Public Act 098-0252
 
HB2687 EnrolledLRB098 06986 HLH 37043 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 605-705 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