103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
SB3254

 

Introduced 2/6/2024, by Sen. Bill Cunningham

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act

    Creates the Illinois-Ireland Trade Commission Act. Creates the Illinois-Ireland Trade Commission. Establishes membership of the Commission. Provides that the President of the Senate shall designate a Chair and Vice-Chair from among Commission members. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall provide administrative support for the Commission. Provides that the members of the Commission shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the performance of their duties on the Commission. Provides that the Commission shall meet at least twice per calendar year, beginning in 2024. Provides that the Commission may raise funds, through direct solicitation or other fundraising events, alone, or with other groups, and accept gifts, grants, and bequests from individuals, corporations, foundations, governmental agencies, and public and private organizations and institutions. Provides that funds shall only be used to carry out the duties of the Commission. Provides that the Commission shall file a report by the end of each calendar year detailing any actions made by the Commission, as well as new or expanded relations between Illinois and Irish entities, with the Governor, the General Assembly, and the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Effective immediately.


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A BILL FOR

 

SB3254LRB103 36665 MXP 66774 b

1    AN ACT concerning State government.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5Illinois-Ireland Trade Commission Act.
 
6    Section 5. Findings. The General Assembly finds that:
7        (1) As a result of the Brexit agreement following the
8    United Kingdom's exit from the European Union, Northern
9    Ireland uniquely now has access to both the United
10    Kingdom's market of 67,000,000 people and the European
11    Union market of 450,000,000 people.
12        (2) There are 950 United States companies based in
13    Ireland, using it as a gateway to the European Union.
14        (3) Ireland is the 9th largest investor in the United
15    States.
16        (4) International trade is critical for the economic
17    growth and prosperity of the State of Illinois, supports
18    well-paid jobs in Illinois, raises Illinois living
19    standards, and helps Illinoisans provide for their
20    families with affordable goods and services.
 
21    Section 10. Illinois-Ireland Trade Commission. The
22Illinois-Ireland Trade Commission is created to build on the

 

 

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12-way relationship between Illinois and Ireland to promote
2economic growth, trade, and education. The Commission shall be
3composed of the following members:
4    (1) one member of the Senate appointed by the President of
5the Senate;
6    (2) one member of the Senate appointed by the Minority
7Leader of the Senate;
8    (3) one member of the House of Representatives appointed
9by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
10    (4) one member of the House of Representatives appointed
11by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives;
12    (5) the Deputy Governor for Budget and Economy or his or
13her designee;
14    (6) the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity or
15his or her designee;
16    (7) the Consul General of Ireland in Chicago or his or her
17designee;
18    (8) the Executive Director of the Illinois Chamber of
19Commerce or his or her designee;
20    (9) the President of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce
21or his or her designee;
22    (10) the President of the Illinois Retail Merchants
23Association or his or her designee;
24    (11) the President of the Illinois Manufacturers'
25Association or his or her designee; and
26    (12) the President of the Illinois Hotel & Lodging

 

 

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1Association or his or her designee.
 
2    Section 15. Chair and Vice-Chair. The President of the
3Senate shall designate a Chair and Vice-Chair from among
4Commission members.
 
5    Section 20. Administrative support. The Department of
6Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall provide administrative
7support for the Commission.
 
8    Section 25. Reimbursement for expenses. The members of the
9Commission shall serve without compensation but may be
10reimbursed for expenses incurred in the performance of their
11duties on the Commission.
 
12    Section 30. Meetings. The Commission shall meet at least
13twice per calendar year, beginning in 2024.
 
14    Section 35. Funds; gifts. The Commission may raise funds,
15through direct solicitation or other fundraising events,
16alone, or with other groups, and accept gifts, grants, and
17bequests from individuals, corporations, foundations,
18governmental agencies, and public and private organizations
19and institutions. Funds shall only be used to carry out the
20duties of the Commission.
 

 

 

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1    Section 40. Annual report. The Commission shall file a
2report by the end of each calendar year detailing any actions
3made by the Commission, as well as new or expanded relations
4between Illinois and Irish entities, with the Governor, the
5General Assembly, and the Director of Commerce and Economic
6Opportunity.
 
7    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
8becoming law.