Section 1.831. Advisory Council on Diversity, Inclusion and Small Business Opportunities

(a) The Advisory Council on Diversity, Inclusion and Small Business Opportunities (Advisory Council) is established to advise the Governor’s Office and executive agencies under the Governor’s jurisdiction on ways to improve State contracting and grant opportunities, job creation initiatives, financing and bonding programs, and business assistance and professional development programs.

(b) The Advisory Council shall be co-chaired by the Secretary of the Department of General Services, the Secretary of the Department of Community and Economic Development, the Secretary of the Department of Transportation and the Secretary of the Department of Labor and Industry, or their designated deputy secretaries. Additional members shall be comprised of small business owners, minority business owners, women business owners, veteran business owners, Commonwealth agency staff and other key stakeholders as identified by the co-chairs and the Governor’s Office.

(c) Beginning no later than September 30, 2015, the Advisory Council shall meet quarterly to provide input and feedback on:

(1) Success metrics and Statewide-participation goals.

(2) Program guidelines, policies and procedures.

(3) Proposed revisions to statements of policy or regulatory packages, or both.

(4) Other Commonwealth-issued programmatic materials regarding the goal of increasing diversity, inclusion and small business opportunities in Commonwealth procurement contracts and in the larger economy in this Commonwealth.