Section 118. Power and duties

In addition to the power and duties conferred
  by  section one hundred sixteen of this article, the division shall have
  the additional power and duty to:
    1. Coordinate with all state agencies performing  functions  affecting
  the   operations  of  minority  business  enterprises,  and  women-owned
  business enterprises, as such terms are defined in section  two  hundred
  ten of this chapter;
    2.  Receive  complaints  and  inquiries  of  operators of minority and
  women-owned business enterprises  and  refer  them  to  the  appropriate
  federal,   state   or  local  agency  for  appropriate  action  on  such
  complaints;
    3.  Solicit  recommendations  from  the  operators  of  minority   and
  women-owned  business  enterprises for improving existing state programs
  and refer such recommendations to  the  governor,  the  legislature  and
  appropriate state agencies or authorities;
    4.  Advise  and  make  recommendations  to  the  commissioner  and the
  legislature on matters affecting the minority and  women-owned  business
  enterprises of the state and promote and encourage the protection of the
  legitimate  interests  of  minority and women-owned business enterprises
  within the state;
    5. Conduct investigations, research, studies and analyses  of  matters
  affecting   the   interests   of   minority   and  women-owned  business
  enterprises;
    6. Study  the  implementation  of  the  laws  affecting  minority  and
  women-owned  business  enterprises and recommend to the commissioner new
  laws and amendments of laws for the benefit of minority and  women-owned
  business  enterprises; and review pending legislation affecting minority
  and women-owned business enterprises and  report  its  findings  to  the
  commissioner;
    7.  Provide  technical  assistance  and  information  to  minority and
  women-owned business enterprises in the state  on  economic  development
  programs  administered by the department, including, but not limited to:
  (a) the empire zones program, established pursuant to article eighteen-B
  of the general municipal law, (b) the industrial effectiveness  program,
  established  pursuant to article seven of this chapter, (c) the economic
  development skills training program,  established  pursuant  to  article
  eight  of  this chapter, and (d) the entrepreneurial assistance program,
  established pursuant to article nine of this chapter;
    8. Provide  technical  assistance  and  information  to  minority  and
  women-owned  business  enterprises  in the state on economic development
  programs administered by agencies other than the department,  including,
  but  not  limited  to  programs  administered  by  the urban development
  corporation,  the  job  development  authority  and  the   science   and
  technology foundation;
    9.  Be  responsible  for  conducting minority and women-owned business
  enterprise assistance programs and for coordinating  the  activities  of
  all other state agencies acting within the scope of this section; and
    10. Carry out the activities to implement the minority and women-owned
  business  enterprise  assistance  programs,  to  the extent practicable,
  within amounts appropriated therefor by;
    (a)  collecting  and  maintaining  information  identifying  certified
  minority and women-owned business enterprises within New York state;
    (b)  collecting,  maintaining,  and providing information to potential
  users identifying existing  contracting  and  procurement  opportunities
  within and outside New York state;
    (c)  maintaining,  providing  and  marketing a compilation of existing
  programs providing assistance  for  minority  and  women-owned  business
  enterprises;

    (d)  identifying  special  needs  and  problems  facing  minority  and
  women-owned business enterprises within New York state;
    (e)  contacting institutions, organizations and commercial enterprises
  that are  potential  consumers  of  minority  and  women-owned  business
  products  and  services; urging their expanded consumption of such goods
  and services;
    (f)  facilitating  the  establishment  of  minority  and   women-owned
  business enterprises; and
    (g)  providing information concerning local and regional opportunities
  for minority and women-owned business enterprises.