HB0678 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB102 10746 RJF 16075 b

102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB0678

Introduced 2/8/2021, by Rep. Joyce Mason

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Regional Economic Development Act. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, in consultation with the Office of the Governor, shall establish economic development regions of the State and shall establish within each region at least one regional office. Provides for the boundaries of economic development regions. Provides for duties of the Department concerning economic development regions. Provides that the Governor shall establish regional economic development councils, one for each of the economic development regions. Provides for the duties, membership, and meetings of each council. Provides for the adoption of rules. Defines terms.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning government.

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

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Regional Economic Development Act.

Section 5. Definitions. As used in this Act:

"Council" means a regional economic development council created under this Act.

"Department" means the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

"Director" means the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

Section 10. Economic development regions.

(a) The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, in consultation with the Office of the Governor, shall establish economic development regions of the State and shall establish within each region at least one regional office.

(b) The boundaries of regions shall be based on factors including, but not limited to: (i) interdependence and commonality of economic and social interests; (ii) previous cooperation in economic development related matters; (iii) intraregional commuting and transportation patterns; (iv) geographic proximity to and dependence on centers of employment and economic opportunity, population concentration, and markets; (v) unifying topographic characteristics; (vi) labor markets; and (vii) geographic size.

(c) The Department, through its regional offices, is authorized: (i) to serve as a center for information regarding economic development resources available from State, federal, and local agencies; (ii) to provide outreach to businesses, with attention to small and medium-sized businesses, including minority and women-owned business enterprises, for financial and technical assistance offered by State economic development agencies, authorities, or other economic entities; (iii) to serve as a regional center to accept applications for State economic development programs; (iv) to coordinate the economic development programs and activities of State agencies and authorities within each region including, but not limited to, outreach to businesses, technical assistance services, skills training assistance, sharing of information, strategic economic development plans and programs, to provide or arrange for assistance in compliance with federal, State, and local rules, regulations, permits, and licenses, and other measures to enhance regional economic development and eliminate duplication of services; (v) to provide or arrange for assistance to persons, firms, agencies, partnerships or corporations, either public or private, in applying for assistance from State economic development programs or for necessary licenses and permits or seeking to comply with federal, State and local rules and regulations; (vi) to review and comment, within their knowledge and expertise, with respect to applications for State assistance in a timely manner and form prescribed by the Director; (vii) to distribute literature and marketing material describing the facilities, advantages, and attractions of the region for business; (viii) to provide economic development information, planning services and technical assistance to counties and municipalities within the region; (ix) to provide information and assistance in the certification of minority and women-owned business enterprises; and (x) to provide or arrange for assistance to private sector employers, whether operating for profit or not for profit, and to organizations and associations of such employers in developing and implementing innovative and flexible employee compensation, assistance and benefit programs to enhance competitiveness and meet emerging demographic and market conditions.

(d) To effectuate the purposes of this Section, the Director may request from any department, division, board, bureau, commission, or other agency of the State or from any public benefit corporation or public authority, and the same are authorized to provide, such assistance, services and data as will enable the Department to properly carry out its functions, powers, and duties hereunder.

Section 15. Regional economic development councils.

(a) The Governor shall establish regional economic development councils, one for each of the economic development regions established under Section 10.

(b) Each regional economic development council shall develop long-term strategic plans for economic growth within its region of the State, and shall (i) develop regional job growth strategies, (ii) make recommendations for projects for State and local funding, (iii) work to align local initiatives with State development priorities, and (iv) perform any other duties relevant to regional economic development as may be prescribed by the Governor and the Department.

(c) The members of each regional economic development council shall be local experts and stakeholders from businesses, academia, municipalities, and non-governmental organizations within the region. All such members shall be appointed by the Governor and shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor without compensation.

(d) Meetings of a regional economic development council shall be open to the public and subject to the requirements of the Open Meetings Act.

Section 20. Rules. The Governor and the Department shall adopt all rules necessary for the implementation of this Act.