HB2036 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB103 05000 DTM 50012 b

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB2036

Introduced 2/7/2023, by Rep. Amy L. Grant

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Entrepreneur-in-Residence Act. Establishes an Entrepreneur-in-Residence Pilot Program. Provides for the nomination, appointment, term of service, and compensation of entrepreneurs-in-residence. Requires the Director or Secretary of specified State agencies to appoint entrepreneurs-in-residence and to issue a report on the program to the General Assembly and the Governor by January 1, 2028. Describes the duties of appointed entrepreneurs-in-residence. Provides that an entrepreneur-in-residence shall report directly to the Governor and may provide recommendations for programmatic improvements to the nominating authorities. Repeals the Act on January 1, 2030. Defines terms. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning State government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Entrepreneur-in-Residence Act.

Section 5. Purpose. The purpose of the program created under this Act is to strengthen coordination between State government and the private sector on issues relevant to entrepreneurs and small business concerns and to make State government programs and operations simpler, easier to access, more efficient, and more responsive to the needs of and issues related to entrepreneurs and small business concerns.

Section 10. Definitions. As used in this Act:

"Entrepreneur-in-residence" or "entrepreneurs-in-residence" means an individual or individuals appointed to a position created under this Act.

"Nominating authority" means the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, the Minority Leader of the Senate, or the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of Human Services, the Director of Public Health, or the Department of Central Management Services.

"Program" means the Entrepreneur-in-Residence Pilot Program established under this Act.

"State agency" means a State agency under the jurisdiction of the Governor.

Section 15. The Entrepreneur-in-Residence Pilot Program.

(a) The Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, and the Minority Leader of the Senate shall each nominate 2 individuals to be appointed by the Governor as entrepreneurs-in-residence with State agencies other than the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Public Health, and the Department of Central Management Services. The individuals nominated and appointed under this subsection (a) must have demonstrated success in working with small business concerns and entrepreneurs or must have successfully developed, invented, or created a product and brought that product to the marketplace. Entrepreneurs-in-residence appointed under this subsection (a) shall serve for a period of 2 years. A State agency shall cooperate with any entrepreneur-in-residence appointed to serve it as necessary to facilitate this program. A person appointed as an entrepreneur-in-residence under this subsection (a) shall not be appointed to one of the State agencies listed in subsection (b).

(b) In addition to the appointments described in subsection (a), the Director or Secretary of the following State agencies shall each nominate and appoint one entrepreneur-in-residence for their respective State agency:

(1) the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity;

(2) the Department of Transportation;

(3) the Department of Human Services;

(4) the Department of Public Health; and

(5) the Department of Central Management Services.

Entrepreneurs-in-residence appointed under this subsection (b) shall serve for a period of 5 years, beginning January 1, 2024 and ending January 1, 2029, and must have the same qualifications as appointees under subsection (a).

(c) The Director or Secretary of a State agency described in subsection (b) shall, by January 1, 2028, issue a report to the General Assembly and the Governor outlining findings and recommendations, including, but not limited to, the successes of the program, recommendations to improve the program, and any other information that the Director or Secretary may deem necessary and relevant. For purposes of this Section, success of the program shall be measured by the number of interactions, new businesses created, the size of the new businesses, and the growth of new businesses since their inception.

(d) Entrepreneurs-in-residence appointed under this Act shall serve without compensation, but may, at the discretion of the Governor, receive reimbursement for reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the discharge of their duties.

(e) An entrepreneur-in-residence appointed under this Act shall perform the following duties:

(1) assist the State agency in improving outreach to small business concerns and entrepreneurs;

(2) provide recommendations on inefficient or duplicative programs;

(3) provide recommendations to the Governor and the nominationg authority on methods to improve program efficiency at the State agency;

(4) provide recommendations to the Governor and the nominating authority on new initiatives that may be instituted at the State agency;

(5) facilitate meetings and forums to educate small business concerns and entrepreneurs on programs or initiatives of the State agency;

(6) facilitate in-service sessions with employees of the State agency on needs and issues of interest to entrepreneurs and small business concerns; and

(7) provide technical assistance or mentorship to small business concerns and entrepreneurs in accessing programs at the State agency.

(f) An entrepreneur-in-residence shall report directly to the Governor but may provide recommendations for programmatic improvements to the nominating authorities.

Section 20. Repeal. This Act is repealed on January 1, 2030.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.