Rep. Charles Meier

Filed: 5/12/2021

 

 


 

 


 
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1
AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 1693

2    AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 1693 by replacing
3everything after the enacting clause with the following:
 
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 biorenewables
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

 

 

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

 

 

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1        (1) a representative of the Department of Agriculture,
2    appointed by the Director of Agriculture;
3        (2) a representative of the Department of Commerce and
4    Economic Opportunity, appointed by the Director of
5    Commerce and Economic Opportunity;
6        (3) a representative of the Department of Labor,
7    appointed by the Director of Labor;
8        (4) a representative of the National Corn to Ethanol
9    Research Center, appointed by the Director of Commerce and
10    Economic Opportunity;
11        (5) a representative of the Integrated Bioprocessing
12    Research Laboratory, appointed by the Director of Commerce
13    and Economic Opportunity;
14        (6) a representative of the National Center for
15    Agricultural Utilization Research, who shall participate
16    in a non-voting capacity, appointed by the Director of
17    Commerce and Economic Opportunity in consultation with the
18    Director of USDA, Agricultural Research Service;
19        (7) a representative of an additional State-sponsored,
20    university-affiliated laboratory or research institution
21    conducting industrial biotechnology research (in addition
22    to persons appointed under paragraphs (4) and (5))
23    appointed by the Director of Commerce and Economic
24    Opportunity;
25        (8) a representative of an Illinois agricultural
26    commodity group or farmer organization, appointed by the

 

 

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1    Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity;
2        (9) a representative of a grain or oilseed processing
3    company with current facilities located in Illinois,
4    appointed by the Director of Commerce and Economic
5    Opportunity;
6        (10) a representative of a biotechnology company,
7    appointed by the Director of Commerce and Economic
8    Opportunity;
9        (11) a representative of an environmental group
10    committed to biorenewables, appointed by the Director of
11    Commerce and Economic Opportunity; and
12        (12) a representative of a union of operating
13    engineers, appointed by the Director of Commerce and
14    Economic Opportunity.
15    (c) Members of the Partnership shall be appointed within
1690 days after the effective date of this Act. The Partnership
17shall meet at least quarterly, and hold its first meeting
18within 90 days after the appointment of all members. At the
19first meeting of the Partnership, a Chairperson shall be
20chosen from among the members. Members of the Partnership
21shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for
22any expenses incurred in performing their duties.
23    (d) A non-profit organization, in partnership with the
24Department, may provide administrative and other support to
25the Industrial Biotechnology Public-Private Partnership.
 

 

 

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1    Section 20. Duties. The Partnership shall have the
2following duties:
3        (1) The Partnership shall develop and direct efforts
4    to attract companies to utilize existing Illinois
5    facilities for research, development, and
6    pre-commercialization activities, including, but not
7    limited to: (i) representing Illinois at biotechnology
8    conferences; (ii) developing promotional and marketing
9    materials in coordination with existing research
10    facilities to use Illinois facilities; (iii) making
11    companies aware of local, State, and federal programs in
12    this State that may help such companies in their
13    activities; and (iv) facilitating meetings for companies
14    that are prospective candidates for establishing a
15    presence in this State.
16        (2) The Partnership shall develop programs to
17    encourage emerging research, development, and
18    commercialization biotechnology companies to locate
19    production facilities in Illinois, including, but not
20    limited to: (i) acting as an information clearinghouse for
21    new companies on all State programs and investment
22    incentives; and (ii) working with local and regional
23    economic development groups.
24        (3) The Partnership shall provide advice and
25    recommendations to State agencies on industrial
26    biotechnology, including, but not limited to: (i) the

 

 

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1    Industrial Biotechnology Workforce Development Grant
2    Program; (ii) grants issued from the Industrial
3    Biotechnology Human Capital Fund; and (iii) grants issued
4    from the Industrial Biotechnology Capital Maintenance
5    Fund.
6        (4) The Partnership, subject to appropriation, may
7    issue grants for the promotion of industrial
8    biotechnology.    
9        (5) On or before January 31 in years following a year
10    in which State funding was received, the Partnership shall
11    submit a report on the activities of the Partnership to
12    the Department, the General Assembly, and the Governor as
13    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, private funds must be
18contributed on a 3:1 ratio basis.
 
19    Section 30. Reports. On or before January 31 in years
20following a year in which State funding was received, the
21Partnership 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

 

 

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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 605-1057 as follows:
 
7    (20 ILCS 605/605-1057 new)
8    Sec. 605-1057. 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

 

 

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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) Subject to appropriation, the Department of Commerce
22and Economic Opportunity shall submit an annual report to the
23General Assembly and the Governor on the use of grant funds
24under the Program. The report shall include, but not be
25limited to: (i) the disbursement of grant funds, categorized
26by eligible entity; (ii) the number of persons enrolled in or

 

 

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1taking advantage of a program established or maintained using
2grant funds; (iii) the number of persons completing a program
3established or maintained using grant funds; and (iv) the
4number of persons gaining employment in the industrial
5biotechnology industry following completion of a program
6established or maintained using 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-124.5 and 6z-125 as follows:
 
12    (30 ILCS 105/6z-124.5 new)
13    Sec. 6z-124.5. Industrial Biotechnology Human Capital
14Fund.
15    (a) The Industrial Biotechnology Human Capital Fund is
16created as a special fund in the State treasury and may receive
17funds from any source, public or private, including moneys
18appropriated for use by the Department of Commerce and
19Economic Opportunity and laboratories and institutions
20conducting industrial biotechnology research. Subject to
21appropriation, the funding allocation for the Fund shall be no
22less than $1,000,000 from available funds in the General
23Revenue Fund for the first 5 years after the effective date of
24this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly.

 

 

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1    (b) Moneys in the Fund shall be used for providing grants
2directly to laboratories and research institutions for the
3purpose of hiring and retaining in-house specialists, to be
4known as Experts-In-Residence, with the knowledge and
5experience in moving industrial biotechnology products through
6the development phase. Any eligible entity, as a condition of
7receiving a grant under this Section, shall contribute moneys
8to the Fund as a part of a cost sharing agreement between the
9grantee and the Department of Commerce and Economic
10Opportunity, as shall be prescribed by the Department by rule.
11Grants issued under this Section may be for a period of 2
12years. Any eligible entity issued a grant under this Section
13shall be eligible for more than one such grant, but no more
14than one grant annually, for the purpose of hiring and
15retaining Experts-In-Residence; however, such entity may
16maintain more than one grant at any given time.
17    (c) To be eligible for grants provided from the Fund, an
18entity must be a State-sponsored, university-affiliated
19laboratory or research institution conducting collaboratives
20or for-hire research in the development of biorenewable
21chemicals, bio-based polymers, materials, novel feeds, or
22additional value added biorenewables. Eligible entities must
23also establish that the Expert-In-Residence they seek to hire
24or retain using the grant funds possesses expertise in
25fermentation engineering, process engineering, catalytic
26engineering, analytical chemistry, or is a scale-up

 

 

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1specialist.
2    (d) Subject to appropriation, the Department of Commerce
3and Economic Opportunity shall submit an annual report to the
4General Assembly and the Governor on the use of moneys in the
5Fund. The report shall include, but not be limited to: (i) the
6number of laboratories or institutions utilizing moneys in the
7Fund, including the name of such entities; (ii) the number of
8Experts-In-Residence hired by each laboratory or institution;
9(iii) the expertise or specialty area of each
10Expert-In-Residence for which he or she was hired or retained;
11and (iv) a summary of the benefit to the economy of the State
12of Illinois economy in providing the grants.
13    (e) The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
14shall adopt all rules necessary for the implementation of this
15Section.
 
16    (30 ILCS 105/6z-125 new)
17    Sec. 6z-125. Industrial Biotechnology Capital Maintenance
18Fund.
19    (a) The Industrial Biotechnology Capital Maintenance Fund
20is created as a special fund in the State treasury and may
21receive funds from any source, public or private, including
22from moneys appropriated for use by the Department of Commerce
23and Economic Opportunity and laboratories and institutions
24conducting industrial biotechnology research. Subject to
25appropriation, the funding allocation for the Fund shall be no

 

 

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1less than $1,000,000 per year.
2    (b) Moneys in the Fund shall be used for providing grants
3to laboratories and research institutions for the purpose of
4maintenance and repair of capital assets. Such funds may be
5used for either or both (i) maintenance and repairs of
6existing capital assets or (ii) to expand the capacity of
7equipment and buildings by at least 10%. For the purposes of
8this Section, "capital assets" means equipment or buildings
9that have a value greater than $250,000.
10    (c) To be eligible for grants provided from the Fund, an
11entity must be a State-sponsored, university-affiliated
12laboratory or research institution conducting collaboratives
13or for-hire research in the development of biorenewable
14chemicals, bio-based polymers, materials, novel feeds, or
15additional value added biorenewables. The Department of
16Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall determine the
17disbursement of moneys for purposes of this Section. Any
18eligible entity, as a condition of receiving a grant under
19this Section, shall match up to at least 50% of the moneys to
20be granted to the entity.
21    (d) Subject to appropriation, the Department of Commerce
22and Economic Opportunity shall submit an annual report to the
23General Assembly and the Governor on the use of moneys in the
24Fund. The report shall include, but not be limited to: (i) the
25name of the institution or laboratory receiving funds; (ii)
26the capital assets that were maintained or repaired at each

 

 

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1institution or laboratory; (iii) the expected usable life
2extension of each maintained or repaired asset; and (iv) the
3capacity increase of each maintained or repaired asset.
4    (e) The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
5shall adopt all rules necessary for the implementation of this
6Section.".