98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2013 and 2014
SB2640

 

Introduced 1/21/2014, by Sen. Melinda Bush

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
20 ILCS 605/605-300  was 20 ILCS 605/46.2

    Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the strategic business development plan prepared by the Illinois Business Development Council shall include: (i) an assessment of the economic development practices of states that border Illinois and (ii) recommendations for best practices with respect to economic development, business incentives, business attraction, and business retention for counties in Illinois that border at least one other state. Effective immediately.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

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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 Department of Commerce and Economic
5Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is
6amended by changing Section 605-300 as follows:
 
7    (20 ILCS 605/605-300)  (was 20 ILCS 605/46.2)
8    Sec. 605-300. Economic and business development plans;
9Illinois Business Development Council.
10    (a) Economic development plans. The Department shall
11develop a strategic economic development plan for the State by
12July 1, 2014. By no later than July 1, 2015, and by July 1
13annually thereafter, the Department shall make modifications
14to the plan as modifications are warranted by changes in
15economic conditions or by other factors, including changes in
16policy. In addition to the annual modification, the plan shall
17be reviewed and redeveloped in full every 5 years. In the
18development of the annual economic development plan, the
19Department shall consult with representatives of the private
20sector, other State agencies, academic institutions, local
21economic development organizations, local governments, and
22not-for-profit organizations. The annual economic development
23plan shall set specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and

 

 

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1time-sensitive goals and shall include a focus on areas of high
2unemployment or poverty.
3    The term "economic development" shall be construed broadly
4by the Department and may include, but is not limited to, job
5creation, job retention, tax base enhancements, development of
6human capital, workforce productivity, critical
7infrastructure, regional competitiveness, social inclusion,
8standard of living, environmental sustainability, energy
9independence, quality of life, the effective use of financial
10incentives, the utilization of public private partnerships
11where appropriate, and other metrics determined by the
12Department.
13    The plan shall be based on relevant economic data, focus on
14economic development as prescribed by this Section, and
15emphasize strategies to retain and create jobs.
16    The plan shall identify and develop specific strategies for
17utilizing the assets of regions within the State defined as
18counties and municipalities or other political subdivisions in
19close geographical proximity that share common economic traits
20such as commuting zones, labor market areas, or other
21economically integrated characteristics.
22    If the plan includes strategies that have a fiscal impact
23on the Department or any other agency, the plan shall include a
24detailed description of the estimated fiscal impact of such
25strategies.
26    Prior to publishing the plan in its final form, the

 

 

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1Department shall allow for a reasonable time for public input.
2    The Department shall transmit copies of the economic
3development plan to the Governor and the General Assembly no
4later than July 1, 2014, and by July 1 annually thereafter. The
5plan and its corresponding modifications shall be published and
6made available to the public in both paper and electronic
7media, on the Department's website, and by any other method
8that the Department deems appropriate.
9    The Department shall annually submit legislation to
10implement the strategic economic development plan or
11modifications to the strategic economic development plan to the
12Governor, the President and Minority Leader of the Senate, and
13the Speaker and the Minority Leader of the House of
14Representatives. The legislation shall be in the form of one or
15more substantive bills drafted by the Legislative Reference
16Bureau.
17    (b) Business development plans; Illinois Business
18Development Council.
19        (1) There is created the Illinois Business Development
20    Council, hereinafter referred to as the Council. The
21    Council shall consist of the Director, who shall serve as
22    co-chairperson, and 12 voting members who shall be
23    appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of
24    the Senate.
25            (A) The voting members of the Council shall include
26        one representative from each of the following

 

 

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1        businesses and groups: small business, coal,
2        healthcare, large manufacturing, small or specialized
3        manufacturing, agriculture, high technology or applied
4        science, local economic development entities, private
5        sector organized labor, a local or state business
6        association or chamber of commerce.
7            (B) There shall be 2 at-large voting members who
8        reside within areas of high unemployment within
9        counties or municipalities that have had an annual
10        average unemployment rate of at least 120% of the
11        State's annual average unemployment rate as reported
12        by the Department of Employment Security for the 5
13        years preceding the date of appointment.
14        (2) All appointments shall be made in a geographically
15    diverse manner.
16        (3) For the initial appointments to the Council, 6
17    voting members shall be appointed to serve a 2-year term
18    and 6 voting members shall be appointed to serve a 4-year
19    term. Thereafter, all appointments shall be for terms of 4
20    years. The initial term of voting members shall commence on
21    the first Wednesday in February 2014. Thereafter, the terms
22    of voting members shall commence on the first Wednesday in
23    February, except in the case of an appointment to fill a
24    vacancy. Vacancies occurring among the members shall be
25    filled in the same manner as the original appointment for
26    the remainder of the unexpired term. For a vacancy

 

 

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1    occurring when the Senate is not in session, the Governor
2    may make a temporary appointment until the next meeting of
3    the Senate when a person shall be nominated to fill the
4    office, and, upon confirmation by the Senate, he or she
5    shall hold office during the remainder of the term. A
6    vacancy in membership does not impair the ability of a
7    quorum to exercise all rights and perform all duties of the
8    Council. A member is eligible for reappointment.
9        (4) Members shall serve without compensation, but may
10    be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the
11    performance of their duties from funds appropriated for
12    that purpose.
13        (5) In addition, the following shall serve as ex
14    officio, non-voting members of the Council in order to
15    provide specialized advice and support to the Council: the
16    Secretary of Transportation, or his or her designee; the
17    Director of Employment Security, or his or her designee;
18    the Executive Director of the Illinois Finance Authority,
19    or his or her designee; the Director of Agriculture, or his
20    or her designee; the Director of Revenue, or his or her
21    designee; the Director of Labor, or his or her designee;
22    and the Director of the Environmental Protection Agency, or
23    his or her designee. Ex officio Ex-officio members shall
24    provide staff and technical assistance to the Council when
25    appropriate.
26        (6) In addition to the Director, the voting members

 

 

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1    shall elect a co-chairperson.
2        (7) The Council shall meet at least twice annually and
3    at such other times as the co-chairpersons or any 5 voting
4    members consider necessary. Seven voting members shall
5    constitute a quorum of the Council.
6        (8) The Department shall provide staff assistance to
7    the Council.
8        (9) The Council shall provide the Department relevant
9    information in a timely manner pursuant to its duties as
10    enumerated in this Section that can be used by the
11    Department to enhance the State's strategic economic
12    development plan.
13        (10) The Council shall:
14            (A) Develop an overall strategic business
15        development plan for the State of Illinois and update
16        the plan at least annually; that plan shall include,
17        without limitation, (i) an assessment of the economic
18        development practices of states that border Illinois
19        and (ii) recommendations for best practices with
20        respect to economic development, business incentives,
21        business attraction, and business retention for
22        counties in Illinois that border at least one other
23        state.
24            (B) Develop business marketing plans for the State
25        of Illinois to effectively solicit new company
26        investment and existing business expansion. Insofar as

 

 

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1        allowed under the Illinois Procurement Code, and
2        subject to appropriations made by the General Assembly
3        for such purposes, the Council may assist the
4        Department in the procurement of outside vendors to
5        carry out such marketing plans.
6            (C) Seek input from local economic development
7        officials to develop specific strategies to
8        effectively link State and local business development
9        and marketing efforts focusing on areas of high
10        unemployment or poverty.
11            (D) Provide the Department with advice on
12        strategic business development and business marketing
13        for the State of Illinois.
14            (E) Provide the Department research and recommend
15        best practices for developing investment tools for
16        business attraction and retention.
17(Source: P.A. 98-397, eff. 8-16-13; revised 10-8-13.)
 
18    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
19becoming law.