(35 ILCS 120/1o)

Sec. 1o. Aircraft support center exemption.

(a) For the purposes of this Act, "aircraft support center" means a support center operated by a carrier for hire that is used primarily for the maintenance, rebuilding, or repair of aircraft, aircraft parts, and auxiliary equipment, and which carrier:

(1) will make an investment of $30,000,000 or more at a federal Air Force Base located in this State;

(2) will cause the creation of at least 750 full-time jobs at a joint use military and civilian airport at that federal Air Force Base;

(3) enters into a legally binding agreement with the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to comply with paragraphs (1) and (2) within a time period specified in the rules and regulations promulgated by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity pursuant to this subsection; and

(4) is certified by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to be in compliance with paragraphs (1), (2), and (3).

Any aircraft support center applying for an exemption stated in this Section shall make application to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity in such form and providing such information as may be prescribed by that Department. The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall determine whether the aircraft support center meets the criteria prescribed in this subsection. If the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity determines that the aircraft support center meets the criteria, it shall issue a certificate of eligibility for exemption in the form prescribed by the Department of Revenue to the carrier operating the aircraft support center. The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall act upon certification request within 60 days after receipt of application and shall file with the Department of Revenue a copy of each certificate of eligibility for exemption.

The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall promulgate rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this subsection and to require that any business operating an aircraft support center that is granted a tax exemption pay the exempted tax to the Department of Revenue if the business fails to comply with the terms and conditions of the certification and pay all penalties and interest on that exempted tax as determined by the Department of Revenue.

The certificate of eligibility for exemption shall be presented by the carrier operating an aircraft support center to its supplier when making the initial purchase of items for which an exemption is granted by this Section together with a certification by the business that the items are exempt from taxation under this Act. The exempt status, if any, of each subsequent purchase shall be indicated on the face of the purchase order.

(b) Subject to the provisions of this subsection, jet fuel and petroleum products used or consumed by any aircraft support center directly in the process of maintaining, rebuilding, or repairing aircraft is exempt from the tax imposed by this Act. The Department of Revenue shall promulgate any rules necessary to further define the items eligible for exemption.

(c) This Section is exempt from the provisions of Section 2-70.

(Source: P.A. 94-793, eff. 5-19-06.)