HB4455 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB102 23487 RJF 32663 b

102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB4455

Introduced 1/21/2022, by Rep. Carol Ammons

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

20 ILCS 605/605-1095 new

Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to establish the Recovery Initiative to Support Employment (RISE) Grant Program. Provides that the Department shall allocate $250,000,000, from funds appropriated under the American Rescue Plan Act, as grants to businesses for the purpose of aiding in the employment of persons unemployed as a result of the COVID-19 public health emergency. Provides that eligible businesses shall receive grants in the amount of $5,000. Provides eligibility requirements for businesses seeking grants. Provides that a business shall be eligible for one grant and may be eligible for a second grant. Provides for the adoption of rules. Defines terms.

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 5. The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is amended by adding Section 605-1095 as follows:

(20 ILCS 605/605-1095 new)

Sec. 605-1095. Recovery Initiative to Support Employment (RISE) Grant Program.

(a) The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall establish the Recovery Initiative to Support Employment (RISE) Grant Program.

(b) From funds appropriated, directly or indirectly, from moneys received by the State from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund under the American Rescue Plan Act, the Department shall allocate $250,000,000 as grants to businesses for the purpose of aiding in the employment of persons unemployed as a result of the COVID-19 public health emergency.

(c) Eligible businesses shall receive grants in the amount of $5,000. To be eligible for a grant under this Section, a business must: (i) retrain and hire qualified employees; (ii) employ less than 50 employees; and (iii) create a net new job. Grants will be awarded in the order in which applications are received. A business shall be eligible for one grant provided under this Program. Once all applicants receive an initial grant, a business may apply for a second grant until the initial fund allocation is depleted.

(d) The Department shall adopt rules for the implementation of this Section.

(e) For purposes of this Section:

"Net new job" means a full-time equivalent employment position that causes the taxpayer's average employee head count in the State for the calendar year in which the taxable year begins to exceed its employee head count in the State on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly.

"Qualified employee" means a resident of the State who is hired by the taxpayer to fill a net new job and was unemployed as a result of mandated business closures caused by the COVID-19 public health emergency prior to the date he or she was hired by the taxpayer. "Qualified employee" includes, but is not limited to, a resident who was self-employed, but became unemployed because of COVID-19. "Qualified employee" does not include an employee who was furloughed by the taxpayer and reinstated during the taxable year.