature and
appropriate state agencies or authorities;

4. Advise and make recommendations to the commissioner and the
legislature on matters affecting the minority and women-owned business
enterprises of the state and promote and encourage the protection of the
legitimate interests of minority and women-owned business enterprises
within the state;

5. Conduct investigations, research, studies and analyses of matters
affecting the interests of minority and women-owned business
enterprises;

6. Study the implementation of the laws affecting minority and
women-owned business enterprises and recommend to the commissioner new
laws and amendments of laws for the benefit of minority and women-owned
business enterprises; and review pending legislation affecting minority
and women-owned business enterprises and report its findings to the
commissioner;

7. Provide technical assistance and information to minority and
women-owned business enterprises in the state on economic development
programs administered by the department, including, but not limited to:
(a) the empire zones program, established pursuant to article eighteen-B
of the general municipal law, (b) the industrial effectiveness program,
established pursuant to article seven of this chapter, (c) the economic
development skills training program, established pursuant to article
eight of this chapter, and (d) the entrepreneurial assistance program,
established pursuant to article nine of this chapter;

8. Provide technical assistance and information to minority and
women-owned business enterprises in the state on economic development
programs administered by agencies other than the department, including,
but not limited to programs administered by the urban development
corporation, the job development authority and the science and
technology foundation;

9. Be responsible for conducting minority and women-owned business
enterprise assistance programs and for coordinating the activities of
all other state agencies acting within the scope of this section; and

10. Carry out the activities to implement the minority and women-owned
business enterprise assistance programs, to the extent practicable,
within amounts appropriated therefor by;

(a) collecting and maintaining information identifying certified
minority and women-owned business enterprises within New York state;

(b) collecting, maintaining, and providing information to potential
users identifying existing contracting and procurement opportunities
within and outside New York state;

(c) maintaining, providing and marketing a compilation of existing
programs providing assistance for minority and women-owned business
enterprises;

(d) identifying special needs and problems facing minority and
women-owned business enterprises within New York state;

(e) contacting institutions, organizations and commercial enterprises
that are potential consumers of minority and women-owned business
products and services; urging their expanded consumption of such goods
and services;

(f) facilitating the establishment of minority and women-owned
business enterprises; and

(g) providing information concerning local and regional opportunities
for minority and women-owned business enterprises.