NY Exec L § 311-A (2021)
2021 New York Laws EXC - Executive Article 15-A - Participation by Minority Group Members and Women With Respect to State Contracts 311-A - Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Statewide Advocate.

* §  311-a.  Minority  and  women-owned  business enterprise statewide   advocate. 1. There is hereby established within the division of minority   and women's business an office of the minority and women-owned  business   enterprise statewide advocate. The statewide advocate shall be appointed   by the commissioner with the advice of the small business advisory board   as  established  in  section  one  hundred  thirty-three of the economic   development law and shall serve  in  the  unclassified  service  of  the   director..2.  The  advocate  shall act as a liaison for minority and women-owned   business enterprises (MWBEs) to  assist  them  in  obtaining  technical,   managerial,  financial  and  other  business  assistance  for  certified   businesses and applicants. The advocate shall  receive  and  investigate   complaints  brought  by  or  on behalf of MWBEs concerning certification   delays and instances of violations of the requirements of  this  article   by  contractors and by state agencies. The statewide advocate may assist   certified businesses and applicants in the certification process.  Other   functions   of   the   statewide  advocate  shall  be  directed  by  the   commissioner. The advocate may request  and  the  director  may  appoint   staff  and  employees  of  the  division  of minority and women business   development to support the administration of the office of the statewide   advocate.3. The statewide advocate  shall  conduct  periodic  audits  of  state   contracting  agencies' compliance with the requirements of section three   hundred fifteen of this article, such audits shall include a  review  of   the  books  and  records of state contracting agencies concerning, among   other  things,  annual  agency  expenditures,  annual  participation  of   minority  and  women-owned business enterprises as prime contractors and   subcontractors in  state  contracting  agencies'  state  contracts,  and   documentation  of  state  contracting  agencies'  good  faith efforts to   maximize minority and women-owned business enterprise  participation  in   such agencies' contracting.4.  The  statewide  advocate shall investigate complaints by certified   minority-owned business enterprises or women-owned business  enterprises   concerning  a procuring governmental entity's failure to comply with the   requirements of section three hundred fifteen of this article.5.  The  statewide  advocate  shall  report  to   the   director   and   commissioner  by November fifteenth on an annual basis on all activities   related to fulfilling the obligations of the  office  of  the  statewide   advocate  including,  but  not  limited to: (a) the number of complaints   investigated; (b) the resolution of complaints, as applicable;  and  (c)   information regarding audits conducted pursuant to this subdivision. The   director  shall  include  the  unedited text of the statewide advocate's   report within the  reports  submitted  by  the  department  of  economic   development to the governor and the legislature.* NB Repealed December 31, 2024