HB1575 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB101 05073 JRG 50084 b

101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
HB1575

Introduced , by Rep. Ryan Spain

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

30 ILCS 105/5.891 new
35 ILCS 615/3	from Ch. 120, par. 467.18
35 ILCS 640/2-9
220 ILCS 5/13-301.4 new

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Creates the Rural Illinois Utility Infrastructure Investment Program, under which the Illinois Commerce Commission shall make grants from the Rural Illinois Utility Infrastructure Investment Program Fund for qualified utility infrastructure projects. Amends the Gas Revenue Tax Act and the Electricity Excise Tax Law to provide that certain moneys collected under those Acts shall be deposited into the Fund. Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Rural Illinois Utility Infrastructure Investment Program Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Effective July 1, 2019.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning regulation.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The State Finance Act is amended by adding Section 5.891 as follows:

(30 ILCS 105/5.891 new)

Sec. 5.891. Rural Illinois Utility Infrastructure Investment Program Fund.

Section 10. The Gas Revenue Tax Act is amended by changing Section 3 as follows:

(35 ILCS 615/3) (from Ch. 120, par. 467.18)

Sec. 3. Return of taxpayer; payment of tax. Except as provided in this Section, on or before the 15th day of each month, each taxpayer shall make a return to the Department for the preceding calendar month, stating:

1. His name;

2. The address of his principal place of business, and the address of the principal place of business (if that is a different address) from which he engages in the business of distributing, supplying, furnishing or selling gas in this State;

3. The total number of therms for which payment was received by him from customers during the preceding calendar month and upon the basis of which the tax is imposed;

4. Gross receipts which were received by him from customers during the preceding calendar month from such business, including budget plan and other customer-owned amounts applied during such month in payment of charges includible in gross receipts, and upon the basis of which the tax is imposed;

5. Amount of tax (computed upon Items 3 and 4);

6. Such other reasonable information as the Department may require.

In making such return the taxpayer may use any reasonable method to derive reportable "therms" and "gross receipts" from his billing and payment records.

Any taxpayer required to make payments under this Section may make the payments by electronic funds transfer. The Department shall adopt rules necessary to effectuate a program of electronic funds transfer.

If the taxpayer's average monthly tax liability to the Department does not exceed $100.00, the Department may authorize his returns to be filed on a quarter annual basis, with the return for January, February and March of a given year being due by April 30 of such year; with the return for April, May and June of a given year being due by July 31 of such year; with the return for July, August and September of a given year being due by October 31 of such year, and with the return for October, November and December of a given year being due by January 31 of the following year.

If the taxpayer's average monthly tax liability to the Department does not exceed $20.00, the Department may authorize his returns to be filed on an annual basis, with the return for a given year being due by January 31 of the following year.

Such quarter annual and annual returns, as to form and substance, shall be subject to the same requirements as monthly returns.

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Act concerning the time within which a taxpayer may file his return, in the case of any taxpayer who ceases to engage in a kind of business which makes him responsible for filing returns under this Act, such taxpayer shall file a final return under this Act with the Department not more than one month after discontinuing such business.

In making such return the taxpayer shall determine the value of any reportable consideration other than money received by him and shall include such value in his return. Such determination shall be subject to review and revision by the Department in the same manner as is provided in this Act for the correction of returns.

Each taxpayer whose average monthly liability to the Department under this Act was $10,000 or more during the preceding calendar year, excluding the month of highest liability and the month of lowest liability in such calendar year, and who is not operated by a unit of local government, shall make estimated payments to the Department on or before the 7th, 15th, 22nd and last day of the month during which tax liability to the Department is incurred in an amount not less than the lower of either 22.5% of the taxpayer's actual tax liability for the month or 25% of the taxpayer's actual tax liability for the same calendar month of the preceding year. The amount of such quarter monthly payments shall be credited against the final tax liability of the taxpayer's return for that month. Any outstanding credit, approved by the Department, arising from the taxpayer's overpayment of its final tax liability for any month may be applied to reduce the amount of any subsequent quarter monthly payment or credited against the final tax liability of the taxpayer's return for any subsequent month. If any quarter monthly payment is not paid at the time or in the amount required by this Section, the taxpayer shall be liable for penalty and interest on the difference between the minimum amount due as a payment and the amount of such payment actually and timely paid, except insofar as the taxpayer has previously made payments for that month to the Department in excess of the minimum payments previously due.

If the Director finds that the information required for the making of an accurate return cannot reasonably be compiled by a taxpayer within 15 days after the close of the calendar month for which a return is to be made, he may grant an extension of time for the filing of such return for a period of not to exceed 31 calendar days. The granting of such an extension may be conditioned upon the deposit by the taxpayer with the Department of an amount of money not exceeding the amount estimated by the Director to be due with the return so extended. All such deposits, including any made before the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1975 with the Department, shall be credited against the taxpayer's liabilities under this Act. If any such deposit exceeds the taxpayer's present and probable future liabilities under this Act, the Department shall issue to the taxpayer a credit memorandum, which may be assigned by the taxpayer to a similar taxpayer under this Act, in accordance with reasonable rules and regulations to be prescribed by the Department.

The taxpayer making the return provided for in this Section shall, at the time of making such return, pay to the Department the amount of tax imposed by this Act. All moneys received by the Department under this Act shall be paid into the General Revenue Fund in the State Treasury, except as otherwise provided. Beginning on the first day of the first calendar month to occur on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly, all moneys received by the Department under this Act shall be paid into the General Revenue Fund, less 1% which shall be paid into the Rural Illinois Utility Infrastructure Investment Program Fund.

If any payment provided for in this Section exceeds the taxpayer's liabilities under this Act, as shown on an original return, the Department may authorize the taxpayer to credit such excess payment against liability subsequently to be remitted to the Department under this Act, in accordance with reasonable rules adopted by the Department.

(Source: P.A. 100-1171, eff. 1-4-19.)

Section 15. The Electricity Excise Tax Law is amended by changing Section 2-9 as follows:

(35 ILCS 640/2-9)

Sec. 2-9. Return and payment of tax by delivering supplier.

Each delivering supplier who is required or authorized to collect the tax imposed by this Law shall make a return to the Department on or before the 15th day of each month for the preceding calendar month stating the following:

(1) The delivering supplier's name.

(2) The address of the delivering supplier's principal place of business and the address of the principal place of business (if that is a different address) from which the delivering supplier engaged in the business of delivering electricity in this State.

(3) The total number of kilowatt-hours which the supplier delivered to or for purchasers during the preceding calendar month and upon the basis of which the tax is imposed.

(4) Amount of tax, computed upon Item (3) at the rates stated in Section 2-4.

(5) An adjustment for uncollectible amounts of tax in respect of prior period kilowatt-hour deliveries, determined in accordance with rules and regulations promulgated by the Department.

(5.5) The amount of credits to which the taxpayer is entitled on account of purchases made under Section 8-403.1 of the Public Utilities Act.

(6) Such other information as the Department reasonably may require.

In making such return the delivering supplier may use any reasonable method to derive reportable "kilowatt-hours" from the delivering supplier's records.

If the average monthly tax liability to the Department of the delivering supplier does not exceed $2,500, the Department may authorize the delivering supplier's returns to be filed on a quarter-annual basis, with the return for January, February and March of a given year being due by April 30 of such year; with the return for April, May and June of a given year being due by July 31 of such year; with the return for July, August and September of a given year being due by October 31 of such year; and with the return for October, November and December of a given year being due by January 31 of the following year.

If the average monthly tax liability to the Department of the delivering supplier does not exceed $1,000, the Department may authorize the delivering supplier's returns to be filed on an annual basis, with the return for a given year being due by January 31 of the following year.

Such quarter-annual and annual returns, as to form and substance, shall be subject to the same requirements as monthly returns.

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Law concerning the time within which a delivering supplier may file a return, any such delivering supplier who ceases to engage in a kind of business which makes the person responsible for filing returns under this Law shall file a final return under this Law with the Department not more than one month after discontinuing such business.

Each delivering supplier whose average monthly liability to the Department under this Law was $10,000 or more during the preceding calendar year, excluding the month of highest liability and the month of lowest liability in such calendar year, and who is not operated by a unit of local government, shall make estimated payments to the Department on or before the 7th, 15th, 22nd and last day of the month during which tax liability to the Department is incurred in an amount not less than the lower of either 22.5% of such delivering supplier's actual tax liability for the month or 25% of such delivering supplier's actual tax liability for the same calendar month of the preceding year. The amount of such quarter-monthly payments shall be credited against the final tax liability of such delivering supplier's return for that month. An outstanding credit approved by the Department or a credit memorandum issued by the Department arising from such delivering supplier's overpayment of his or her final tax liability for any month may be applied to reduce the amount of any subsequent quarter-monthly payment or credited against the final tax liability of such delivering supplier's return for any subsequent month. If any quarter-monthly payment is not paid at the time or in the amount required by this Section, such delivering supplier shall be liable for penalty and interest on the difference between the minimum amount due as a payment and the amount of such payment actually and timely paid, except insofar as such delivering supplier has previously made payments for that month to the Department in excess of the minimum payments previously due.

If the Director finds that the information required for the making of an accurate return cannot reasonably be compiled by such delivering supplier within 15 days after the close of the calendar month for which a return is to be made, the Director may grant an extension of time for the filing of such return for a period not to exceed 31 calendar days. The granting of such an extension may be conditioned upon the deposit by such delivering supplier with the Department of an amount of money not exceeding the amount estimated by the Director to be due with the return so extended. All such deposits shall be credited against such delivering supplier's liabilities under this Law. If the deposit exceeds such delivering supplier's present and probable future liabilities under this Law, the Department shall issue to such delivering supplier a credit memorandum, which may be assigned by such delivering supplier to a similar person under this Law, in accordance with reasonable rules and regulations to be prescribed by the Department.

The delivering supplier making the return provided for in this Section shall, at the time of making such return, pay to the Department the amount of tax imposed by this Law.

Until October 1, 2002, a delivering supplier who has an average monthly tax liability of $10,000 or more shall make all payments required by rules of the Department by electronic funds transfer. The term "average monthly tax liability" shall be the sum of the delivering supplier's liabilities under this Law for the immediately preceding calendar year divided by 12. Beginning on October 1, 2002, a taxpayer who has a tax liability in the amount set forth in subsection (b) of Section 2505-210 of the Department of Revenue Law shall make all payments required by rules of the Department by electronic funds transfer. Any delivering supplier not required to make payments by electronic funds transfer may make payments by electronic funds transfer with the permission of the Department. All delivering suppliers required to make payments by electronic funds transfer and any delivering suppliers authorized to voluntarily make payments by electronic funds transfer shall make those payments in the manner authorized by the Department.

If any payment provided for in this Section exceeds the delivering supplier's liabilities under this Act, as shown on an original return, the Department may authorize the delivering supplier to credit such excess payment against liability subsequently to be remitted to the Department under this Act, in accordance with reasonable rules adopted by the Department.

Through June 30, 2004, each month the Department shall pay into the Public Utility Fund in the State treasury an amount determined by the Director to be equal to 3.0% of the funds received by the Department pursuant to this Section. Through June 30, 2004, the remainder of all moneys received by the Department under this Section shall be paid into the General Revenue Fund in the State treasury. Beginning on July 1, 2004, of the 3% of the funds received pursuant to this Section, each month the Department shall pay $416,667 into the General Revenue Fund and the balance shall be paid into the Public Utility Fund in the State treasury. Beginning on the first day of the first calendar month to occur on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly, of the 3% of the funds received pursuant to this Section, each month the Department shall pay $416,667 into the General Revenue Fund and the balance shall be paid into the Public Utility Fund, less 1% which shall be paid into the Rural Illinois Utility Infrastructure Investment Program Fund.

(Source: P.A. 100-1171, eff. 1-4-19.)

Section 20. The Public Utilities Act is amended by adding Section 13-301.4 as follows:

(220 ILCS 5/13-301.4 new)

Sec. 13-301.4. Rural Illinois Utility Infrastructure Investment Program.

(a) For purposes of this Section:

"Eligible entity" means:

(1) a business that: (A) is engaged in interstate or intrastate commerce for the purpose of manufacturing, processing, or assembling products; (B) employs no more than 500 employees; and (C) is located in a county with less than 50,000 inhabitants; or

(2) a county with less than 50,000 inhabitants.

"Qualifying utility infrastructure project" means the construction or installation of gas or electric equipment used in connection with the distribution and delivery of gas or electricity to an eligible recipient.

(b) The Commission shall create the Rural Illinois Utility Infrastructure Investment Program, under which the Commission shall, subject to appropriation, make grants from moneys in the Rural Illinois Utility Infrastructure Investment Program Fund to eligible entities for the construction of gas or electric infrastructure in eligible areas of the State. The Commission shall adopt rules for administration of the Program, which shall include that an eligible entity must include in its application evidence that the grants will result in the creation of new jobs and shall provide for the competitive selection of recipients of grant funds available from the Fund pursuant to the Illinois Procurement Code. Grants shall be awarded to eligible entities chosen on the basis of the criteria established in the rules.

(c) An eligible entity seeking a grant of funds from the Rural Illinois Utility Infrastructure Investment Program shall demonstrate to the Commission that the grant shall be used for the construction of gas or electric infrastructure in an eligible area and demonstrate that it satisfies all other requirements of the rules adopted by the Commission. The Commission shall determine the information that it deems necessary to award grants pursuant to this Section.

(d) All eligible entities awarded grant moneys under this Section shall maintain all records required by rule for the period of time specified in the rules. The records shall be subject to audit by the Commission, by an auditor appointed by the State, or by a State officer authorized to conduct audits.

(e) The Rural Illinois Utility Infrastructure Investment Program Fund is created as a special fund in the State treasury. All moneys in the Fund shall be used by the Commission to fund grants for qualified utility infrastructure projects. The Commission may accept private and public funds, including federal funds, for deposit into the Fund. Earnings attributable to moneys in the Fund shall be deposited into the Fund.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 2019.