1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3815 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 410
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Carlos González and Estela A. Reyes
_________________
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to the development of the Massachusetts office of micro and minority-owned
businesses.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Carlos González10th Hampden1/19/2023Estela A. Reyes4th Essex1/20/2023Bud L. Williams11th Hampden1/20/2023Francisco E. Paulino16th Essex1/25/2023Russell E. Holmes6th Suffolk1/25/2023David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf17th Worcester1/25/2023James C. Arena-DeRosa8th Middlesex1/25/2023Kip A. Diggs2nd Barnstable1/26/2023Frank A. Moran17th Essex1/26/2023Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr.12th Hampden1/26/2023Susannah M. Whipps2nd Franklin1/26/2023John Barrett, III1st Berkshire1/26/2023Lindsay N. Sabadosa1st Hampshire1/26/2023Tram T. Nguyen18th Essex1/27/2023Tackey Chan2nd Norfolk2/2/2023Adrian C. Madaro1st Suffolk2/6/2023Michelle M. DuBois10th Plymouth2/7/2023 2 of 2
Tricia Farley-Bouvier2nd Berkshire2/9/2023Orlando Ramos9th Hampden2/13/2023James B. EldridgeMiddlesex and Worcester2/16/2023Manny Cruz7th Essex2/17/2023Marcus S. Vaughn9th Norfolk3/13/2023 1 of 4
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3815 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 410
By Representatives González of Springfield and Reyes of Lawrence, a petition (accompanied by
bill, House, No. 410) of Carlos González, Estela A. Reyes and others relative to the development
of micro and minority-owned businesses. Economic Development and Emerging Technologies.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
_______________
An Act relative to the development of the Massachusetts office of micro and minority-owned
businesses.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Chapter 6A of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the
2following after the word “program” in Section 16G:-
3 Section 16GG. (a) For the purposes of this act the following words and terms shall,
4except where the context clearly indicates otherwise, have the following meaning:-
5 “Micro-business”, a business entity, which has its principal place of business in the
6commonwealth, is independently owned and operated as a sole proprietorship, partnership, or
7corporation, with 10 or fewer employees in full-time positions and with a level of gross income
8from operations of not more than $250,000 annually.
9 “Minority-business” or “Minority-owned business”, a business entity, which has its
10principal place of business in the commonwealth, is independently owned and operated as a sole 2 of 4
11proprietorship, partnership, or corporation, which is beneficially owned by one or more minority
12owners as defined by the MOMMOB as a minority business.
13 (b) In the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development, there shall be a
14Micro and Minority Business Strategy Department, or MOMMOB. Funded through 50% of
15those funds appropriated annually to the community empowerment reinvestment grant program,
16the MOMMOB is hereby constituted a public instrumentality and the exercise by the MOMMOB
17of the powers conferred by this act shall be deemed to be the performance of an essential
18governmental function and shall work to address the longstanding inequalities for minority
19businesses owners in gateway communities by assisting in creating opportunities for
20entrepreneurship.
21 (c) The MOMMOB Board shall consist of 9 members, one of whom shall be the
22Secretary of Housing and Economic Development or a designee; one of whom shall be the
23assistant secretary of business development or a designee; and one of whom shall be the
24secretary of the executive office for administration and finance, or a designee. The governor shall
25appoint the remaining six members, three of whom shall be residents of gateway communities
26and micro business owners and three of whom shall be minority business owners. Each member
27appointed by the governor shall serve a term of five years, except that in making initial
28appointments the governor shall appoint one member to serve for a term of one year, one
29member to serve for a term of two years, one member for a term of three years, two members for
30a term of four years, and one member for a term of five years.
31 Any person appointed to fill a vacancy in the office of a member shall be appointed in a
32like manner and shall serve for the duration of the member’s office. 3 of 4
33 (d) The MOMMOB shall implement a micro business and minority business economic
34development strategy separate from small business development to increase employment
35gateway communities and to develop strategies to address the micro and minority business
36community in urban areas.
37
38 (e) The MOMMOB shall have the power to: (1) Implement a micro business and minority
39business economic development strategy; (2) Adopt by-laws for the regulation of its affairs and
40the conduct of its business; (3) Adopt an official seal; (4) Sue and be sued in its own name; (4)
41Make and execute contracts and all other instruments necessary or convenient for the exercise of
42its power and functions; (5) Acquire, hold and dispose of personal property for its corporate
43purposes; (6) Enter into agreements or other transactions with any federal or state agency; (7)
44Acquire real property, or an interest therein, by purchase or foreclosure, where such acquisition
45is necessary or appropriate to protect or secure any investment or loan in which the agency has
46an interest; to sell, transfer and convey any such property to a buyer and in the event of such sale,
47transfer or conveyance cannot be effected with reasonable promptness or at a reasonable price, to
48lease such property to a tenant; (8) Employ a chief executive officer of the MOMMOB, and such
49other agents, employees, professional and business advisers as may from time to time be
50necessary in the judgment of the board of directors and to fix their compensation. The chief
51executive officer, professional advisers and business advisers shall not be subject to the provision
52of chapters 31 or 30. 4 of 4
53 (f) The director of the MOMMOB created by section 2 of this act shall submit 90 days
54after the end of the fiscal year, to the clerk of the house of representatives and to the clerk of the
55senate an annual report of the MOMMOB's activities.
56 (g) The accounts and books of the MOMMOB created by section 2 of this act, including
57its receipts, disbursements, contracts, mortgages, investments and other matters relating to its
58finances, operations and affairs shall be examined and audited from time to time by the state
59auditor.
60 (h) The MOMMOB shall have the power to promulgate and adopt regulations to
61implement the purposes of this act.
62 SECTION 2. Upon passage of this act, the MOMMOB shall be established on the first
63day of the following fiscal year.