Section 311-A. Minority and women-owned business enterprise statewide advocate

1. There  is  hereby  established  within  the  department  of
  economic  development 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. The statewide advocate shall be located in the  Albany  empire
  state development office.
    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  investigate  complaints
  brought  by  or  on  behalf of MWBEs concerning certification delays and
  instances of violations of law by state agencies. The statewide advocate
  shall 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 establish a toll-free  number  at  the
  department  of  economic  development  to  be  used  to answer questions
  concerning the MWBE certification process.
    4.  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.  The  commissioner  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 Expires December 31, 2018