Bill > SB2653

This bill amends the Business Enterprise for Minorities, Women, and Persons with Disabilities Act to make several key changes. It requires (rather than allows) the Business Enterprise Program to establish uniform standards for calculating contract-specific goals for state contracts and construction contracts. The bill removes language that previously allowed the Secretary of the Business Enterprise Council to define contract dollar amounts and instead gives the Council more flexibility to grant exemptions from contracting goals. Specifically, the Council may now permit an entire class of contracts to be exempt from minority, women, and disability-owned business goals if there is a written determination that there are insufficient qualified businesses to ensure adequate competition and reasonable pricing. The bill also modifies provisions related to deficiencies in utilization plans, providing contractors with more opportunities to cure certain deficiencies, such as failing to contract with enough certified subcontractors or allocating insufficient work to certified vendors. Additionally, the bill introduces a new provision allowing vendors to request waivers after contract execution if no certified vendor is available to replace a non-performing certified vendor. The changes aim to provide more clarity and flexibility in the state's efforts to promote contracting opportunities for businesses owned by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities.

Government Affairs

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=2653&GAID=18&DocTypeID=SB&SessionID=114&GA=104