20 ILCS 605/605-1095

(20 ILCS 605/605-1095)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on December 31, 2024)

Sec. 605-1095. Hotel Jobs Recovery Grant Program.

(a) In 2019, the hotel industry in the State of Illinois directly employed more than 60,000 people and generated $4,000,000,000 in State and local taxes. During the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, one in three hotel workers were laid off or furloughed, and hotels lost $3,600,000,000 in economic activity. Unlike other segments of the hospitality industry, the hotel industry has not received any direct hotel-specific support from the federal government. Funds awarded under this Section will be used by hotels to support their workforce and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

(b) As used in this Section:

"Hotel" means any building or buildings in which the public may, for a consideration, obtain living quarters or sleeping or housekeeping accommodations. The term includes, but is not limited to, inns, motels, tourist homes or courts, lodging houses, rooming houses, retreat centers, conference centers, and hunting lodges. "Hotel" does not include a short-term rental.

"Short-term rental" means a single-family dwelling, or a residential dwelling unit in a multi-unit structure, condominium, cooperative, timeshare, or similar joint property ownership arrangement, that is rented for a fee for less than 30 consecutive days. "Short-term rental" includes a vacation rental.

"Operator" and "room" have the meanings given to those terms in the Hotel Operators' Occupation Tax Act.

(c) The Department may receive State funds and, directly or indirectly, federal funds under the authority of legislation passed in response to the Coronavirus epidemic including, but not limited to, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, (Public Law 117-2) ("ARPA"); such funds shall be used in accordance with the ARPA legislation and other State and federal law. Upon receipt or availability of such State or federal funds, and subject to appropriations for their use, the Department shall establish the Hotel Jobs Recovery Grant Program for the purpose of providing direct relief to hotels impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on an application filed by the hotel operator, the Department shall award a one-time grant in an amount of up to $1,500 for each room in the hotel. Every hotel in operation in the state prior to March 12, 2020 that remains in operation shall be eligible to apply for the grant. Grant awards shall be scaled based on a process determined by the Department, including reducing the grant amount by previous state and local relief provided to the business during the COVID-19 pandemic.

(d) Any operator who receives grant funds under this Section shall use a minimum of 80% of the funds on payroll costs, to the extent permitted by Section 9901 of ARPA, including, but not limited to, wages, benefits, and employer contributions to employee healthcare costs. The remaining funds shall be used on any other costs and losses permitted by ARPA.

(e) Within 12 months after receiving grant funds under this Section, the operator shall submit a written attestation to the Department acknowledging compliance with subsection (d).

(f) The Department may establish by rule administrative procedures for the grant program, including any application procedures, grant agreements, certifications, payment methodologies, and other accountability measures that may be imposed upon participants in the program. The emergency rulemaking process may be used to promulgate the initial rules of the program following April 19, 2022 (the effective date of Public Act 102-699).

(g) The Department has the power to issue grants and enter into agreements with eligible hotels to carry out the purposes of this program.

(h) This Section is repealed on December 31, 2024.

(Source: P.A. 102-699, eff. 4-19-22; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23.)