IL SR1761

Illinois has a statutory goal of spending 20% of all procurement dollars on minority and women-owned businesses, including legal services.

In FY2015, the State spent over $35 million on outside law firms but only 4% was with minority and women-owned firms, with less than $200,000 going to African-American owned law firms.

In FY2016, several legal service procurements posted by the Governor's administration included no goals for minority or women-owned firm participation, including an April 8th Swaps Bond Counsel posting.

The Senate urges the Rauner administration to comply with the statutory 20% participation goal for minority and women-owned firms in legal and professional services, as well as statutory goals for veteran-owned firms.

The Senate specifically calls on the administration to meet the 20% goal during FY2016, the first complete fiscal year fully administered by Governor Rauner.