102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
SB1693

 

Introduced 2/26/2021, by Sen. Scott M. Bennett

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
See Index

    Creates the Illinois Industrial Biotechnology Partnership Act. Establishes the Industrial Biotechnology Public-Private Partnership as a State-sponsored board consisting of specified members to promote and market Illinois as a destination for research, development, and commercialization for industrial biotechnology. Provides for the appointment of members to the Partnership. Provides requirements concerning meetings and compensation. Provides for administrative and other support to the Partnership. Provides for duties and funding of the Partnership. Provides reporting requirements. Provides for the adoption of rules. Defines terms. Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law. Creates the Industrial Biotechnology Workforce Development Grant Program. Provides that the Program shall provide grants for the purpose of fostering a well-trained and well-skilled industrial biotechnology workforce. Provides funding and eligibility requirements. Provides reporting requirements. Provides for the adoption of rules. Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Industrial Biotechnology Human Capital Fund and Industrial Biotechnology Capital Maintenance Fund as special funds in the State treasury for specified purposes. Provides for funding of each Fund. Allows the use of Fund moneys for specified grants. Provides reporting requirements. Provides for the adoption of rules. Amends the Economic Development for a Growing Economy Tax Credit Act. Requires the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to evaluate the tax credit program regarding employment and investment criteria to ensure that the program is applicable to both small startup firms as well as existing companies in the industrial biotechnology field.


LRB102 10886 RJF 16216 b

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB1693LRB102 10886 RJF 16216 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 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5Illinois Industrial Biotech Partnership Act.
 
6    Section 5. Purpose. Illinois will actively pursue
7expansion of the industrial biotechnology and bio-renewables
8industry. This growing field closely aligns with several key
9industries, such as agriculture and Ag-Tech, life sciences and
10healthcare, and manufacturing that the State is pursuing
11through the 2019 Plan to Revitalize the Illinois Economy and
12Build the Workforce of the Future. Illinois is well positioned
13to lead the nation with ample feedstocks, dedicated research
14facilities, specialized job training programs, and an existing
15manufacturing base required to lead this industry.
16Modifications to several existing programs will ensure the
17State provides the correct aid and incentives to help attract
18this growing industry.
 
19    Section 10. Definitions. As used in this Act:
20    "Department" means the Department of Commerce and Economic
21Opportunity.
22    "Industrial biotechnology" means biotechnology focused on

 

 

SB1693- 2 -LRB102 10886 RJF 16216 b

1new industrial products and processes. Such products are
2diverse and include industrial materials, chemicals and
3solvents, and feed and food. This segment of biotechnology is
4different from health biotechnology (pharmaceuticals),
5agricultural biotechnology (transgenic crops), or
6environmental biotechnology (bioremediation).
7    "Partnership" means the Industrial Biotechnology
8Public-Private Partnership established under this Act.
 
9    Section 15. Industrial Biotechnology Public-Private
10Partnership.
11    (a) There is hereby established the Industrial
12Biotechnology Public-Private Partnership as a State-sponsored
13board consisting of members from State agencies, research
14facilities, industry, and agriculture, to promote and market
15Illinois as the leading destination for research, development,
16and commercialization for industrial biotechnology.
17    (b) The Partnership shall consist of the following
18members:
19        (1) a representative of the Department of Agriculture,
20    appointed by the Director of Agriculture;
21        (2) a representative of the Department of Commerce and
22    Economic Opportunity, appointed by the Director of
23    Commerce and Economic Opportunity;
24        (3) a representative of the Department of Labor,
25    appointed by the Director of Labor;

 

 

SB1693- 3 -LRB102 10886 RJF 16216 b

1        (4) a representative of the National Corn to Ethanol
2    Research Center, appointed by the Director of Commerce and
3    Economic Opportunity;
4        (5) a representative of the Integrated Bioprocessing
5    Research Laboratory, appointed by the Director of Commerce
6    and Economic Opportunity;
7        (6) a representative of the National Center for
8    Agricultural Utilization Research, appointed by the
9    Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity;
10        (7) a representative of a State-sponsored,
11    university-affiliated laboratory or research institution
12    conducting industrial biotechnology research, appointed by
13    the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity;
14        (8) a representative of an Illinois agricultural
15    commodity group or farmer organization, appointed by the
16    Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity;
17        (9) a representative of a grain or oilseed processing
18    company with current facilities located in Illinois,
19    appointed by the Director of Commerce and Economic
20    Opportunity;
21        (10) a representative of IBio, Inc., appointed by the
22    Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity;
23        (11) a representative of an environmental group
24    committed to biorenewables, appointed by the Director of
25    Commerce and Economic Opportunity; and
26        (12) a representative of a union of operating

 

 

SB1693- 4 -LRB102 10886 RJF 16216 b

1    engineers, appointed by the Director of Commerce and
2    Economic Opportunity.
3    (c) Members of the Partnership shall be appointed within
430 days after the effective date of this Act. The Partnership
5shall meet at least quarterly, and hold its first meeting
6within 30 days after the appointment of all members. At the
7first meeting of the Partnership, a Chairperson shall be
8chosen from among the members. Members of the Partnership
9shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for
10any expenses incurred in performing their duties.
11    (d) The Department shall provide administrative and other
12support to the Partnership.
 
13    Section 20. Duties. The Partnership shall have the
14following duties:
15        (1) The Partnership shall develop and direct efforts
16    to attract companies to utilize existing Illinois
17    facilities for research, development, and
18    pre-commercialization activities, including, but not
19    limited to: (i) representing Illinois at biotechnology
20    conferences; (ii) developing promotional and marketing
21    materials in coordination with existing research
22    facilities to use Illinois facilities; and (iii)
23    facilitating meetings for companies that are prospective
24    candidates for establishing a presence in this State.
25        (2) The Partnership shall develop programs to

 

 

SB1693- 5 -LRB102 10886 RJF 16216 b

1    encourage emerging research, development, and
2    commercialization biotechnology companies to locate
3    production facilities in Illinois, including, but not
4    limited to: (i) acting as an information clearinghouse for
5    new companies on all State programs and investment
6    incentives; and (ii) working with local and regional
7    economic development groups.
8        (3) The Partnership shall advise State agencies on the
9    administration of grant programs directed at industrial
10    biotechnology.
11        (4) The Partnership shall submit an annual report of
12    activities of Partnership to the Department, the General
13    Assembly, and the Governor as provided under this Act.
 
14    Section 25. Funding. The Partnership may receive funding
15through specific appropriations available for its purposes
16made to the Department. For any amount appropriated to the
17Partnership under this Section, any private entity that is a
18member of the Partnership must contribute project funds on a
191:3 ratio basis.
 
20    Section 30. Reports. On or before January 31 of each year,
21the Partnership shall submit to the Department, the General
22Assembly, and the Governor a report describing the use of
23appropriated funds for purposes including, but not limited to,
24marketing materials produced, meetings attended, and the

 

 

SB1693- 6 -LRB102 10886 RJF 16216 b

1hosting of companies visiting this State.
 
2    Section 35. Rules. The Department shall adopt all rules
3necessary for the implementation of this Act.
 
4    Section 100. The Department of Commerce and Economic
5Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois
6is amended by adding Section 605-1055 as follows:
 
7    (20 ILCS 605/605-1055 new)
8    Sec. 605-1055. Industrial Biotechnology Workforce
9Development Grant Program.
10    (a) The Industrial Biotechnology Workforce Development
11Grant Program is hereby established as a Program to be
12implemented and administered by the Department. The Program
13shall provide grants for the purpose of fostering a
14well-trained and well-skilled industrial biotechnology
15workforce.
16    (b) Subject to appropriation, grants under the Program
17shall be awarded on an annual basis as follows:
18        (1) $1,000,000 for industrial biotechnology
19    apprenticeships or apprenticeship programs;
20        (2) $500,000 for industrial biotechnology talent
21    pipeline management, to emphasize business-oriented
22    strategies to increase workforce competitiveness, improve
23    workforce diversity, and expand a regional talent pool

 

 

SB1693- 7 -LRB102 10886 RJF 16216 b

1    around high-growth industries;
2        (3) $500,000 for industrial biotechnology
3    industry-aligned credential (digital badging) expansion,
4    to increase the number of workers with in-demand skills
5    needed to obtain a job or advance within the workplace and
6    for merging competency-based education with responsive
7    workforce training strategies; and
8        (4) $500,000 for high school and community college
9    industrial biotechnology career pathway and
10    pre-apprenticeship program development.
11    (c) To be eligible for grants provided under the Program,
12an entity must be either: (i) a State-sponsored,
13university-affiliated laboratory or research institution
14conducting collaboratives or for-hire research in the
15development of biorenewable chemicals, bio-based polymers,
16materials, novel feeds, or additional value added
17biorenewables; or (ii) a State-accredited university or
18community college. An eligible entity must establish that it
19plans to use grant funds for a purpose specifically provided
20under subsection (b).
21    (d) The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
22shall submit an annual report to the General Assembly and the
23Governor on the use of grant funds under the Program. The
24Report shall include, but not be limited to: (i) the
25disbursement of grant funds, categorized by eligible entity;
26(ii) the number of persons enrolled in or taking advantage of a

 

 

SB1693- 8 -LRB102 10886 RJF 16216 b

1program established or maintained using grant funds; (iii) the
2number of persons completing a program established or
3maintained using grant funds; and (iv) the number of person
4gaining employment in the industrial biotechnology industry
5following completion of a program established or maintained
6using grant funds.
7    (e) The Department shall adopt all rules necessary for the
8implementation and administration of the Program under this
9Section.
 
10    Section 105. The State Finance Act is amended by adding
11Sections 6z-124 and 6z-125 as follows:
 
12    (30 ILCS 105/6z-124 new)
13    Sec. 6z-124. Industrial Biotechnology Human Capital Fund.
14    (a) The Industrial Biotechnology Human Capital Fund is
15created as a special fund in the State treasury and may receive
16funds from any source, public or private, including moneys
17appropriated for use by the Department of Commerce and
18Economic Opportunity and laboratories and institutions
19conducting industrial biotechnology research. The funding
20allocation for the Fund shall be no less than $1,000,000 per
21year.
22    (b) Moneys in the Fund shall be used for providing grants
23to laboratories and research institutions for the purpose of
24hiring and retaining in-house specialists, to be known as

 

 

SB1693- 9 -LRB102 10886 RJF 16216 b

1Experts-In-Residence, with the knowledge and experience in
2moving industrial biotechnology products through the
3development phase.
4    (c) To be eligible for grants provided from the Fund, an
5entity must be a State-sponsored, university-affiliated
6laboratory or research institution conducting collaboratives
7or for-hire research in the development of biorenewable
8chemicals, bio-based polymers, materials, novel feeds, or
9additional value added biorenewables. Eligible entities must
10also establish that the Expert-In-Residence they seek to hire
11or retain using the grant funds possesses expertise in
12fermentation engineering, process engineering, catalytic
13engineering, analytical chemistry, or is a scale-up
14specialist.
15    (d) The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
16shall submit an annual report to the General Assembly and the
17Governor on the use of moneys in the Fund. The Report shall
18include, but not be limited to: (i) the number of laboratories
19or institutions utilizing moneys in the Fund, including the
20name of such entities; (ii) the number of Experts-In-Residence
21hired by each laboratory or institution; (iii) the expertise
22or specialty area of each Expert-In-Residence for which he or
23she was hired or retained; and (iv) a summary of the benefit to
24the economy of the State of Illinois economy in providing the
25grants.
26    (e) The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity

 

 

SB1693- 10 -LRB102 10886 RJF 16216 b

1shall adopt all rules necessary for the implementation of this
2Section.
 
3    (30 ILCS 105/6z-125 new)
4    Sec. 6z-125. Industrial Biotechnology Capital Maintenance
5Fund.
6    (a) The Industrial Biotechnology Capital Maintenance Fund
7is created as a special fund in the State treasury and may
8receive funds from any source, public or private, including
9from moneys appropriated for use by the Department of Commerce
10and Economic Opportunity and laboratories and institutions
11conducting industrial biotechnology research. The funding
12allocation for the Fund shall be no less than $1,000,000 per
13year.
14    (b) Moneys in the Fund shall be used for providing grants
15to laboratories and research institutions for the purpose of
16maintenance and repair of capital assets. Such maintenance and
17repairs of capital assets shall be designed to extend the
18serviceable life of equipment and buildings and expand the
19capacity of equipment and buildings by at least 10%. For the
20purposes of this Section, "capital assets" means equipment or
21buildings that have a value greater than $250,000.
22    (c) To be eligible for grants provided from the Fund, an
23entity must be a State-sponsored, university-affiliated
24laboratory or research institution conducting collaboratives
25or for-hire research in the development of biorenewable

 

 

SB1693- 11 -LRB102 10886 RJF 16216 b

1chemicals, bio-based polymers, materials, novel feeds, or
2additional value added biorenewables. The Department of
3Commerce and Economic Opportunity, in consultation with the
4Industrial Biotechnology Public-Private Partnership, shall
5determine the disbursement of moneys for purposes of this
6Section.
7    (d) The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
8shall submit an annual report to the General Assembly and the
9Governor on the use of moneys in the Fund. The Report shall
10include, but not be limited to: (i) the name of the institution
11or laboratory receiving funds; (ii) the capital assets that
12were maintained or repaired at each institution or laboratory;
13(iii) the expected useable life extension of each maintained
14or repaired asset; and (iv) the capacity increase of each
15maintained or repaired asset.
16    (e) The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
17shall adopt all rules necessary for the implementation of this
18Section.
 
19    Section 110. The Economic Development for a Growing
20Economy Tax Credit Act is amended by changing Section 5-75 as
21follows:
 
22    (35 ILCS 10/5-75)
23    Sec. 5-75. Evaluation of tax credit program.
24    (a) On a biennial basis, the Department shall evaluate the

 

 

SB1693- 12 -LRB102 10886 RJF 16216 b

1tax credit program. The evaluation shall include an assessment
2of the effectiveness of the program in creating new jobs in
3Illinois and of the revenue impact of the program, and may
4include a review of the practices and experiences of other
5states with similar programs. The Director shall submit a
6report on the evaluation to the Governor and the General
7Assembly after June 30 and before November 1 in each
8odd-numbered year.
9    (b) As soon as practicable after the effective date of
10this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly, the
11Department shall evaluate the tax credit program regarding
12employment and investment criteria to ensure that the program
13is applicable to both small startup firms as well as existing
14companies in the industrial biotechnology field.
15(Source: P.A. 91-476, eff. 8-11-99.)

 

 

SB1693- 13 -LRB102 10886 RJF 16216 b

1 INDEX
2 Statutes amended in order of appearance
3    New Act
4    20 ILCS 605/605-1055 new
5    30 ILCS 105/6z-124 new
6    30 ILCS 105/6z-125 new
7    35 ILCS 10/5-75