HB2927enr 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB2927 Enrolled LRB097 08773 HLH 48903 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 Illinois Emergency Employment Development Act is amended by changing Sections 2, 3, 6, 7, 9 and by adding Sections 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, and 18 as follows:

(20 ILCS 630/2) (from Ch. 48, par. 2402)

Sec. 2. For the purposes of this Act, the following words have the meanings ascribed to them in this Section.

(a) "Advisory Committee" means the 21st Century Workforce Development Fund Advisory Committee, established under the 21st Century Workforce Development Fund Act.

(b) (a) "Coordinator" means the Illinois Emergency Employment Development Coordinator appointed under Section 3.

(c) "Department" means the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

(d) "Director" means the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

(e) (b) "Eligible business" means a for-profit business.

(f) (c) "Eligible employer" means an eligible nonprofit agency, or an eligible business.

(g) (d) "Eligible job applicant" means a person who (1) has been a resident of this State for at least one year; and (2) is unemployed; and (3) is not receiving and is not qualified to receive unemployment compensation or workers' compensation; and (4) is determined by the employment administrator to be likely to be available for employment by an eligible employer for the duration of the job. :

A. (1) has been a resident of this State for at least one year; and (2) is unemployed; and (3) is not receiving and is not qualified to receive unemployment compensation or workers' compensation; and (4) is determined by the employment administrator to be likely to be available for employment by an eligible employer for the duration of the job; or

B. is otherwise eligible for services under the Job Training Partnership Act (29 USCA 1501 et seq.).

In addition, a farmer who resides in a county qualified under Federal Disaster Relief and who can demonstrate severe financial need may be considered unemployed under this subsection.

(h) (e) "Eligible nonprofit agency" means an organization exempt from taxation under the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, Section 501(c)(3).

(i) (f) "Employment administrator" means the administrative entity designated by the Coordinator, and approved by the Advisory Committee, to administer the provisions of this Act in each service delivery area. With approval of the Advisory Committee, the Coordinator may designate an administrative entity authorized under the Workforce Investment Act or private, public, or non-profit entities that have proven effectiveness in providing training, workforce development, and job placement services to low-income individuals Manager of the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Job Training Programs Division or his or her designee.

(j) "Fringe benefits" means all non-salary costs for each person employed under the program, including, but not limited to, workers compensation, unemployment insurance, and health benefits, as would be provided to non-subsidized employees performing similar work.

(k) (g) "Household" means a group of persons living at the same residence consisting of, at a maximum, spouses and the minor children of each.

(l) (h) "Program" means the Illinois Emergency Employment Development Program created by this Act consisting of temporary work relief projects in nonprofit agencies and new job creation in the private sector.

(i) "Service Delivery Area" means that unit or units of local government designated by the Governor pursuant to Title I, Part A, Section 102 of the Job Training Partnership Act (29 USCA et seq.).

(j) "Excess unemployed" means the number of unemployed in excess of 6.5% of the service delivery area population.

(k) "Private industry council" means governing body of each service delivery area created pursuant to Title I, Section 102 of the Job Training Partnership Act (29 USC 1501 et seq.).

(m) "Service delivery area" means an area designated as a Local Workforce Investment Area by the State.

(n) "Workforce Investment Act" means the federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998, any amendments to that Act, and any other applicable federal statutes.

(Source: P.A. 94-793, eff. 5-19-06.)

(20 ILCS 630/3) (from Ch. 48, par. 2403)

Sec. 3. Illinois Emergency Employment Development Coordinator.

(a) The governor shall may appoint an Illinois Emergency Employment Development Coordinator to administer the provisions of this Act. The coordinator shall be within the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, but shall be responsible directly to the governor. The coordinator shall have the powers necessary to carry out the purpose of the program.

(b) The coordinator shall:

(1) recommend one or more Employment Administrators for each service delivery area for approval by the Advisory Committee, with recommendations based on the demonstrated ability of the Employment Administrator to identify and address local needs Coordinate the Program with other State agencies;

(2) enter into a contract with one or more Employment Administrators in each service delivery area Coordinate administration of the program with the general assistance program;

(3) assist the Employment Administrator in developing a satisfactory plan if an Employment Administrator submits one that does not conform to program requirements Set policy regarding disbursement of program funds; and

(4) convene and provide staff support to the Advisory Committee;

(5) coordinate the program with other State agencies and services including public benefits and workforce programs for unemployed individuals; and Perform general program marketing and monitoring functions.

(6) perform general program marketing and monitoring functions.

(c) The coordinator shall administer the program within the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. The Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall provide administrative support services to the coordinator for the purposes of the program.

(d) The coordinator shall report to the Governor, the Advisory Committee, Illinois Job Training Coordinating Council and the General Assembly on a quarterly basis concerning (1) the number of persons employed under the program; (2) the number and type of employers under the program; (3) the amount of money spent in each service delivery area for wages for each type of employment and each type of other expenses; (4) the number of persons who have completed participation in the program and their current employment, educational or training status; and (5) any information requested by the General Assembly, the Advisory Committee, or governor or deemed pertinent by the coordinator; and (6) any identified violations of this Act and actions taken. Each report shall include cumulative information, as well as information for each quarter.

(e) Rules. The Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, with the advice of the coordinator and the Advisory Committee, shall adopt rules for the administration and enforcement of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 96-995, eff. 1-1-11.)

(20 ILCS 630/6) (from Ch. 48, par. 2406)

Sec. 6. Program funds; uses. Funds appropriated for the purposes of the program shall not exceed $10 million per fiscal year.

Funds appropriated for the purposes of the program may be used as follows:

(a) To provide a State contribution for wages and fringe benefits for eligible job applicants for a maximum of 1,040 hours over a maximum period of 52 26 weeks per job applicant. For eligible job applicants participating in a job training program, the State contribution for wages may be used for a maximum period of 52 weeks per job applicant. The minimum allowable hourly wage for job applicants employed in this program shall not be below 120% of the current State minimum wage rate. At least 75% of the funds appropriated for the program must be used to pay wages and fringe benefits for eligible job applicants. State contribution amounts are as follows:

(1) For for-profit business employers, the The State contribution for wages shall be 50% of the minimum allowable hourly wage wages up to a maximum of $4 per hour for each eligible job applicant employed. The State contribution for fringe benefits may be up to 25% of the State wage contribution $1 per hour for each eligible job applicant employed. The employer must match wages in an amount equal to or greater than the State contribution for this program. Employers are responsible for the remaining costs of any benefits provided and other employment related costs. The However, the employer may use funds from other sources to provide increased wages and benefits to the applicants it employs. During the first fiscal year in which the program is in effect, at least 75% of the funds appropriated for the program must be used to pay wages for eligible job applicants. During each subsequent fiscal year in which the program is in effect, at least 85% of the funds appropriated for the program must be used to pay wages for eligible job applicants;

(2) For non-profit employers participating in this program, the State contribution for wages shall be 75% of the minimum allowable hourly wage for each eligible job applicant employed. The State contribution for fringe benefits may be up to 25% of the state wage contribution per hour for each eligible job applicant employed. The employer must match wages in an amount equal to or greater than the State contribution for this program. The State contribution may be used to provide workers' compensation coverage to applicants employed by government or non-profit agencies under this Act. Employers are responsible for the remaining costs of any benefits. The employer may use funds from other sources to provide increased wages and benefits to the applicants it employs.

(b) To provide child care services or subsidies or other supportive services necessary to maintain employment to applicants employed under the program;

(c) To provide workers' compensation coverage to applicants employed by nonprofit agencies under the program;

(d) To provide job search assistance, labor market orientation, job seeking and work readiness skills, and referral for other services;

(e) To purchase supplies and materials for projects creating permanent improvements to public property in an amount not to exceed one percent of the funds appropriated; and .

(f) To reimburse the Department in an amount not to exceed 1% of the funds appropriated for the actual cost of administering this Act, and to reimburse the Employment Administrators in an amount not to exceed 4.5% of the funds allocated to them for their actual cost of administering this Act. The Director and the Employment Administrators shall leverage funds from other sources to cover the administrative costs of this program whenever possible.

The Employment Administrator of each service delivery area shall submit to the Coordinator a spending plan establishing that funds allocated to the service delivery area will be used within one year after the effective date, in the manner required by this Act. Any funds allocated to a service delivery area for which there is no spending plan approved by the Coordinator shall be returned to the Department and may be reallocated by the Coordinator to other Employment Administrators.

(Source: P.A. 84-792.)

(20 ILCS 630/7) (from Ch. 48, par. 2407)

Sec. 7. Duties of State agencies.

(a) The Department of Employment Security Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall post information publicizing publicize the program and shall provide staff assistance as requested by employment administrators in the screening of businesses and the collection of data about participants in the program.

(b) The Secretary of Human Services shall make available to each employment administrator lists of local child care providers through the Child Care Resource and Referral Network available to persons employed under the program. The Director of Children and Family Services shall provide to each employment administrator lists of currently licensed local day care facilities, updated quarterly, to be available to all persons employed under the program.

(c) The Secretary of Human Services shall post information publicizing the program to applicants and recipients of take all steps necessary to inform each applicant for public aid of the availability of the program.

(Source: P.A. 94-793, eff. 5-19-06.)

(20 ILCS 630/9) (from Ch. 48, par. 2409)

Sec. 9. (a) Eligible businesses. A business employer is an eligible employer if it enters into a written contract, signed and subscribed to under oath, with the employment administrator for its service delivery area containing assurances that:

(1) funds received by a business shall be used only as permitted under the program;

(2) the business has submitted a plan to the employment administrator (1) describing the duties and proposed compensation of each employee proposed to be hired under the program; and (2) demonstrating that with the funds provided under the program the business is likely to succeed and continue to employ persons hired under the program;

(3) the business will use funds exclusively for compensation and fringe benefits of eligible job applicants and will provide employees hired with these funds with fringe benefits and other terms and conditions of employment comparable to those provided to other employees of the business who do comparable work;

(4) the funds are necessary to allow the business to begin, or to employ additional people, but not to fill positions which would be filled even in the absence of funds from this program;

(5) the business will cooperate with the coordinator in collecting data to assess the result of the program; and

(6) the business is in compliance with all applicable affirmative action, fair labor, health, safety, and environmental standards.

(b) In allocating funds among eligible businesses, the employment administrator shall give priority to businesses which best satisfy the following criteria:

(1) have a high potential for growth and long-term job creation;

(2) are labor intensive;

(3) make high use of local and State resources;

(4) are under ownership of women and minorities;

(4-5) meet the definition of a small business as defined in Section 5 of the Small Business Advisory Act;

(4-10) produce energy conserving materials or services or are involved in development of renewable sources of energy;

(5) have their primary places of business in the State; and

(6) intend to continue the employment of the eligible applicant for at least 6 months of unsubsidized employment.

(c) (Blank). If the eligible employee remains employed for 6 months of unsubsidized employment, his employer may apply for a bonus equal to 1/6 of the subsidy provided to the employer for that employee under this Act.

(d) A business receiving funds under this program shall repay 70% of the amount received for each eligible job applicant employed who does not continue in the employment of the business for at least 6 months beyond the subsidized period unless the employer dismisses an employee for good cause and works with the Employment Administrator to employ and train another person referred by the Employment Administrator. The Employment Administrator shall forward payments received under this subsection to the Coordinator on a monthly basis. The Coordinator shall deposit these payments into the Illinois 21st Century Workforce Development Fund.

(Source: P.A. 84-1399.)

(20 ILCS 630/11 new)

Sec. 11. Illinois 21st Century Workforce Development Fund Advisory Committee.

(a) The 21st Century Workforce Development Fund Advisory Committee, established under the 21st Century Workforce Development Fund Act, shall provide oversight to the Illinois Emergency Employment Development program.

(b) The Advisory Committee shall meet at the call of the Coordinator to do the following:

(1) establish guidelines for the selection of Employment Administrators;

(2) review recommendations of the Coordinator and approve final selection of Employment Administrators;

(3) develop guidelines for the emergency employment development plans to be created by each Employment Administrator;

(4) review the emergency employment development plan submitted by the Employment Administrator of each service delivery area and approve satisfactory plans;

(5) ensure that the program is widely marketed to employers and eligible job seekers;

(6) set policy regarding disbursement of program funds; and

(7) review program quarterly reports and make recommendations for program improvements as needed.

(20 ILCS 630/12 new)

Sec. 12. Allocation of funds among service delivery areas.

(a) 90% of the funds available for allocation to Employment Administrators for the program must be allocated among service delivery areas as follows: each service delivery area shall be eligible to receive that proportion of the funds available which equals the number of unemployed persons in the service delivery area divided by the total number of unemployed persons in the State for the 12-month period ending on the most recent March 31.

(b) 10% of the funds available for allocation to employment administrators under the program must be allocated at the discretion of the Advisory Committee to Employment Administrators:

(1) who will maximize the use of the funds through coordination with other programs and State, local, and federal agencies, through the use of matching funds, or through the involvement of low-income constituent groups;

(2) who have demonstrated need beyond the allocation available under subsection (a); and

(3) who have demonstrated outstanding performance in job creation.

(20 ILCS 630/13 new)

Sec. 13. Allocation within service delivery areas; priorities. Allocation of funds within a service delivery area shall be determined by the Employment Administrator in each service delivery area. The Employment Administrator shall give priority to job applicants who: (i) live in households with no other earned income source; (ii) have been unemployed for 6 months or more; or (iii) who would otherwise be eligible to receive Temporary Aid to Needy Families under Article IV of the Public Aid Code, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or general assistance under Article VI of the Illinois Public Aid Code.

(20 ILCS 630/14 new)

Sec. 14. Employment Administrators; powers and duties.

(a) The Employment Administrator for each service delivery area has the powers and duties given in this Section and any additional duties given by the Coordinator.

(b) Each Employment Administrator shall develop an emergency employment development plan for its service delivery area under guidelines developed by the Advisory Committee and submit it to the Coordinator within the period allowed by the Coordinator. To the extent feasible, the Employment Administrator shall seek input from potential eligible employers and the public. The Employment Administrator shall consult with local sources of information to identify current local needs, including, but not limited to, local Workforce Investment Boards, economic development councils, community action agencies, and local Labor Market Information from the Department of Employment Security.

(c) Each Employment Administrator shall publicize the program within its service delivery area to seek maximum participation by eligible job applicants and employers.

(d) Each Employment Administrator shall enter into contracts with eligible employers setting forth the terms of their participation in the program as required by this Act.

(e) Each Employment Administrator shall screen job applicants and employers to achieve the best possible placement of eligible job applicants with eligible employers.

(f) Each Employment Administrator shall maintain a list of eligible job applicants unable to secure employment under the program at the time of application. The list shall prioritize eligible job applicants and shall be used to fill jobs with eligible employers as they become available. Each Employment Administrator shall receive and coordinate referrals from other local organizations.

(g) Each Employment Administrator shall cooperate with local educational and training institutions to coordinate and publicize the availability of their resources to assure that applicants may receive training needed before or while employed in jobs which are available under the program.

(h) Each Employment Administrator may disburse funds not to exceed 1% of the amount allocated to its service delivery area for the purchase of supplies and materials for projects creating permanent improvements to public property.

(20 ILCS 630/17 new)

Sec. 17. Work incentive demonstration project. The coordinator and members of the Advisory Committee shall explore avaliable resources to leverage in combination with the wage subsidies in this Act to develop a Transitional Jobs program. This Transitional Jobs program would prioritize services for individuals with limited experience in the labor market and barriers to employment, including but not limited to, recipients of Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or other related public assistance, and people with criminal records.

(20 ILCS 630/18 new)

Sec. 18. Worker displacement.

(a) An eligible employer may not terminate, lay off, or reduce the working hours of an employee for the purpose of hiring an individual with funds available under this Act.

(b) An eligible employer may not hire an individual with funds available under this Act if any other person is on layoff from the same or substantially equivalent job.

(c) In order to qualify as an eligible employer, a government or non-profit agency or business must certify to the Employment Administrator that each job created and funded under this Act:

(1) will result in an increase in employment opportunity over the level that would otherwise be available;

(2) will not result in the displacement of currently employed workers, including partial displacement such as reduction in hours of non-overtime work, wages, or employment benefits; and

(3) will not impair existing contracts for service or result in the substitution of program funds for other funds in connection with work that would otherwise be performed.

Section 10. The Corporate Accountability for Tax Expenditures Act is amended by changing Section 5 as follows:

(20 ILCS 715/5)

Sec. 5. Definitions. As used in this Act:

"Base years" means the first 2 complete calendar years following the effective date of a recipient receiving development assistance.

"Date of assistance" means the commencement date of the assistance agreement, which date triggers the period during which the recipient is obligated to create or retain jobs and continue operations at the specific project site.

"Default" means that a recipient has not achieved its job creation, job retention, or wage or benefit goals, as applicable, during the prescribed period therefor.

"Department" means, unless otherwise noted, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity or any successor agency.

"Development assistance" means (1) tax credits and tax exemptions (other than given under tax increment financing) given as an incentive to a recipient business organization pursuant to an initial certification or an initial designation made by the Department under the Economic Development for a Growing Economy Tax Credit Act, River Edge Redevelopment Zone Act, and the Illinois Enterprise Zone Act, including the High Impact Business program, (2) grants or loans given to a recipient as an incentive to a business organization pursuant to the River Edge Redevelopment Zone Act, Large Business Development Program, the Business Development Public Infrastructure Program, or the Industrial Training Program, (3) the State Treasurer's Economic Program Loans, (4) the Illinois Department of Transportation Economic Development Program, and (5) all successor and subsequent programs and tax credits designed to promote large business relocations and expansions. "Development assistance" does not include tax increment financing, assistance provided under the Illinois Enterprise Zone Act and River Edge Redevelopment Zone Act pursuant to local ordinance, participation loans, or financial transactions through statutorily authorized financial intermediaries in support of small business loans and investments or given in connection with the development of affordable housing. "Development assistance" includes assistance under the Illinois Emergency Employment Program pursuant to the Illinois Emergency Development Act.

"Development assistance agreement" means any agreement executed by the State granting body and the recipient setting forth the terms and conditions of development assistance to be provided to the recipient consistent with the final application for development assistance, including but not limited to the date of assistance, submitted to and approved by the State granting body.

"Full-time, permanent job" means either: (1) the definition therefor in the legislation authorizing the programs described in the definition of development assistance in the Act or (2) if there is no such definition, then as defined in administrative rules implementing such legislation, provided the administrative rules were in place prior to the effective date of this Act. On and after the effective date of this Act, if there is no definition of "full-time, permanent job" in either the legislation authorizing a program that constitutes economic development assistance under this Act or in any administrative rule implementing such legislation that was in place prior to the effective date of this Act, then "full-time, permanent job" means a job in which the new employee works for the recipient at a rate of at least 35 hours per week.

"New employee" means either: (1) the definition therefor in the legislation authorizing the programs described in the definition of development assistance in the Act or (2) if there is no such definition, then as defined in administrative rules implementing such legislation, provided the administrative rules were in place prior to the effective date of this Act. On and after the effective date of this Act, if there is no definition of "new employee" in either the legislation authorizing a program that constitutes economic development assistance under this Act nor in any administrative rule implementing such legislation that was in place prior to the effective date of this Act, then "new employee" means a full-time, permanent employee who represents a net increase in the number of the recipient's employees statewide. "New employee" includes an employee who previously filled a new employee position with the recipient who was rehired or called back from a layoff that occurs during or following the base years.

The term "New Employee" does not include any of the following:

(1) An employee of the recipient who performs a job that was previously performed by another employee in this State, if that job existed in this State for at least 6 months before hiring the employee.

(2) A child, grandchild, parent, or spouse, other than a spouse who is legally separated from the individual, of any individual who has a direct or indirect ownership interest of at least 5% in the profits, capital, or value of any member of the recipient.

"Part-time job" means either: (1) the definition therefor in the legislation authorizing the programs described in the definition of development assistance in the Act or (2) if there is no such definition, then as defined in administrative rules implementing such legislation, provided the administrative rules were in place prior to the effective date of this Act. On and after the effective date of this Act, if there is no definition of "part-time job" in either the legislation authorizing a program that constitutes economic development assistance under this Act or in any administrative rule implementing such legislation that was in place prior to the effective date of this Act, then "part-time job" means a job in which the new employee works for the recipient at a rate of less than 35 hours per week.

"Recipient" means any business that receives economic development assistance. A business is any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, association, sole proprietorship, or other legally recognized entity.

"Retained employee" means either: (1) the definition therefor in the legislation authorizing the programs described in the definition of development assistance in the Act or (2) if there is no such definition, then as defined in administrative rules implementing such legislation, provided the administrative rules were in place prior to the effective date of this Act. On and after the effective date of this Act, if there is no definition of "retained employee" in either the legislation authorizing a program that constitutes economic development assistance under this Act or in any administrative rule implementing such legislation that was in place prior to the effective date of this Act, then "retained employee" means any employee defined as having a full-time or full-time equivalent job preserved at a specific facility or site, the continuance of which is threatened by a specific and demonstrable threat, which shall be specified in the application for development assistance.

"Specific project site" means that distinct operational unit to which any development assistance is applied.

"State granting body" means the Department, any State department or State agency that provides development assistance that has reporting requirements under this Act, and any successor agencies to any of the preceding.

"Temporary job" means either: (1) the definition therefor in the legislation authorizing the programs described in the definition of development assistance in the Act or (2) if there is no such definition, then as defined in administrative rules implementing such legislation, provided the administrative rules were in place prior to the effective date of this Act. On and after the effective date of this Act, if there is no definition of "temporary job" in either the legislation authorizing a program that constitutes economic development assistance under this Act or in any administrative rule implementing such legislation that was in place prior to the effective date of this Act, then "temporary job" means a job in which the new employee is hired for a specific duration of time or season.

"Value of assistance" means the face value of any form of development assistance.

(Source: P.A. 93-552, eff. 8-20-03; 94-793, eff. 5-19-06; 94-1021, eff. 7-12-06.)

Section 15. The 21st Century Workforce Development Fund Act is amended by changing Section 15 as follows:

(30 ILCS 787/15)

Sec. 15. Use of Fund.

(a) Role of Fund. Subject to appropriation, resources Resources from the Fund are intended to be used flexibly to support innovative and locally-driven strategies, to leverage other funding sources, and to fill gaps in existing workforce development resources in Illinois. They are not intended to supplant existing workforce development resources.

(b) Distribution of funds. Funds shall be distributed through competitive grantmaking processes administered by the Department and overseen by the Advisory Committee. No more than 6% of funds used for grants may be retained by the Department for administrative costs or for program evaluation or technical assistance activities.

(c) Grantmaking. The Department must administer funds through competitive grantmaking in accordance with the priorities described in this Act. Grantmaking must be used to support workforce development strategies consistent with the priorities outlined in this Act. Strategies may include, but are not limited to the following:

(i) Expanded grantmaking for existing State workforce development strategies, including the Job Training and Economic Development Program and programs designed to increase the number of persons traditionally underrepresented in the building trades, specifically minorities and women.

(ii) Workforce development initiatives that help the least skilled adults access employment and education opportunities, including transitional jobs programs and educational bridge programming that integrate basic education and occupational skills training.

(iii) Sectoral strategies that develop industry-specific workforce education and training services that lead to existing or expected jobs with identified employers and that include services to ensure that low-income, low-skilled adults can be served.

(iv) Support for the development and implementation of workforce education and training programs in the energy efficiency, renewable energy, and pollution control cleanup and prevention industries.

(v) Support for planning activities that: ensure that workforce development and education needs of low-skilled adults are integrated into industry-specific career pathways; analyze labor market data to track workforce trends in the State's energy-related initiatives; or increase the capacity of communities to provide workforce services to low-income, low-skilled adults.

(d) Allowable expenditures. Grant funds are limited to expenditures for the following:

(i) Basic skills training, adult education, occupational training, job readiness training, and soft-skills training for which financial aid is otherwise not available.

(ii) Workforce development-related services including mentoring, job development, support services, transportation assistance, and wage subsidies, that are tied to participation in training and employment.

(iii) Capacity building, program development, and technical assistance activities necessary for the development and implementation of new workforce education and training strategies.

No more than 5% of any grant may be used for administrative costs.

(e) Eligible applicants. For grants under this Section, eligible applicants include the following:

(i) Any private, public, and non-profit entities that provide education, training, and workforce development services to low-income individuals.

(ii) Educational institutions.

(iii) Labor and business associations.

(Source: P.A. 96-771, eff. 8-28-09.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 2011.