102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
SB1613

 

Introduced 2/26/2021, by Sen. Chapin Rose

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
5 ILCS 100/5-45.8 new
20 ILCS 605/605-1055 new

    Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Establishes the COVID-19 Small Business Relief Program for specified purposes. Provides that from appropriations for the COVID-19 Small Business Relief Program from the State Coronavirus Urgent Remediation Emergency Fund, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall provide financial assistance through grants, expense reimbursements, or subsidies to qualifying businesses or a qualified partner to cover expenses or losses incurred due to business interruptions caused by their forced closure or inability to carry out regular functions in an economically viable manner under Tier 3 of the Governor's Restoring Illinois plan. Provides for the adoption of rules. Provides for powers of the Department concerning the Program. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to provide for the adoption of emergency rules. Defines terms. Effective immediately.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB1613LRB102 15884 RJF 21253 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 5. The Illinois Administrative Procedure Act is
5amended by adding Section 5-45.8 as follows:
 
6    (5 ILCS 100/5-45.8 new)
7    Sec. 5-45.8. Emergency rulemaking; COVID-19 Small Business
8Relief Program. To provide for the expeditious and timely
9implementation of the COVID-19 Small Business Relief Program
10created under Section 605-1055 of the Department of Commerce
11and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code
12of Illinois, emergency rules implementing the COVID-19 Small
13Business Relief Program may be adopted in accordance with
14Section 5-45 by the Department of Commerce and Economic
15Opportunity. The adoption of emergency rules authorized by
16Section 5-45 and this Section is deemed to be necessary for the
17public interest, safety, and welfare.
18    This Section is repealed on January 1, 2026.
 
19    Section 10. The Department of Commerce and Economic
20Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois
21is amended by adding Section 605-1055 as follows:
 

 

 

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1    (20 ILCS 605/605-1055 new)
2    Sec. 605-1055. COVID-19 Small Business Relief Program.
3    (a) Purpose. The Department may receive, directly or
4indirectly, federal funds under the authority of legislation
5passed in response to the Coronavirus epidemic including, but
6not limited to, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic
7Security Act, P.L. 116-136 (the CARES Act). Section 5001 of
8the CARES Act establishes the Coronavirus Relief Fund, which
9authorized the State to expend funds that are necessary to
10respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency. The financial
11support of qualifying businesses is a necessary expense under
12federal guidance for implementing Section 5001 of the CARES
13Act. Upon receipt or availability of such funds, and subject
14to appropriations for their use, the Department shall
15administer a program to provide financial assistance to
16qualifying businesses that have experienced interruption of
17business due to their forced closure or inability to carry out
18regular functions in an economically viable manner under Tier
193 of the Governor's Restoring Illinois plan. Support may be
20provided directly by the Department to qualifying businesses
21or in cooperation with a qualified partner. Financial
22assistance may include, but not be limited to grants, expense
23reimbursements, or subsidies.
24    (b) From appropriations for the COVID-19 Small Business
25Relief Program from the State Coronavirus Urgent Remediation
26Emergency Fund, the Department shall provide financial

 

 

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1assistance through grants, expense reimbursements, or
2subsidies to qualifying businesses or a qualified partner to
3cover expenses or losses incurred due to business
4interruptions caused by their forced closure or inability to
5carry out regular functions in an economically viable manner
6under Tier 3 of the Governor's Restoring Illinois plan. All
7spending related to this program must be reimbursable by the
8Federal Coronavirus Relief Fund in accordance with Section
95001 of the federal CARES Act and any related federal
10guidance, or the provisions of any other federal source
11supporting the program.
12    (c) The Department may establish by rule administrative
13procedures for the grant Program, including any application
14procedures, grant agreements, certifications, payment
15methodologies, and other accountability measures that may be
16imposed upon participants in the Program. The emergency
17rulemaking process may be used to adopt the initial rules of
18the grant Program.
19    (d) The Department has the power to:
20        (1) provide grants, subsidies, and expense
21    reimbursements to qualified businesses or, on behalf of
22    qualified businesses, to qualified partners from
23    appropriations to cover qualified businesses eligible
24    costs or losses incurred due to their forced closure or
25    inability to carry out regular functions in an
26    economically viable manner under Tier 3 of the Governor's

 

 

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1    Restoring Illinois plan.
2        (2) enter into agreements, accept funds, issue grants,
3    and engage in cooperation with agencies of the federal
4    government, units of local government, financial
5    institutions, and nonprofit organizations to carry out the
6    purposes of this Program, and to use funds appropriated
7    for the COVID-19 Small Business Relief Program;
8        (3) prepare forms for application, notification,
9    contract, and other matters, and establish procedures and
10    rules deemed necessary and appropriate to carry out the
11    provisions of this Section; and
12        (4) provide staff, administration, and related support
13    required to manage the COVID-19 Small Business Relief
14    Program and pay for the staffing, administration, and
15    related support.
16    (e) Definitions. As used in the Section:
17    "Qualified partner" means a financial institution or
18nonprofit organization with which the Department has entered
19into an agreement or contract to provide or incentivize
20assistance to qualifying businesses.
21    "Qualifying businesses" means a business that is
22experiencing business interruption due to its forced closure
23or inability to carry out regular functions in an economically
24viable manner under Tier 3 of the Governor's Restoring
25Illinois plan and is eligible for reimbursement as prescribed
26by Section 601 (a) of the Social Security Act and added by

 

 

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1Section 5001 of the CARES Act or other federal legislation
2addressing the COVID-19 crisis.
 
3    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
4becoming law.