HB2852 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB097 00258 JDS 40276 b

97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
HB2852

Introduced 2/22/2011, by Rep. Tom Cross

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

30 ILCS 265/11 new

Amends the Technology Development Act. Authorizes the State Treasurer to segregate up to 2% of the Treasurer's investment portfolio in Technology Development Account IIa, an account that shall be maintained separately and apart from other moneys invested by the Treasurer. Authorizes investments from that account to provide venture capital to technology businesses seeking to locate, expand, or remain in Illinois. Contains provisions concerning the solicitation of proposals from entities to manage and be the General Partner of Technology Development Account IIb, an account consisting of investments from private sector investors. Authorizes the Treasurer to enter into an agreement with the entity managing TDA IIb to advise on the investment strategy of TDA IIa and TDA IIb. Specifies certain limitations that apply to these accounts. Defines "technology business", "venture capital", "Illinois venture capital firm", and "track record". Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning finance.

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

Section 5. The Technology Development Act is amended by adding Section 11 as follows:

(30 ILCS 265/11 new)

Sec. 11. Technology Development Account II.

(a) In addition to the amount provided in Section 10 of this Act, the State Treasurer may segregate a portion of the Treasurer's investment portfolio, which at no time shall be greater than 2% of the portfolio, in the Technology Development Account IIa ("TDA IIa"), an account that shall be maintained separately and apart from other moneys invested by the Treasurer. Distributions from the investments in TDA IIa may be reinvested into TDA IIa without being counted against the 2% cap. The Treasurer may make investments from TDA IIa that help attract, assist, and retain quality technology businesses in Illinois. The earnings on TDA IIa shall be accounted for separately from other investments made by the Treasurer.

(b) The Treasurer may solicit proposals from entities to manage and be the General Partner of a separate fund ("Technology Development Account IIb" or "TDA IIb") consisting of investments from private sector investors that must invest, at the direction of the Treasurer, in tandem with TDA IIa in a pro-rata portion. The Treasurer may enter into an agreement with the entity managing TDA IIb to advise on the investment strategy of TDA IIa and TDA IIb (collectively "Technology Development Account II" or "TDA II") and fulfill other mutually agreeable terms. Funds in TDA IIb shall be kept separate and apart from moneys in the State treasury.

(c) Moneys in TDA IIa may be invested by the State Treasurer to provide venture capital to technology businesses seeking to locate, expand, or remain in Illinois by placing money with Illinois venture capital firms for investment by the venture capital firms in technology businesses. "Venture capital", as used in this Section, means equity financing that is provided for starting up, expanding, or relocating a company, or related purposes such as financing for seed capital, research and development, introduction of a product or process into the marketplace, or similar needs requiring risk capital. "Technology business", as used in this Section, means a company that has as its principal function the providing of services, including computer, information transfer, communication, distribution, processing, administrative, laboratory, experimental, developmental, technical, or testing services, manufacture of goods or materials, the processing of goods or materials by physical or chemical change, computer-related activities, robotics, biological or pharmaceutical industrial activity, or technology-oriented or emerging industrial activity. "Illinois venture capital firm", as used in this Section, means an entity that has a majority of its employees in Illinois or that has at least one managing partner or member of the general partner domiciled in Illinois, and that provides equity financing for starting up or expanding a company, or related purposes, such as financing for seed capital, research and development, introduction of a product or process into the marketplace, or similar needs requiring risk capital. "Illinois venture capital firm" may also mean an entity that has a track record of identifying, evaluating, and investing in Illinois companies and that provides equity financing for starting up or expanding a company, or related purposes such as financing for seed capital, research and development, introduction of a product or process into the marketplace, or similar needs requiring risk capital. For purposes of this Section, "track record" means having made, on average, at least one investment in an Illinois company in each of its funds if the Illinois venture capital firm has multiple funds or at least 2 investments in Illinois companies if the Illinois venture capital firm has only one fund. In no case shall more than 10% of the capital in the TDA IIa be invested in firms based outside of Illinois.

(d) Any fund created by an Illinois venture capital firm in which the State Treasurer places money pursuant to this Section shall be required by the State Treasurer to seek investments in technology businesses seeking to locate, expand, or remain in Illinois.

(e) Notwithstanding the limitation found in subsection (d) of Section 10 of this Act, the investment of the State Treasurer in any fund created by an Illinois venture capital firm in which the State Treasurer places money pursuant to this Section shall not exceed 15% of the total investments in the fund.

(f) The State Treasurer shall not invest more than one-third of Technology Development Account II in any given calendar year. If in any calendar year less than one-third of Technology Development Account II is invested, 50% of the shortfall may be invested in the following calendar year in addition to the regular one-third investment.

(g) The Treasurer may deposit no more than 10% of the earnings of the investments in the Technology Development Account IIa into the Technology Development Fund.

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