HB2855 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB102 12772 RJF 18111 b

102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB2855

Introduced 2/19/2021, by Rep. Amy Grant

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Entrepreneur-in-Residence Act. Creates the Entrepreneur-in-Residence Pilot Program. Provides for the appointment, term of service, and compensation of entrepreneurs-in-residence. Requires the Director or Secretary of specified State agencies to appoint entrepreneurs-in-residence, and issue a report on the Program to the General Assembly and the Governor by January 1, 2026. Provides for the duties of appointed entrepreneurs-in-residence. Provides that an entrepreneur-in-residence shall report directly to his or her appointing authority. Repeals the Act on January 1, 2028. Defines terms. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning State 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 Entrepreneur-in-Residence Act.

Section 5. Purpose. The purpose of the Program created under this Act is to strengthen coordination between State government and the private sector on issues relevant to entrepreneurs and small business concerns, and to make State government programs and operations simpler, easier to access, more efficient, and more responsive to the needs of and issues related to small business concerns and entrepreneurs.

Section 10. Definitions. As used in this Act:

"Appointing authority" means the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, the Minority Leader of the Senate, or the Director or Secretary of the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Public Health, or the Department of Central Management Services.

"Entrepreneur-in-residence" or "entrepreneurs-in-residence" means an individual or individuals appointed to a position under this Act.

"Program" means the Entrepreneur-in-Residence Pilot Program.

Section 15. The Entrepreneur-in-Residence Pilot Program.

(a) Except as provided under subsection (b), as many as 10 individuals may be appointed to serve as entrepreneurs-in-residence with State agencies, appointed 2 each by the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, and the Minority Leader of the Senate. These appointees shall have demonstrated success in working with small business concerns and entrepreneurs, or have successfully developed, invented, or created a product and brought that product to the marketplace. Entrepreneurs-in-residence appointed under this subsection (a) shall serve for a period of 2 years. A State agency shall cooperate with any entrepreneur-in-residence appointed to serve it as necessary to facilitate this Program. A person appointed as an entrepreneur-in-residence under this subsection (a) shall not be appointed to one of the State agencies listed in subsection (b).

(b) Additionally, the Director or Secretary of the following State agencies shall each appoint one entrepreneur-in-residence for their respective State agency:

(1) the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity;

(2) the Department of Transportation;

(3) the Department of Human Services;

(4) the Department of Public Health; and

(5) the Department of Central Management Services.

Entrepreneurs-in-residence appointed under this subsection (b) shall serve for a period of 5 years, beginning January 1, 2022 and ending January 1, 2027, and have the same qualifications as appointees under subsection (a).

(c) The Director or Secretary of a State agency under subsection (b) shall, by January 1, 2026, issue a report to the General Assembly and the Governor outlining findings and recommendations, including, but not limited to, the successes of the Program, recommendations to improve the Program, and any other information that the Director or Secretary may deem necessary and relevant. For the purposes of this Section, success of the Program shall be measured by the number of interactions, new businesses created, the size of the new businesses, and how the new businesses have grown since their inception.

(d) Entrepreneurs-in-residence appointed under this Act shall serve without compensation, but may, at the discretion of the appointing authority, receive reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the discharge of his or her duties.

(e) An entrepreneur-in-residence appointed under this Act shall perform the following duties:

(1) assist the State agency in improving outreach to small business concerns and entrepreneurs;

(2) provide recommendations on inefficient or duplicative programs;

(3) provide recommendations to the appointing authority on methods to improve Program efficiency at the State agency;

(4) provide recommendations to the appointing authority on new initiatives that may be instituted at the State agency;

(5) facilitate meetings and forums to educate small business concerns and entrepreneurs on programs or initiatives of the State agency;

(6) facilitate in-service sessions with employees of the State agency on needs and issues of interest to entrepreneurs and small business concerns; and

(7) provide technical assistance or mentorship to small business concerns and entrepreneurs in accessing programs at the State agency.

(f) An entrepreneur-in-residence shall report directly to his or her appointing authority.

Section 20. Repeal. This Act is repealed on January 1, 2028.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.