HB5185eng 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB5185 Engrossed LRB102 24773 RJF 34015 b

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 changing Sections 605-300, 605-615, and 605-680 as follows:

(20 ILCS 605/605-300) (was 20 ILCS 605/46.2)

Sec. 605-300. Economic and business development plans; Illinois Business Development Council. (a) Economic development plans. The Department shall develop a strategic economic development plan for the State by July 1, 2014. By no later than July 1, 2015, and by July 1 annually thereafter, the Department shall make modifications to the plan as modifications are warranted by changes in economic conditions or by other factors, including changes in policy. In addition to the annual modification, the plan shall be reviewed and redeveloped in full every 5 years. In the development of the annual economic development plan, the Department shall consult with representatives of the private sector, other State agencies, academic institutions, local economic development organizations, local governments, and not-for-profit organizations. The annual economic development plan shall set specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-sensitive goals and shall include a focus on areas of high unemployment or poverty.

The term "economic development" shall be construed broadly by the Department and may include, but is not limited to, job creation, job retention, tax base enhancements, development of human capital, workforce productivity, critical infrastructure, regional competitiveness, social inclusion, standard of living, environmental sustainability, energy independence, quality of life, the effective use of financial incentives, the utilization of public private partnerships where appropriate, and other metrics determined by the Department.

The plan shall be based on relevant economic data, focus on economic development as prescribed by this Section, and emphasize strategies to retain and create jobs.

The plan shall identify and develop specific strategies for utilizing the assets of regions within the State defined as counties and municipalities or other political subdivisions in close geographical proximity that share common economic traits such as commuting zones, labor market areas, or other economically integrated characteristics.

If the plan includes strategies that have a fiscal impact on the Department or any other agency, the plan shall include a detailed description of the estimated fiscal impact of such strategies.

Prior to publishing the plan in its final form, the Department shall allow for a reasonable time for public input.

The Department shall transmit copies of the economic development plan to the Governor and the General Assembly no later than July 1, 2014, and by July 1 annually thereafter. The plan and its corresponding modifications shall be published and made available to the public in both paper and electronic media, on the Department's website, and by any other method that the Department deems appropriate.

The Department shall annually submit legislation to implement the strategic economic development plan or modifications to the strategic economic development plan to the Governor, the President and Minority Leader of the Senate, and the Speaker and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives. The legislation shall be in the form of one or more substantive bills drafted by the Legislative Reference Bureau.

(b) Business development plans; Illinois Business Development Council.

(1) There is created the Illinois Business Development Council, hereinafter referred to as the Council. The Council shall consist of the Director, who shall serve as co-chairperson, and 12 voting members who shall be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate.

(A) The voting members of the Council shall include one representative from each of the following businesses and groups: small business, coal, healthcare, large manufacturing, small or specialized manufacturing, agriculture, high technology or applied science, local economic development entities, private sector organized labor, a local or state business association or chamber of commerce.

(B) There shall be 2 at-large voting members who reside within areas of high unemployment within counties or municipalities that have had an annual average unemployment rate of at least 120% of the State's annual average unemployment rate as reported by the Department of Employment Security for the 5 years preceding the date of appointment.

(2) All appointments shall be made in a geographically diverse manner.

(3) For the initial appointments to the Council, 6 voting members shall be appointed to serve a 2-year term and 6 voting members shall be appointed to serve a 4-year term. Thereafter, all appointments shall be for terms of 4 years. The initial term of voting members shall commence on the first Wednesday in February 2014. Thereafter, the terms of voting members shall commence on the first Wednesday in February, except in the case of an appointment to fill a vacancy. Vacancies occurring among the members shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment for the remainder of the unexpired term. For a vacancy occurring when the Senate is not in session, the Governor may make a temporary appointment until the next meeting of the Senate when a person shall be nominated to fill the office, and, upon confirmation by the Senate, he or she shall hold office during the remainder of the term. A vacancy in membership does not impair the ability of a quorum to exercise all rights and perform all duties of the Council. A member is eligible for reappointment.

(4) Members shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties from funds appropriated for that purpose.

(5) In addition, the following shall serve as ex officio, non-voting members of the Council in order to provide specialized advice and support to the Council: the Secretary of Transportation, or his or her designee; the Director of Employment Security, or his or her designee; the Executive Director of the Illinois Finance Authority, or his or her designee; the Director of Agriculture, or his or her designee; the Director of Revenue, or his or her designee; the Director of Labor, or his or her designee; and the Director of the Environmental Protection Agency, or his or her designee. Ex officio members shall provide staff and technical assistance to the Council when appropriate.

(6) In addition to the Director, the voting members shall elect a co-chairperson.

(7) The Council shall meet at least twice annually and at such other times as the co-chairpersons or any 5 voting members consider necessary. Seven voting members shall constitute a quorum of the Council.

(8) The Department shall provide staff assistance to the Council.

(9) The Council shall provide the Department relevant information in a timely manner pursuant to its duties as enumerated in this Section that can be used by the Department to enhance the State's strategic economic development plan.

(10) The Council shall:

(A) Develop an overall strategic business development plan for the State of Illinois and update the plan at least annually; that plan shall include, without limitation, (i) an assessment of the economic development practices of states that border Illinois and (ii) recommendations for best practices with respect to economic development, business incentives, business attraction, and business retention for counties in Illinois that border at least one other state.

(B) Develop business marketing plans for the State of Illinois to effectively solicit new company investment and existing business expansion. Insofar as allowed under the Illinois Procurement Code, and subject to appropriations made by the General Assembly for such purposes, the Council may assist the Department in the procurement of outside vendors to carry out such marketing plans.

(C) Seek input from local economic development officials to develop specific strategies to effectively link State and local business development and marketing efforts focusing on areas of high unemployment or poverty.

(D) Provide the Department with advice on strategic business development and business marketing for the State of Illinois.

(E) Provide the Department research and recommend best practices for developing investment tools for business attraction and retention.

(Source: P.A. 98-397, eff. 8-16-13; 98-756, eff. 7-16-14; 98-888, eff. 8-15-14.)

(20 ILCS 605/605-615) (was 20 ILCS 605/46.19e)

Sec. 605-615. Assistance with exports. The Department shall have the following duties and responsibilities in regard to the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois:

(1) To establish or cosponsor mentoring conferences, utilizing experienced manufacturing exporters, to explain and provide information to prospective export manufacturers and businesses concerning the process of exporting to both domestic and international opportunities.

(2) To provide technical assistance to prospective export manufacturers and businesses seeking to establish domestic and international export opportunities.

(3) To coordinate with the Department's Small Business Development Centers to link buyers with prospective export manufacturers and businesses.

(4) To promote, both domestically and abroad, products made in Illinois in order to inform consumers and buyers of their high quality standards and craftsmanship.

(5) To provide technical assistance toward establishment of export trade corporations in the private sector.

(6) To develop an electronic data base to compile information on international trade and investment activities in Illinois companies, provide access to research and business opportunities through external data bases, and connect this data base through international communication systems with appropriate domestic and worldwide networks users.

(7) To collect and distribute to foreign commercial libraries directories, catalogs, brochures, and other information of value to foreign businesses considering doing business in this State.

(8) To establish an export finance awareness program to provide information to banking organizations about methods used by banks to provide financing for businesses engaged in exporting and about other State and federal programs to promote and expedite export financing.

(9) To undertake a survey of Illinois' businesses to identify exportable products and the businesses interested in exporting.

(Source: P.A. 91-239, eff. 1-1-00; 91-357, eff. 7-29-99; 92-16, eff. 6-28-01.)

(20 ILCS 605/605-680)

Sec. 605-680. Illinois goods and services website.

(a) The Department, in consultation with the Department of Innovation and Technology, must establish and maintain an Internet website devoted to the marketing of Illinois goods and services by linking potential purchasers with producers of goods and services who are located in the State.

(b) The Department must, subject to appropriation, advertise the website to encourage inclusion of producers on the website and to encourage the use of the website by potential purchasers.

(Source: P.A. 100-611, eff. 7-20-18.)

(20 ILCS 605/605-550 rep.)

(20 ILCS 605/605-1040 rep.)

Section 10. The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is amended by repealing Sections 605-550 and 605-1040.

Section 15. The Illinois Main Street Act is amended by changing Sections 15, 20, 25, and 30 as follows:

(20 ILCS 720/15)

Sec. 15. Illinois Main Street Program. The Illinois Main Street Program is created, subject to appropriation, within the Department. In order to implement the Illinois Main Street Program, the Department may shall do all of the following:

(1) Provide assistance to municipalities designated as Main Street Communities, municipalities interested in becoming designated through the program, and businesses, property owners, organizations, and municipalities undertaking a comprehensive downtown or neighborhood commercial district revitalization initiative and management strategy. Assistance may include, but is not limited to, initial site evaluations and assessments, training for local programs, training for local program staff, site visits and assessments by technical specialists, local program design assistance and evaluation, and continued local program on-site assistance.

(2) To the extent funds are made available, provide financial assistance to municipalities or local organizations to assist in initial downtown or neighborhood commercial district revitalization program specialized training, specific project feasibility studies, market studies, and design assistance.

(3) Operate the Illinois Main Street Program in accordance with the plan developed by the Department.

(4) Consider other factors the Department deems necessary for the implementation of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 97-573, eff. 8-25-11.)

(20 ILCS 720/20)

Sec. 20. Main Street Community designation.

(a) The Department may shall adopt criteria for the designation of a Main Street Community. In establishing the criteria, the Department shall consider all of the following:

(1) The degree of interest and commitment to comprehensive downtown or neighborhood commercial district revitalization and, where applicable, historic preservation by both the public and private sectors.

(2) The evidence of potential private sector investment in the downtown or neighborhood commercial district.

(3) Where applicable, a downtown or neighborhood commercial district with sufficient historic fabric to become a foundation for an enhanced community image.

(4) The capacity of the organization to undertake a comprehensive program and the financial commitment to implement a long-term downtown or neighborhood commercial district revitalization program that includes a commitment to employ a professional program manager.

(5) The National Main Street Center's criteria for designating official main street municipalities.

(6) Other factors the Department deems necessary for the designation of a local program.

(b) Illinois Main Street shall designate local downtown or neighborhood commercial district revitalization programs and official local main street programs.

(c) The Department must approve all local downtown or neighborhood commercial district revitalization program boundaries. The boundaries of a local downtown or neighborhood commercial district revitalization program are typically defined using the pedestrian core of a traditional commercial district.

(Source: P.A. 97-573, eff. 8-25-11.)

(20 ILCS 720/25)

Sec. 25. Illinois Main Street Plan. The Department may shall, in consultation with the Lieutenant Governor, develop a plan for the Illinois Main Street Program. The plan shall describe:

(1) the objectives and strategies of the Illinois Main Street Program;

(2) how the Illinois Main Street Program will be coordinated with existing federal, state, local, and private sector business development and historic preservation efforts;

(3) the means by which private investment will be solicited and employed;

(4) the methods of selecting and providing assistance to participating local programs; and

(5) a means to solicit private contributions for State and local operations of the Illinois Main Street Program.

(Source: P.A. 97-573, eff. 8-25-11.)

(20 ILCS 720/30)

Sec. 30. Role of the Lieutenant Governor. The Lieutenant Governor shall, subject to appropriation, be the Ambassador of the Illinois Main Street Program. The Department shall, subject to appropriation, advise and consult with the Lieutenant Governor on the activities of the Illinois Main Street Program. The Lieutenant Governor, with the assistance of the Department, shall, subject to appropriation, promote and encourage the success of the Illinois Main Street Program.

(Source: P.A. 97-573, eff. 8-25-11.)

Section 20. The Outdoor Recreation Resources Act is amended by changing Sections 2 and 2a as follows:

(20 ILCS 860/2) (from Ch. 105, par. 532)

Sec. 2. The Department of Natural Resources is authorized to have prepared, with the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and to maintain and keep up-to-date a comprehensive plan for the development of the outdoor recreation resources of the State.

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

(20 ILCS 860/2a) (from Ch. 105, par. 532a)

Sec. 2a. The Department of Natural Resources is authorized to have prepared with the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and to maintain and keep up to date a comprehensive plan for the preservation of the historically significant properties and interests of the State.

(Source: P.A. 100-695, eff. 8-3-18; 101-81, eff. 7-12-19.)

(20 ILCS 3953/15 rep.)

(20 ILCS 3953/20 rep.)

Section 25. The Government Buildings Energy Cost Reduction Act of 1991 is amended by repealing Sections 15 and 20.

Section 30. The Eliminate the Digital Divide Law is amended by changing Section 5-30 as follows:

(30 ILCS 780/5-30)

Sec. 5-30. Community Technology Center Grant Program.

(a) Subject to appropriation, the Department shall administer the Community Technology Center Grant Program under which the Department shall make grants in accordance with this Article for planning, establishment, administration, and expansion of Community Technology Centers and for assisting public hospitals, libraries, and park districts in eliminating the digital divide. The purposes of the grants shall include, but not be limited to, volunteer recruitment and management, training and instruction, infrastructure, and related goods and services, including case management, administration, personal information management, and outcome-tracking tools and software for the purposes of reporting to the Department and for enabling participation in digital government and consumer services programs, for Community Technology Centers and public hospitals, libraries, and park districts. No Community Technology Center may receive a grant of more than $75,000 under this Section in a particular fiscal year.

(b) Public hospitals, libraries, park districts, and State educational agencies, local educational agencies, institutions of higher education, senior citizen homes, and other public and private nonprofit or for-profit agencies and organizations are eligible to receive grants under this Program, provided that a local educational agency or public or private educational agency or organization must, in order to be eligible to receive grants under this Program, provide computer access and educational services using information technology to the public at one or more of its educational buildings or facilities at least 12 hours each week. A group of eligible entities is also eligible to receive a grant if the group follows the procedures for group applications in 34 CFR 75.127-129 of the Education Department General Administrative Regulations.

To be eligible to apply for a grant, a Community Technology Center must serve a community in which not less than 40% of the students are eligible for a free or reduced price lunch under the national school lunch program or in which not less than 30% of the students are eligible for a free lunch under the national school lunch program; however, if funding is insufficient to approve all grant applications for a particular fiscal year, the Department may impose a higher minimum percentage threshold for that fiscal year. Determinations of communities and determinations of the percentage of students in a community who are eligible for a free or reduced price lunch under the national school lunch program shall be in accordance with rules adopted by the Department.

Any entities that have received a Community Technology Center grant under the federal Community Technology Centers Program are also eligible to apply for grants under this Program.

The Department shall provide assistance to Community Technology Centers in making those determinations for purposes of applying for grants.

The Department shall encourage Community Technology Centers to participate in public and private computer hardware equipment recycling initiatives that provide computers at reduced or no cost to low-income families, including programs authorized by the State Property Control Act. On an annual basis, the Department must provide the Director of Central Management Services with a list of Community Technology Centers that have applied to the Department for funding as potential recipients of surplus State-owned computer hardware equipment under programs authorized by the State Property Control Act.

(c) Grant applications shall be submitted to the Department on a schedule of one or more deadlines established by the Department by rule.

(d) The Department shall adopt rules setting forth the required form and contents of grant applications.

(e) (Blank). There is created the Digital Divide Elimination Advisory Committee. The advisory committee shall consist of 7 members appointed one each by the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Senate Minority Leader, the Speaker of the House, and the House Minority Leader, and 2 appointed by the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, one of whom shall be a representative of the telecommunications industry and one of whom shall represent community technology centers. The members of the advisory committee shall receive no compensation for their services as members of the advisory committee but may be reimbursed for their actual expenses incurred in serving on the advisory committee. The Digital Divide Elimination Advisory Committee shall advise the Department in establishing criteria and priorities for identifying recipients of grants under this Act. The advisory committee shall obtain advice from the technology industry regarding current technological standards. The advisory committee shall seek any available federal funding.

(f) (Blank). There is created the Digital Divide Elimination Working Group. The Working Group shall consist of the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, or his or her designee, the Director of Central Management Services, or his or her designee, and the Executive Director of the Illinois Commerce Commission, or his or her designee. The Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, or his or her designee, shall serve as chair of the Working Group. The Working Group shall consult with the members of the Digital Divide Elimination Advisory Committee and may consult with various groups including, but not limited to, telecommunications providers, telecommunications-related technology producers and service providers, community technology providers, community and consumer organizations, businesses and business organizations, and federal government agencies.

(g) Duties of the Digital Divide Elimination Working Group include all of the following:

(1) Undertaking a thorough review of grant programs available through the federal government, local agencies, telecommunications providers, and business and charitable entities for the purpose of identifying appropriate sources of revenues for the Digital Divide Elimination Fund and attempting to update available grants on a regular basis.

(2) Researching and cataloging programs designed to advance digital literacy and computer access that are available through the federal government, local agencies, telecommunications providers, and business and charitable entities and attempting to update available programs on a regular basis.

(3) Presenting the information compiled from items (1) and (2) to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, which shall serve as a single point of contact for applying for funding for the Digital Divide Elimination Fund and for distributing information to the public regarding all programs designed to advance digital literacy and computer access.

(Source: P.A. 94-734, eff. 4-28-06; 95-740, eff. 1-1-09.)

Section 35. The Illinois Income Tax Act is amended by changing Section 220 as follows:

(35 ILCS 5/220)

Sec. 220. Angel investment credit.

(a) As used in this Section:

"Applicant" means a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, or a natural person that makes an investment in a qualified new business venture. The term "applicant" does not include (i) a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, or a natural person who has a direct or indirect ownership interest of at least 51% in the profits, capital, or value of the qualified new business venture receiving the investment or (ii) a related member.

"Claimant" means an applicant certified by the Department who files a claim for a credit under this Section.

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

"Investment" means money (or its equivalent) given to a qualified new business venture, at a risk of loss, in consideration for an equity interest of the qualified new business venture. The Department may adopt rules to permit certain forms of contingent equity investments to be considered eligible for a tax credit under this Section.

"Qualified new business venture" means a business that is registered with the Department under this Section.

"Related member" means a person that, with respect to the applicant, is any one of the following:

(1) An individual, if the individual and the members of the individual's family (as defined in Section 318 of the Internal Revenue Code) own directly, indirectly, beneficially, or constructively, in the aggregate, at least 50% of the value of the outstanding profits, capital, stock, or other ownership interest in the qualified new business venture that is the recipient of the applicant's investment.

(2) A partnership, estate, or trust and any partner or beneficiary, if the partnership, estate, or trust and its partners or beneficiaries own directly, indirectly, beneficially, or constructively, in the aggregate, at least 50% of the profits, capital, stock, or other ownership interest in the qualified new business venture that is the recipient of the applicant's investment.

(3) A corporation, and any party related to the corporation in a manner that would require an attribution of stock from the corporation under the attribution rules of Section 318 of the Internal Revenue Code, if the applicant and any other related member own, in the aggregate, directly, indirectly, beneficially, or constructively, at least 50% of the value of the outstanding stock of the qualified new business venture that is the recipient of the applicant's investment.

(4) A corporation and any party related to that corporation in a manner that would require an attribution of stock from the corporation to the party or from the party to the corporation under the attribution rules of Section 318 of the Internal Revenue Code, if the corporation and all such related parties own, in the aggregate, at least 50% of the profits, capital, stock, or other ownership interest in the qualified new business venture that is the recipient of the applicant's investment.

(5) A person to or from whom there is attribution of ownership of stock in the qualified new business venture that is the recipient of the applicant's investment in accordance with Section 1563(e) of the Internal Revenue Code, except that for purposes of determining whether a person is a related member under this paragraph, "20%" shall be substituted for "5%" whenever "5%" appears in Section 1563(e) of the Internal Revenue Code.

(b) For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2010, and ending on or before December 31, 2026, subject to the limitations provided in this Section, a claimant may claim, as a credit against the tax imposed under subsections (a) and (b) of Section 201 of this Act, an amount equal to 25% of the claimant's investment made directly in a qualified new business venture. In order for an investment in a qualified new business venture to be eligible for tax credits, the business must have applied for and received certification under subsection (e) for the taxable year in which the investment was made prior to the date on which the investment was made. The credit under this Section may not exceed the taxpayer's Illinois income tax liability for the taxable year. If the amount of the credit exceeds the tax liability for the year, the excess may be carried forward and applied to the tax liability of the 5 taxable years following the excess credit year. The credit shall be applied to the earliest year for which there is a tax liability. If there are credits from more than one tax year that are available to offset a liability, the earlier credit shall be applied first. In the case of a partnership or Subchapter S Corporation, the credit is allowed to the partners or shareholders in accordance with the determination of income and distributive share of income under Sections 702 and 704 and Subchapter S of the Internal Revenue Code.

(c) The minimum amount an applicant must invest in any single qualified new business venture in order to be eligible for a credit under this Section is $10,000. The maximum amount of an applicant's total investment made in any single qualified new business venture that may be used as the basis for a credit under this Section is $2,000,000.

(d) The Department shall implement a program to certify an applicant for an angel investment credit. Upon satisfactory review, the Department shall issue a tax credit certificate stating the amount of the tax credit to which the applicant is entitled. The Department shall annually certify that: (i) each qualified new business venture that receives an angel investment after January 1, 2018 under this Section has maintained a minimum employment threshold, as defined by rule, in the State (and continues to maintain a minimum employment threshold in the State for a period of no less than 3 years from the issue date of the last tax credit certificate issued by the Department with respect to such business pursuant to this Section); and (ii) the claimant's investment has been made and remains, except in the event of a qualifying liquidity event, in the qualified new business venture for no less than 3 years.

If an investment for which a claimant is allowed a credit under subsection (b) is held by the claimant for less than 3 years, other than as a result of a permitted sale of the investment to person who is not a related member, the claimant shall pay to the Department of Revenue, in the manner prescribed by the Department of Revenue, the aggregate amount of the disqualified credits that the claimant received related to the subject investment.

If the Department determines that a qualified new business venture failed to maintain a minimum employment threshold in the State through the date which is 3 years from the issue date of the last tax credit certificate issued by the Department with respect to the subject business pursuant to this Section, the claimant or claimants shall pay to the Department of Revenue, in the manner prescribed by the Department of Revenue, the aggregate amount of the disqualified credits that claimant or claimants received related to investments in that business.

(e) The Department shall implement a program to register qualified new business ventures for purposes of this Section. A business desiring registration under this Section shall be required to submit a full and complete application to the Department. A submitted application shall be effective only for the taxable year in which it is submitted, and a business desiring registration under this Section shall be required to submit a separate application in and for each taxable year for which the business desires registration. Further, if at any time prior to the acceptance of an application for registration under this Section by the Department one or more events occurs which makes the information provided in that application materially false or incomplete (in whole or in part), the business shall promptly notify the Department of the same. Any failure of a business to promptly provide the foregoing information to the Department may, at the discretion of the Department, result in a revocation of a previously approved application for that business, or disqualification of the business from future registration under this Section, or both. The Department may register the business only if all of the following conditions are satisfied:

(1) it has its principal place of business in this State;

(2) at least 51% of the employees employed by the business are employed in this State;

(3) the business has the potential for increasing jobs in this State, increasing capital investment in this State, or both, as determined by the Department, and either of the following apply:

(A) it is principally engaged in innovation in any of the following: manufacturing; biotechnology; nanotechnology; communications; agricultural sciences; clean energy creation or storage technology; processing or assembling products, including medical devices, pharmaceuticals, computer software, computer hardware, semiconductors, other innovative technology products, or other products that are produced using manufacturing methods that are enabled by applying proprietary technology; or providing services that are enabled by applying proprietary technology; or

(B) it is undertaking pre-commercialization activity related to proprietary technology that includes conducting research, developing a new product or business process, or developing a service that is principally reliant on applying proprietary technology;

(4) it is not principally engaged in real estate development, insurance, banking, lending, lobbying, political consulting, professional services provided by attorneys, accountants, business consultants, physicians, or health care consultants, wholesale or retail trade, leisure, hospitality, transportation, or construction, except construction of power production plants that derive energy from a renewable energy resource, as defined in Section 1 of the Illinois Power Agency Act;

(5) at the time it is first certified:

(A) it has fewer than 100 employees;

(B) it has been in operation in Illinois for not more than 10 consecutive years prior to the year of certification; and

(C) it has received not more than $10,000,000 in aggregate investments;

(5.1) it agrees to maintain a minimum employment threshold in the State of Illinois prior to the date which is 3 years from the issue date of the last tax credit certificate issued by the Department with respect to that business pursuant to this Section;

(6) (blank); and

(7) it has received not more than $4,000,000 in investments that qualified for tax credits under this Section.

(f) The Department, in consultation with the Department of Revenue, shall adopt rules to administer this Section. The aggregate amount of the tax credits that may be claimed under this Section for investments made in qualified new business ventures shall be limited at $10,000,000 per calendar year, of which $500,000 shall be reserved for investments made in qualified new business ventures which are minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses, or businesses owned by a person with a disability (as those terms are used and defined in the Business Enterprise for Minorities, Women, and Persons with Disabilities Act), and an additional $500,000 shall be reserved for investments made in qualified new business ventures with their principal place of business in counties with a population of not more than 250,000. The foregoing annual allowable amounts shall be allocated by the Department, on a per calendar quarter basis and prior to the commencement of each calendar year, in such proportion as determined by the Department, provided that: (i) the amount initially allocated by the Department for any one calendar quarter shall not exceed 35% of the total allowable amount; (ii) any portion of the allocated allowable amount remaining unused as of the end of any of the first 3 calendar quarters of a given calendar year shall be rolled into, and added to, the total allocated amount for the next available calendar quarter; and (iii) the reservation of tax credits for investments in minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses, businesses owned by a person with a disability, and in businesses in counties with a population of not more than 250,000 is limited to the first 3 calendar quarters of a given calendar year, after which they may be claimed by investors in any qualified new business venture.

(g) A claimant may not sell or otherwise transfer a credit awarded under this Section to another person.

(h) On or before March 1 of each year, the Department shall report to the Governor and to the General Assembly on the tax credit certificates awarded under this Section for the prior calendar year.

(1) This report must include, for each tax credit certificate awarded:

(A) the name of the claimant and the amount of credit awarded or allocated to that claimant;

(B) the name and address (including the county) of the qualified new business venture that received the investment giving rise to the credit, the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code applicable to that qualified new business venture, and the number of employees of the qualified new business venture; and

(C) the date of approval by the Department of each claimant's tax credit certificate.

(2) The report must also include:

(A) the total number of applicants and the total number of claimants, including the amount of each tax credit certificate awarded to a claimant under this Section in the prior calendar year;

(B) the total number of applications from businesses seeking registration under this Section, the total number of new qualified business ventures registered by the Department, and the aggregate amount of investment upon which tax credit certificates were issued in the prior calendar year; and

(C) the total amount of tax credit certificates sought by applicants, the amount of each tax credit certificate issued to a claimant, the aggregate amount of all tax credit certificates issued in the prior calendar year and the aggregate amount of tax credit certificates issued as authorized under this Section for all calendar years.

(i) For each business seeking registration under this Section after December 31, 2016, the Department shall require the business to include in its application the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code applicable to the business and the number of employees of the business at the time of application. Each business registered by the Department as a qualified new business venture that receives an investment giving rise to the issuance of a tax credit certificate pursuant to this Section shall, for each of the 3 years following the issue date of the last tax credit certificate issued by the Department with respect to such business pursuant to this Section, report to the Department the following:

(1) the number of employees and the location at which those employees are employed, both as of the end of each year;

(2) the amount of additional new capital investment raised as of the end of each year, if any; and

(3) the terms of any liquidity event occurring during such year; for the purposes of this Section, a "liquidity event" means any event that would be considered an exit for an illiquid investment, including any event that allows the equity holders of the business (or any material portion thereof) to cash out some or all of their respective equity interests.

(Source: P.A. 101-81, eff. 7-12-19; 102-16, eff. 6-17-21.)

Section 40. The Film Production Services Tax Credit Act of 2008 is amended by changing Section 45 as follows:

(35 ILCS 16/45)

Sec. 45. Evaluation of tax credit program; reports to the General Assembly.

(a) The Department shall evaluate the tax credit program. The evaluation must include an assessment of the effectiveness of the program in creating and retaining new jobs in Illinois and of the revenue impact of the program, and may include a review of the practices and experiences of other states or nations with similar programs. Upon completion of this evaluation, the Department shall determine the overall success of the program, and may make a recommendation to extend, modify, or not extend the program based on this evaluation.

(b) At the end of each fiscal quarter, the Department must submit to the General Assembly a report that includes, without limitation, the following information:

(1) the economic impact of the tax credit program, including the number of jobs created and retained, including whether the job positions are above-the-line, below-the-line, or extras entry level, management, talent-related, vendor-related, or production-related;

(2) the amount of film production spending brought to Illinois, including the amount of spending and type of Illinois vendors hired in connection with an accredited production; and

(3) an overall picture of whether the human infrastructure of the motion picture industry in Illinois reflects the geographical, racial and ethnic, gender, and income-level diversity of the State of Illinois.

(c) At the end of each fiscal year, the Department must submit to the General Assembly a report that includes the following information:

(1) an identification of each vendor that provided goods or services that were included in an accredited production's Illinois production spending, provided that the accredited production's Illinois production spending attributable to that vendor exceeds, in the aggregate, $10,000 or 10% of the accredited production's Illinois production spending, whichever is less;

(2) the amount paid to each identified vendor by the accredited production;

(3) for each identified vendor, a statement as to whether the vendor is a minority-owned business or a women-owned business, as defined under Section 2 of the Business Enterprise for Minorities, Women, and Persons with Disabilities Act, based on the best efforts of an accredited production; and

(4) a description of any steps taken by the Department to encourage accredited productions to use vendors who are a minority-owned business or a women-owned business.

(Source: P.A. 100-391, eff. 8-25-17; 100-603, eff. 7-13-18; 101-81, eff. 7-12-19.)

Section 45. The Southwestern Illinois Metropolitan and Regional Planning Act is amended by changing Section 35 as follows:

(70 ILCS 1710/35) (from Ch. 85, par. 1185)

Sec. 35. At the close of each fiscal year, the Commission shall prepare a complete report of its receipts and expenditures during the fiscal year. A copy of this report shall be filed with the Governor and with the treasurer of each county included in the Metropolitan and Regional Counties Area. In addition, on or before December 31 of each even numbered year, the Commission shall prepare jointly with the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, a report of its activities during the biennium indicating how its funds were expended, indicating the amount of the appropriation requested for the next biennium and explaining how the appropriation will be utilized to carry out its responsibilities. A copy of this report shall be filed with the Governor, the Senate and the House of Representatives.

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

Section 50. The Illinois Groundwater Protection Act is amended by changing Section 4 as follows:

(415 ILCS 55/4) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 7454)

Sec. 4. (a) There shall be established within State government an interagency committee which shall be known as the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Groundwater. The Committee shall be composed of the Director, or his designee, of the following agencies:

(1) The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, who shall chair the Committee.

(2) The Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

(3) The Illinois Department of Public Health.

(4) The Office of Mines and Minerals within the Department of Natural Resources.

(5) The Office of the State Fire Marshal.

(6) The Division of Water Resources of the Department of Natural Resources.

(7) The Illinois Department of Agriculture.

(8) The Illinois Emergency Management Agency.

(9) The Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety.

(10) The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

(b) The Committee shall meet not less than twice each calendar year and shall:

(1) Review and coordinate the State's policy on groundwater protection.

(2) Review and evaluate State laws, regulations and procedures that relate to groundwater protection.

(3) Review and evaluate the status of the State's efforts to improve the quality of the groundwater and of the State enforcement efforts for protection of the groundwater and make recommendations on improving the State efforts to protect the groundwater.

(4) Recommend procedures for better coordination among State groundwater programs and with local programs related to groundwater protection.

(5) Review and recommend procedures to coordinate the State's response to specific incidents of groundwater pollution and coordinate dissemination of information between agencies responsible for the State's response.

(6) Make recommendations for and prioritize the State's groundwater research needs.

(7) Review, coordinate and evaluate groundwater data collection and analysis.

(8) Beginning on January 1, 1990, report biennially to the Governor and the General Assembly on groundwater quality, quantity, and the State's enforcement efforts.

(c) The Chairman of the Committee shall propose a groundwater protection regulatory agenda for consideration by the Committee and the Council. The principal purpose of the agenda shall be to systematically consider the groundwater protection aspects of relevant federal and State regulatory programs and to identify any areas where improvements may be warranted. To the extent feasible, the agenda may also serve to facilitate a more uniform and coordinated approach toward protection of groundwaters in Illinois. Upon adoption of the final agenda by the Committee, the Chairman of the Committee shall assign a lead agency and any support agencies to prepare a regulatory assessment report for each item on the agenda. Each regulatory assessment report shall specify the nature of the groundwater protection provisions being implemented and shall evaluate the results achieved therefrom. Special attention shall be given to any preventive measures being utilized for protection of groundwaters. The reports shall be completed in a timely manner. After review and consideration by the Committee, the reports shall become the basis for recommending further legislative or regulatory action.

(d) No later than January 1, 1992, the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Groundwater shall provide a comprehensive status report to the Governor and the General Assembly concerning implementation of this Act.

(e) The Committee shall consider findings and recommendations that are provided by the Council, and respond in writing regarding such matters. The Chairman of the Committee shall designate a liaison person to serve as a facilitator of communications with the Council.

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

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