Section 120. Advisory board; creation

1. There is hereby created in the
  division of minority and women's business  development  a  minority  and
  women-owned  business enterprise advisory board. The board shall consist
  of twelve members to be appointed by the governor.  The  governor  shall
  designate a chairperson from the members of the advisory board, to serve
  as  such  at  the pleasure of the governor. In appointing the members of
  the advisory board the governor shall ensure that six of the members are
  individuals who are currently involved in the ownership and/or operation
  of a minority or women-owned business enterprise or who  have  extensive
  experience  in  minority  and  women-owned business enterprise ownership
  and/or operation, and that at least two of the members  are  individuals
  representing  banking,  community  development  financial,  insurance or
  surety bonding institutions.
    2. All members of the advisory board shall serve for  terms  of  three
  years,  such  terms  to  commence  on  April  first, and expire on March
  thirty-first; provided, however, that of the six members first appointed
  two  shall  be  appointed  for  one-year   terms   expiring   on   March
  thirty-first,  nineteen hundred ninety-three, two shall be appointed for
  two-year  terms  expiring  on  March  thirty-first,   nineteen   hundred
  ninety-four, and two shall be appointed for three year terms expiring on
  March   thirty-first,   nineteen  hundred  ninety-five;  and  that  four
  additional members, one on the recommendation of the temporary president
  of the senate, one on the recommendation of the minority leader  of  the
  senate, one on the recommendation of the speaker of the assembly and one
  on  the  recommendation  of the minority leader of the assembly shall be
  appointed for three year terms expiring on March thirty-first,  nineteen
  hundred ninety-five and every three years thereafter.
    3.  The  advisory board shall meet regularly at least one time in each
  year. Special meetings may be called by its  chairperson  and  shall  be
  called by the chairperson at the request of the director of the division
  of minority and women's business development.
    4.  No member of the advisory board shall be disqualified from holding
  any other public office or employment, nor forfeit any  such  office  or
  employment  by  reason  of  appointment  hereunder,  notwithstanding the
  provisions of any general, special  or  local  law,  ordinance  or  city
  charter.
    5. The members of the advisory board shall receive no compensation for
  their  services but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses
  incurred in the performance of their duties hereunder.
    6. The board shall have the power and duty to:
    (a) advise the commissioner in carrying out the functions, powers  and
  duties of the division, as set forth in this article;
    (b)  advise  the  commissioner,  the  governor,  and  the  legislature
  concerning recommended legislation necessary to foster and  promote  the
  prosperity,  expansion  and  development  of  minority  and  women-owned
  business enterprises within the state;
    (c)  advise  the  commissioner,  the  governor,  and  the  legislature
  concerning  existing  laws,  rules,  regulations  and practices of state
  agencies which are counter-productive or  inimical  to  the  prosperity,
  expansion   and   development   of  minority  and  women-owned  business
  enterprises within the state;
    (d)  advise  the  commissioner,  the  governor,  and  the  legislature
  concerning  the  development  of  inter-governmental  cooperation  among
  agencies of the federal, state and  local  governments  and  cooperation
  between  private  industry  and  government  so as to assure the optimum
  development of minority and women-owned business enterprises; and
    (e) serve as a catalyst for creating and maintaining  a  minority  and
  women-owned business enterprise consciousness in New York state.

    (f)  establish procedures for making annual awards to be known as "New
  York State Minority and Women-Owned Business  Excelsior  Awards".  These
  non-monetary awards shall be given in recognition of unusual performance
  by  persons,  firms and organizations which are engaged in the operation
  of  a  New  York  state  minority and women-owned business enterprise or
  which are engaged in  activities  to  assist  minority  and  women-owned
  business  enterprises  in  the  state. The board may nominate up to five
  award winners annually and  forward  such  names  to  the  governor  for
  consideration.  The  governor  may  designate  award  winners from these
  nominees. Current members of the advisory  board  are  not  eligible  as
  nominees.
    7. The commissioner shall provide the board with such staff assistance
  and support services as necessary for the board to perform the functions
  required of it under this section.