Brief Description: Authorizing the office of minority and women's business enterprises to receive gifts, grants, or endowments.

Sponsors: Representatives Veloria and Kessler.

Hearing Date: 4/3/03

Staff: Amy Skei (786-7140).

Background:

The Office of Minority and Women's Business Enterprises (OMWBE) exists to increase government contracting opportunities to minority- and women-owned businesses. The OMWBE does this through several means, including certifying minority- and women-owned firms, disseminating the certified firm list to state agencies and local governments, assisting state agencies with goal-setting, and providing outreach and technical assistance to firms.

The majority of the OMWBE's funding comes from revolving fund charges made to state agencies. A portion of the agency's funding comes from bills charged to local governments for certification services and fees charged to businesses for certification applications and renewals. The OMWBE also receives interagency reimbursement out of the Department of Transportation’s federal transportation funds for the OMWBE's federal certification program.

Grant funds are available from a variety of federal and private sources for providing technical assistance to businesses. The OMWBE’s enabling statutes do not provide express authority for it to solicit, receive, and spend grants from private sources.

Summary of Bill:

The OMWBE may receive and spend gifts, grants, or endowments from public or private sources. The bill contains an emergency clause and goes into effect immediately.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not Requested.

Effective Date: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.