2021 New York Laws
COM - Economic Development Law
Article 4-A - Division of Minority and Women's Business Development
118 - Power and Duties.

§ 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.