(20 ILCS 665/8b)

Sec. 8b. Municipal convention center and sports facility attraction grants.

(a) Until July 1, 2022, the Department is authorized to make grants, subject to appropriation by the General Assembly, from the Tourism Promotion Fund to a unit of local government or convention center authority that provides incentives, as defined in subsection (i) of Section 3 of this Act, for the purpose of attracting conventions, meetings, and trade shows to municipal convention centers or attracting sporting events to municipal amateur sports facilities. Grants awarded under this Section shall be based on the net proceeds received under the Hotel Operators' Occupation Tax Act for the renting, leasing, or letting of hotel rooms in the municipality in which the municipal convention center or municipal amateur sports facility is located for the month in which the convention, meeting, trade show, or sporting event occurs. Grants shall not exceed 80% of the incentive amount provided by the unit of local government or convention center authority. Further, in no event may the aggregate amount of grants awarded with respect to a single municipal convention center or municipal amateur sports facility exceed $200,000 in any calendar year. The Department may, by rule, require any other provisions it deems necessary in order to protect the State's interest in administering this program.

(b) No later than May 15 of each year, through May 15, 2022, the unit of local government or convention center authority shall certify to the Department the amounts of funds expended in the previous calendar year to provide qualified incentives; however, in no event may the certified amount pursuant to this paragraph exceed $200,000 with respect to any municipal convention center or municipal amateur sports facility in any calendar year. The unit of local government or convention center authority shall certify (A) the net proceeds received under the Hotel Operators' Occupation Tax Act for the renting, leasing, or letting of hotel rooms in the municipality for the month in which the convention, meeting, or trade show occurs and (B) the average of the net proceeds received under the Hotel Operators' Occupation Tax Act for the renting, leasing, or letting of hotel rooms in the municipality for the same month in the 3 immediately preceding years. The unit of local government or convention center authority shall include the incentive amounts as part of its regular audit.

(b-5) Grants awarded to a unit of local government or convention center authority may be made by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity from appropriations for those purposes for any fiscal year, without regard to the fact that the qualification or obligation may have occurred in a prior fiscal year.

(c) The Department shall submit a report, which must be provided electronically, on the effectiveness of the program established under this Section to the General Assembly no later than January 1, 2022.

(Source: P.A. 100-643, eff. 7-27-18; 101-10, eff. 6-5-19.)