Public Act 0252 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB2687 Enrolled LRB098 06986 HLH 37043 b

Public Act 098-0252

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 605-705 and 605-707 as follows:

(20 ILCS 605/605-705) (was 20 ILCS 605/46.6a)

Sec. 605-705. Grants to local tourism and convention bureaus.

(a) To establish a grant program for local tourism and convention bureaus. The Department will develop and implement a program for the use of funds, as authorized under this Act, by local tourism and convention bureaus. For the purposes of this Act, bureaus eligible to receive funds are those local tourism and convention bureaus that are (i) either units of local government or incorporated as not-for-profit organizations; (ii) in legal existence for a minimum of 2 years before July 1, 2001; (iii) operating with a paid, full-time staff whose sole purpose is to promote tourism in the designated service area; and (iv) affiliated with one or more municipalities or counties that support the bureau with local hotel-motel taxes. After July 1, 2001, bureaus requesting certification in order to receive funds for the first time must be local tourism and convention bureaus that are (i) either units of local government or incorporated as not-for-profit organizations; (ii) in legal existence for a minimum of 2 years before the request for certification; (iii) operating with a paid, full-time staff whose sole purpose is to promote tourism in the designated service area; and (iv) affiliated with multiple municipalities or counties that support the bureau with local hotel-motel taxes. Each bureau receiving funds under this Act will be certified by the Department as the designated recipient to serve an area of the State. Notwithstanding the criteria set forth in this subsection (a), or any rule adopted under this subsection (a), the Director of the Department may provide for the award of grant funds to one or more entities if in the Department's judgment that action is necessary in order to prevent a loss of funding critical to promoting tourism in a designated geographic area of the State.

(b) To distribute grants to local tourism and convention bureaus from appropriations made from the Local Tourism Fund for that purpose. Of the amounts appropriated annually to the Department for expenditure under this Section prior to July 1, 2011, one-third of those monies shall be used for grants to convention and tourism bureaus in cities with a population greater than 500,000. The remaining two-thirds of the annual appropriation prior to July 1, 2011 shall be used for grants to convention and tourism bureaus in the remainder of the State, in accordance with a formula based upon the population served. Of the amounts appropriated annually to the Department for expenditure under this Section beginning July 1, 2011, 18% of such moneys shall be used for grants to convention and tourism bureaus in cities with a population greater than 500,000. Of the amounts appropriated annually to the Department for expenditure under this Section beginning July 1, 2011, 82% of such moneys shall be used for grants to convention bureaus in the remainder of the State, in accordance with a formula based upon the population served. The Department may reserve up to 10% of total local tourism funds available for costs of administering the program to conduct audits of grants, to provide incentive funds to those bureaus that will conduct promotional activities designed to further the Department's statewide advertising campaign, to fund special statewide promotional activities, and to fund promotional activities that support an increased use of the State's parks or historic sites. The During fiscal year 2013, the Department shall require that any convention and tourism bureau receiving a grant under this Section that requires matching funds shall provide matching funds equal to no less than 50% of the grant amount. During fiscal year 2013, the Department shall reserve $2,000,000 of the available local tourism funds for appropriation to the Historic Preservation Agency for the operation of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum and State historic sites.

(Source: P.A. 97-617, eff. 10-26-11; 97-732, eff. 6-30-12.)

(20 ILCS 605/605-707) (was 20 ILCS 605/46.6d)

Sec. 605-707. International Tourism Program.

(a) The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity must establish a program for international tourism. The Department shall develop and implement the program on January 1, 2000 by rule. As part of the program, the Department may work in cooperation with local convention and tourism bureaus in Illinois in the coordination of international tourism efforts at the State and local level. The Department may (i) work in cooperation with local convention and tourism bureaus for efficient use of their international tourism marketing resources, (ii) promote Illinois in international meetings and tourism markets, (iii) work with convention and tourism bureaus throughout the State to increase the number of international tourists to Illinois, (iv) provide training, research, technical support, and grants to certified convention and tourism bureaus, (v) provide staff, administration, and related support required to manage the programs under this Section, and (vi) provide grants for the development of or the enhancement of international tourism attractions.

(b) The Department shall make grants for expenses related to international tourism and pay for the staffing, administration, and related support from the International Tourism Fund, a special fund created in the State Treasury. Of the amounts deposited into the Fund in fiscal year 2000 after January 1, 2000 through fiscal year 2011, 55% shall be used for grants to convention and tourism bureaus in Chicago (other than the City of Chicago's Office of Tourism) and 45% shall be used for development of international tourism in areas outside of Chicago. Of the amounts deposited into the Fund in fiscal year 2001 and thereafter, 55% shall be used for grants to convention and tourism bureaus in Chicago, and of that amount not less than 27.5% shall be used for grants to convention and tourism bureaus in Chicago other than the City of Chicago's Office of Tourism, and 45% shall be used for administrative expenses and grants authorized under this Section and development of international tourism in areas outside of Chicago, of which not less than $1,000,000 shall be used annually to make grants to convention and tourism bureaus in cities other than Chicago that demonstrate their international tourism appeal and request to develop or expand their international tourism marketing program, and may also be used to provide grants under item (vi) of subsection (a) of this Section. All of the amounts deposited into the Fund in fiscal year 2012 and thereafter shall be used for administrative expenses and grants authorized under this Section and development of international tourism in areas outside of Chicago, of which not less than $1,000,000 shall be used annually to make grants to convention and tourism bureaus in cities other than Chicago that demonstrate their international tourism appeal and request to develop or expand their international tourism marketing program, and may also be used to provide grants under item (vi) of subsection (a) of this Section. Amounts appropriated to the State Comptroller for administrative expenses and grants authorized by the Illinois Global Partnership Act are payable from the International Tourism Fund.

(c) A convention and tourism bureau is eligible to receive grant moneys under this Section if the bureau is certified to receive funds under Title 14 of the Illinois Administrative Code, Section 550.35. To be eligible for a grant, a convention and tourism bureau must provide matching funds equal to the grant amount. The During fiscal year 2013, the Department shall require that any convention and tourism bureau receiving a grant under this Section that requires matching funds shall provide matching funds equal to no less than 50% of the grant amount. In certain circumstances as determined by the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, however, the City of Chicago's Office of Tourism or any other convention and tourism bureau may provide matching funds equal to no less than 50% of the grant amount to be eligible to receive the grant. One-half of this 50% may be provided through in-kind contributions. Grants received by the City of Chicago's Office of Tourism and by convention and tourism bureaus in Chicago may be expended for the general purposes of promoting conventions and tourism.

(Source: P.A. 97-617, eff. 10-26-11; 97-732, eff. 6-30-12.)

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

Effective Date: 8/9/2013