HB4865 Summary

• Establishes "Descendants of American Slavery" as a new category in Illinois's minority business contracting program, defined as persons with direct ancestral lineage to victims of slavery in the United States.

• Sets aspirational goals to award State contracts to businesses owned by Descendants of American Slavery in amounts proportionate to their percentage of Illinois residents, with requirements for contractors to submit utilization plans and meet these goals or request waivers.

• Requires labor organizations to establish and maintain membership of Descendants of American Slavery proportionate to their percentage of state residents and report those actions to the Business Enterprise Council.

• Mandates State agencies and public institutions of higher education include annual plans of action to rectify disparities in State contract representation for Descendants of American Slavery and report on these efforts.

• Requires the Business Enterprise Council to include in its annual report a summary of disparities between Descendants of American Slavery representation in State contracts versus their percentage of state residents, along with efforts to eliminate that disparity.