§ 15-4-307. Minority and Women-owned Business Advisory Council

(a) The Division of Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprise of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission shall be represented by a statewide Minority and Women-owned Business Advisory Council and shall report to that council.

(b)

1. (1) The council shall consist of nine (9) members.

2. (2) The council shall:

   1. (A) Monitor progress, make recommendations, and develop strategic plans for performance improvement; and

   2. (B) Report to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.

(c)

1. (1) The Governor shall appoint three (3) members of the council with the advice and consent of the Senate.

2. (2) The President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall appoint two (2) members of the council.

3. (3) The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint two (2) members of the council.

4. (4) The Director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission shall appoint two (2) members of the council.

5. (5) Appointments shall reflect and be representative of the minority and women-owned business communities, resource organizations, entrepreneurs, corporations, and other minority and women-owned business advocates.

(d) Except as otherwise provided by law, members of the council shall serve without compensation.

(e) The term of office of the council shall:

1. (1) Be at the pleasure of the appointing officer; and

2. (2) Not exceed five (5) years.

(f) There is established a formal relationship between the council and the Administrator of the Division of Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprise of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission.

(g)

1. (1) The administrator shall be the liaison to the council and shall be responsible for submitting to the council any reports and documents under the provisions of this section.

2. (2) Their duties in relation to this section shall be considered official duty in the conduct of state business.

(h) The council’s duties and responsibilities shall be to:

1. (1) Review reports and interpret each state agency’s achievement of its goals under § 15-4-302(c);

2. (2) Advise the Governor when a state agency has not reached its goals under § 15-4-302(c);

3. (3) Make annual reports to the Secretary of the Department of Commerce, including without limitation:

   1. (A) A summary of the state’s performance in relation to the goals stated in § 15-4-302(c); and

   2. (B) Any recommendations for modifications to the division’s or other state agency’s plans for improving statewide performance in relation to the goals stated in § 15-4-302(c);

4. (4) Recommend to the state agency, the division, and the Office of State Procurement corrective actions to strengthen minority and women-owned business opportunities in the state; and

5. (5) Conduct public hearings when necessary to obtain public input and support for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this subchapter.

(i) Each state agency, through its minority and women-owned business officer, shall submit to the division and the office the state agency’s plan to reach its goals for the coming fiscal year, which shall:

1. (1) Be submitted to the division by June 30 of each year;

2. (2) Contain the name of the state agency submitting the plan;

3. (3) Contain a policy statement signed by the state agency head expressing a commitment to strengthen minority business enterprises and women-owned business enterprises in all aspects of contracting to the maximum extent feasible;

4. (4) Identify the name of the minority and women-owned business officer in the state agency who is responsible for developing and administering the compliance plan;

5. (5) Establish a timetable for the state agency to reach its goals under the plan and the manner in which the state agency intends to reach its goals; and

6. (6) Contain any other procedures the division deems necessary to comply with the goals and the compliance plan.