A Small and Minority Business Assistance Office (SMBAO) shall be established to assist the board and the Department of Revenue in carrying out the intent of this article. The responsibilities of the office shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

1. (1) Assist the chief procurement officers and governmental bodies in developing policies and procedures which will facilitate awarding contracts to small and minority firms;
2. (2) Assist the chief procurement officers in aiding small and minority-owned firms and community-based business in developing organizations to provide technical assistance to minority firms;
3. (3) Assist with the procurement and management training for small and minority firm owners;
4. (4) Assist in the identification of responsive small and minority firms;
5. (5) Receive and process applications to be registered as a minority firm in accordance with Section 11-35-5230(B);

6. (6) The SMBAO may revoke the certification of any firm which has been found to have engaged in any of the following:

   1. (a) fraud or deceit in obtaining the certification;
   2. (b) furnishing of substantially inaccurate or incomplete information concerning ownership or financial status;
   3. (c) failure to report changes which affect the requirements for certification;
   4. (d) gross negligence, incompetence, financial irresponsibility, or misconduct in the practice of his business; or
   5. (e) wilful violation of any provision of this article.
7. (7) After a period of one year, the SMBAO may reissue a certificate of eligibility provided acceptable evidence has been presented to the commission that the conditions which caused the revocation have been corrected.

HISTORY: 1981 Act No. 148, Section 1; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 98; 1997 Act No. 153, Section 1; 2006 Act No. 376, Section 61.