HB 1755 -- Minority-Owned Businesses

Sponsor:  Parker

This bill creates the Office of Minority Affairs in the Office of
Administration, the Small and Minority Business Mentor-Protegee
Program, and the Council for Historically Underutilized
Businesses.

The office must implement a minority business reform program.
The program will sunset six years after its effective date and
must:

(1)  Propose legislation requiring that 10% of state contracts be
entered into with small and minority businesses;

(2)  Require bidding contractors to provide the office a list of
any subcontractors that are minority businesses;

(3)  Request proposals from small and minority businesses in
order to increase the number of contracts awarded to these types
of businesses;

(4)  Invite small and minority businesses to submit bids for
construction projects and the sale of goods and services to state
agencies; and

(5)  Establish a responsive procurement solicitation to include
information about small and minority business participation in
the procurement of goods and services by state agencies.

The Small and Minority Business Mentor-Protegee Program will be
administered by the office and will sunset six years after its
effective date.  The program will facilitate a voluntary mentor-
protegee relationship between prime contractors and small and
minority businesses.  Regarding this program, the office must:

(1)  Allow prime contractors to assist small and minority
businesses in developing the technical and business capabilities
necessary to successfully compete for contracts;

(2)  Match mentor and protegee businesses that are in the same
field or product and in the same geographic region;

(3)  Maintain a list of current and potential mentors and
protegees; and

(4)  Contact mentors and protegees at least once every three
months to obtain information regarding the success of the
program.

The Council for Historically Underutilized Businesses will have
nine members with the Director of the Office of Minority Affairs
as the chairperson.  The bill specifies the remaining membership
of the council and their terms.  The council will serve in an
advisory capacity to the office on matters related to minority
businesses and provide other consultation as requested by the
director.  The Office of Minority Affairs and the Office of the
Lieutenant Governor will provide the primary staff support for
the council.  The council must meet at least three times per year
and report its progress and achievements to the Governor prior to
December 31 of each year.

Missouri House of Representatives
92nd General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated September 23, 2004 at 11:16 am