Sandoval, Madigan, Burke and Senate President Cullerton provide historic leadership in contracting
 Hon. Rep. Michael J. Madigan (D-22) Speaker of the House; Rep Daniel Burke, (D-23);
Senator Martin Sandoval, (D-12), Illinois Senate Transportation
Committee Chairman and Illinois Senate President John J. Cullerton.
State
Senator Martin Sandoval, (D-12), worked with leaders in Springfield in
passing historic legislation to benefit minorities and women in
contracting.SB 351 was successfully sponsored by Senator Sandoval and State Representative Daniel Burke, (D-23).
Chicago, Illinois -- At a
critical time to revive the Illinois economy with major infrastructure
programs, Senator Martin A. Sandoval Chairman of the Illinois Senate
Transportation Committee, Illinois Senate President John J. Cullerton
and Speaker Michael Madigan championed historic landmark legislation in
partnership with HACIA (Hispanic American Construction Industry
Association) to benefit minority and women contractors doing business
with the state of Illinois.
Passage
of SB 351, signed into law by Governor Pat Quinn, makes changes to the
Illinois Business Enterprise Program statute and now requires prime
contractors doing business with the State to identify their
sub-contractors at time of bid. In other words, this
legislation now requires prime contractors doing business with the
State to submit their minority and women utilization plans at the time
of the bid, eliminating the "cure period."
SB 351 was sponsored by State Senator Martin A. Sandoval, (12th District) and State Representative Daniel Burke, (23rd District).
"I am proud of the partnership with HACIA in this historic accomplishment," said Sen. Martin Sandoval. "Special
recognition should be given to prominent contractors who helped makes
this a reality, among them Mike Saltijeral, Dominic Delgado, Frank
Cabello, Joel Arce, Gilbert Villegas, Fred D'escoto and Leo Wright. SB
351 will change the way Illinois does business, impacting thousands of
minorities and women who will now be able to obtain equal access to
contracting opportunities that were difficult to achieve because of a
broken system."
"HACIA
applauds the efforts of Sen. Sandoval and Rep. Burke, for their
commitment and leadership, in advancing diversity in state procurement
as well as shepherding SB 351 swiftly through the General Assembly,"
said Paul Cerpa, Executive Director, HACIA. "We are
equally proud of our HACIA membership who, for the first time in our 30
year history, was involved in legislation from start to finish;
initially drafting SB 351and championing passage from both chambers."
Prior
to passage of SB 351, minority and women owned firms were at risk in
being asked by prime contractors receiving notification of contract
award, to revise their original bid quotes subsequent to such
notifications. This allowed prime contractors the ability to "shop"
other minority and women firms, in search of the lowest bidder during
the cure period thereby, adding more dollars to their own bottom line.
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