Section 247.659b - Contracts to construct or repair roads or bridges; assistance to minority business enterprises; notice to legislative committees; definitions; other duties of department(1) After the effective date of the amendatory act that added this section, the department shall do all of the following regarding contracts to construct or repair roads or bridges:(a) Establish technical assistance programs to prepare minority business enterprises to compete for contracts.(b) Assist in creating and developing sources of nontraditional capital to assist minority business enterprises to compete for contracts.(c) Assist in creating and developing incentives for firms to mentor minority business enterprises to assist minority business enterprises to gain the experience and resources necessary to compete for contracts.(d) Increase information programs to inform minority business enterprises of opportunities to compete for contracts.(2) The department shall notify the majority and minority chairpersons of the house and senate appropriations committees and the majority and minority chairpersons of the house and senate committees that consider transportation matters of each contract awarded to minority business enterprises under this section.(3) As used in this section:(a) "Minority business enterprise" means a business enterprise located within an empowerment zone or an enterprise zone that is owned or controlled solely by 1 or more socially or economically disadvantaged persons. The disadvantage may arise from cultural, racial, gender, or chronic economic circumstances or background, or other similar cause.(b) "Empowerment zone" means an area designated as an empowerment zone by the United States department of housing and urban development.(c) "Enterprise zone" means a neighborhood enterprise zone designated under the neighborhood enterprise zone act, 1992 PA 147, MCL 207.771 to 207.787.(4) After the effective date of the amendatory act that added this section, the department shall do all of the following regarding contracts to construct or repair roads and bridges: (a) Consult with the Michigan state chamber of commerce and the Michigan minority business development council on requests for proposals and requests for quotations to ensure competitive and inclusive strategies which ensure an inclusive and competitive bid environment.(b) Appoint not less than 1 representative from the Michigan minority business development council and the DBE division of the Michigan department of transportation to all requests for proposal and quote review panels.(c) Establish within the DBE division of the Michigan department of transportation a surety division to assist qualified bidders in securing bonding and in monitoring vendor and supplier payments.Add. 1997, Act 79, Eff. 7/28/1997.The amendment of this section by 2014, Act 473,s 1, did not take effect because House Joint Resolution UU of the 97th Legislature was not approved by the voters at the May 5, 2015, special election.