Public Act 0739 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB2172 Enrolled LRB096 07795 RCE 17897 b

Public Act 096-0739

AN ACT concerning State government.

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

Section 5. The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is amended by changing Sections 605-25, 605-550, 605-675, and 605-810 and by adding Section 605-725 as follows:

(20 ILCS 605/605-25) (was 20 ILCS 605/46.30a)

Sec. 605-25. Charges, gifts, and grants for promotional products and services; International and Promotional Fund.

(a) To establish, levy, and collect fees and charges and accept gifts, grants, and awards from other governmental entities, for profit organizations, and nonprofit associations in association with or as consideration for the provision of various promotional products and services through its tourism, films production promotion, and international business promotion programs. The Director may establish and collect nominal charges for premiums and other promotional materials produced or acquired as part of the Department's activities authorized under the Illinois Promotion Act from individuals and not-for-profit organizations intending to use those premiums and promotional materials for purposes consistent with the provisions of the Illinois Promotion Act, provided, however, that other State agencies shall be charged no more than the cost of the premium or promotional material to the Department.

(b) The Director may collect cost reimbursement monies from films and media production entities for police and related production security services in amounts determined by the provider of the security services and agreed to by the production entity. The reimbursements shall result only from the agreed costs of planned police and security services to be rendered to film and media production sites in the State of Illinois.

(c) The Director may establish and collect cost-sharing assessments and fees and accept gifts, grants, and awards from private businesses, trade associations, other governmental entities, and individuals desiring to participate in and support the development and conduct of overseas trade, catalog, and distributor shows and activities and to purchase informational materials to foster export sales of Illinois products and services as part of the Department's international business programs.

(d) All money received pursuant to this Section, except as provided in subsection (e), shall be deposited into the International and Promotional Fund within the State treasury which is hereby created; monies within the Fund shall be appropriated only for expenditure pursuant to this Section.

(e) The Department may contract with a vendor for the production of a tourism travel guide. The Department may allow the vendor to sell and collect sales revenues, including in-kind exchanges, for advertisements placed in the travel guide. The Department may allow the vendor to retain any sales revenues it collects as its fee and to cover the costs of producing the travel guide. Any revenue due to the Department, after the vendor retains its share, shall be deposited into the International and Promotional Fund.

(Source: P.A. 90-26, eff. 7-1-97; 91-239, eff. 1-1-00.)

(20 ILCS 605/605-550) (was 20 ILCS 605/46.71)

Sec. 605-550. Model domestic violence and sexual assault employee awareness and assistance policy.

(a) The Department shall convene a task force including members of the business community, employees, employee organizations, representatives from the Department of Labor, and directors of domestic violence and sexual assault programs, including representatives of statewide advocacy organizations for the prevention of domestic violence and sexual assault, to develop a model domestic violence and sexual assault employee awareness and assistance policy for businesses.

The Department shall give due consideration to the recommendations of the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives for participation by any person on the task force, and shall make reasonable efforts to assure regional balance in membership.

(b) The purpose of the model employee awareness and assistance policy shall be to provide businesses with the best practices, policies, protocols, and procedures in order that they ascertain domestic violence and sexual assault awareness in the workplace, assist affected employees, and provide a safe and helpful working environment for employees currently or potentially experiencing the effects of domestic violence or sexual assault. The model plan shall include but not be limited to:

(1) the establishment of a definite corporate policy statement recognizing domestic violence and sexual assault as workplace issues as well as promoting the need to maintain job security for those employees currently involved in domestic violence or sexual assault disputes;

(2) policy and service publication requirements, including posting these policies and service availability pamphlets in break rooms, on bulletin boards, and in restrooms, and transmitting them through other communication methods;

(3) a listing of current domestic violence and sexual assault community resources such as shelters, crisis intervention programs, counseling and case management programs, and legal assistance and advocacy opportunities for affected employees;

(4) measures to ensure workplace safety including, where appropriate, designated parking areas, escort services, and other affirmative safeguards;

(5) training programs and protocols designed to educate employees and managers in how to recognize, approach, and assist employees experiencing domestic violence or sexual assault, including both victims and batterers; and

(6) other issues as shall be appropriate and relevant for the task force in developing the model policy.

(c) The model policy shall be reviewed by the task force to assure consistency with existing law and shall be made the subject of public hearings convened by the Department throughout the State at places and at times which are convenient for attendance by the public, after which the policy shall be reviewed by the task force and amended as necessary to reflect concerns raised at the hearings. If approved by the task force, the model policy shall be provided as approved with explanation of its provisions to the Governor and the General Assembly not later than one year after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly. The Department shall make every effort to notify businesses of the availability of the model domestic violence and sexual assault employee awareness and assistance policy.

(d) The Department, in consultation with the task force, providers of services, the advisory council, the Department of Labor, and representatives of statewide advocacy organizations for the prevention of domestic violence and sexual assault, shall provide technical support, information, and encouragement to businesses to implement the provisions of the model.

(e) Nothing contained in this Section shall be deemed to prevent businesses from adopting their own domestic violence and sexual assault employee awareness and assistance policy.

(f) The Department may shall survey businesses within 4 years of the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly to determine the level of model policy adoption amongst businesses and shall take steps necessary to promote the further adoption of such policy.

(Source: P.A. 91-592, eff. 8-14-99; 92-16, eff. 6-28-01.)

(20 ILCS 605/605-675) (was 20 ILCS 605/46.66)

Sec. 605-675. Exporter award program. The Department may shall establish and operate, in cooperation with the Department of Agriculture and the Illinois Finance Authority, an annual awards program to recognize Illinois-based exporters. In developing criteria for the awards, the Department shall give consideration to the exporting efforts of small and medium sized businesses, first-time exporters, and other appropriate categories.

(Source: P.A. 93-205, eff. 1-1-04.)

(20 ILCS 605/605-725 new)

Sec. 605-725. Incentive grants for the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority. The Department and the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority may enter into grant agreements to reimburse the Authority for incentives awarded by the Authority to attract large conventions, meetings, and trade shows to its facilities. The Department may reimburse the Authority only for incentives provided in consultation with the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau for conventions, meetings, or trade shows that (i) the Authority certifies have registered attendance in excess of 10,000 individuals, (ii) but for the incentive, would not have used the facilities of the Authority, (iii) have been approved by the Chief Executive Officer of the Authority and the Chairman of the Authority at the time of the incentive, and (iv) have been approved by the Department. Reimbursements shall be made from amounts appropriated to the Department from the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority Incentive Fund for those purposes. Reimbursements shall not exceed $10,000,000 annually.

No later than February 15 of each year, the Chairman of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority shall certify to the Department, the State Comptroller, and the State Treasurer the amounts provided during the previous calendar year as incentives for conventions, meetings, or trade shows that (i) have been approved by the Authority and the Department, (ii) demonstrate registered attendance in excess of 10,000 individuals, and (iii) but for the incentive, would not have used the facilities of the Authority for the convention, meeting, or trade show. The Department may audit the accuracy of the certification.

(20 ILCS 605/605-810) (was 20 ILCS 605/46.19a in part)

Sec. 605-810. Reemployment of former employees. When the Department is involved in developing a federal or State funded training or retraining program for any employer, the Department may will assist and encourage that employer in making every effort to reemploy individuals previously employed at the facility. Further, the Department may will provide a list of those employees to the employer for consideration for reemployment and will report the results of this effort to the Illinois Job Training Coordinating Council. This requirement shall be in effect when all of the following conditions are met:

(1) The employer is reopening, or is proposing to reopen, a facility that was last closed during the preceding 2 years.

(2) A substantial number of the persons who were employed at the facility before its most recent closure remain unemployed.

(3) The product or service produced by, or proposed to be produced by, the employer at the facility is substantially similar to the product or service produced at the facility before its most recent closure.

(Source: P.A. 90-454, eff. 8-16-97; 91-239, eff. 1-1-00.)

Section 10. The Energy Conservation and Coal Development Act is amended by changing Section 8 as follows:

(20 ILCS 1105/8) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7408)

Sec. 8. Illinois Coal Development Board.

(a) There may shall be established as an advisory board to the Department, the Illinois Coal Development Board, hereinafter in this Section called the Board. The Board shall be composed of the following voting members: the Director of the Department, who shall be Chairman thereof; the Deputy Director of the Bureau of Business Development within the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity; the President of the University of Illinois or his or her designee; the Director of Natural Resources or that Director's designee; the Director of the Office of Mines and Minerals within the Department of Natural Resources; 4 members of the General Assembly (one each appointed by the President of the Senate, the Senate Minority Leader, the Speaker of the House, and the House Minority Leader); and 8 persons appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, including representatives of Illinois industries that are involved in the extraction, utilization or transportation of Illinois coal, persons representing financial or banking interests in the State, and persons experienced in international business and economic development. These members shall be chosen from persons of recognized ability and experience in their designated field. The members appointed by the Governor shall serve for terms of 4 years, unless otherwise provided in this subsection. The initial terms of the original appointees shall expire on July 1, 1985, except that the Governor shall designate 3 of the original appointees to serve initial terms that shall expire on July 1, 1983. The initial term of the member appointed by the Governor to fill the office created after July 1, 1985 shall expire on July 1, 1989. The initial terms of the members appointed by the Governor to fill the offices created by this amendatory Act of 1993 shall expire on July 1, 1995, and July 1, 1997, as determined by the Governor. A member appointed by a Legislative Leader shall serve for the duration of the General Assembly for which he or she is appointed, so long as the member remains a member of that General Assembly.

The Board may shall meet at least annually or at the call of the Chairman. At any time the majority of the Board may petition the Chairman for a meeting of the Board. Nine members of the Board shall constitute a quorum. Members of the Board shall be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred while performing their duties as members of the Board from funds appropriated to the Department for such purpose.

(b) The Board shall provide advice and make recommendations on the following Department powers and duties:

(1) To develop an annual agenda which may include but is not limited to research and methodologies conducted for the purpose of increasing the utilization of Illinois' coal and other fossil fuel resources, with emphasis on high sulfur coal, in the following areas: coal extraction, preparation and characterization; coal technologies (combustion, gasification, liquefaction, and related processes); marketing; public awareness and education, as those terms are used in the Illinois Coal Technology Development Assistance Act; transportation; procurement of sites and issuance of permits; and environmental impacts.

(2) To support and coordinate Illinois coal research, and to approve projects consistent with the annual agenda and budget for coal research and the purposes of this Act and to approve the annual budget and operating plan for administration of the Board.

(3) To promote the coordination of available research information on the production, preparation, distribution and uses of Illinois coal. The Board shall advise the existing research institutions within the State on areas where research may be necessary.

(4) To cooperate to the fullest extent possible with State and federal agencies and departments, independent organizations, and other interested groups, public and private, for the purposes of promoting Illinois coal resources.

(5) To submit an annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly outlining the progress and accomplishments made in the year, providing an accounting of funds received and disbursed, reviewing the status of research contracts, and furnishing other relevant information.

(6) To focus on existing coal research efforts in carrying out its mission; to make use of existing research facilities in Illinois or other institutions carrying out research on Illinois coal; as far as practicable, to make maximum use of the research facilities available at the Illinois State Geological Survey of the University of Illinois, the Coal Extraction and Utilization Research Center, the Illinois Coal Development Park and universities and colleges located within the State of Illinois; and to create a consortium or center which conducts, coordinates and supports coal research activities in the State of Illinois. Programmatic activities of such a consortium or center shall be subject to approval by the Department and shall be consistent with the purposes of this Act. The Department may authorize expenditure of funds in support of the administrative and programmatic operations of such a center or consortium consistent with its statutory authority. Administrative actions undertaken by or for such a center or consortium shall be subject to the approval of the Department.

(7) To make a reasonable attempt, before initiating any research under this Act, to avoid duplication of effort and expense by coordinating the research efforts among various agencies, departments, universities or organizations, as the case may be.

(8) To adopt, amend and repeal rules, regulations and bylaws governing the Board's organization and conduct of business.

(9) To authorize the expenditure of monies from the Coal Technology Development Assistance Fund, the Public Utility Fund and other funds in the State Treasury appropriated to the Department, consistent with the purposes of this Act.

(10) To seek, accept, and expend gifts or grants in any form, from any public agency or from any other source. Such gifts and grants may be held in trust by the Department and expended at the direction of the Department and in the exercise of the Department's powers and performance of the Department's duties.

(11) To publish, from time to time, the results of Illinois coal research projects funded through the Department.

(12) To authorize loans from appropriations from the Build Illinois Bond Purposes Fund, the Build Illinois Bond Fund and the Illinois Industrial Coal Utilization Fund.

(13) To authorize expenditures of monies for coal development projects under the authority of Section 13 of the General Obligation Bond Act.

(c) The Board shall also provide advice and make recommendations on the following Department powers and duties:

(1) To create and maintain thorough, current and accurate records on all markets for and actual uses of coal mined in Illinois, and to make such records available to the public upon request.

(2) To identify all current and anticipated future technical, economic, institutional, market, environmental, regulatory and other impediments to the utilization of Illinois coal.

(3) To monitor and evaluate all proposals and plans of public utilities related to compliance with the requirements of Title IV of the federal Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, or with any other law which might affect the use of Illinois coal, for the purposes of (i) determining the effects of such proposals or plans on the use of Illinois coal, and (ii) identifying alternative plans or actions which would maintain or increase the use of Illinois coal.

(4) To develop strategies and to propose policies to promote environmentally responsible uses of Illinois coal for meeting electric power supply requirements and for other purposes.

(5) (Blank).

(Source: P.A. 94-793, eff. 5-19-06; 95-728, eff. date - See Sec. 999.)

Section 15. The State Finance Act is amended by adding Section 5.723 as follows:

(30 ILCS 105/5.723 new)

Sec. 5.723. The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority Incentive Fund.

Section 20. The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority Act is amended by changing Section 5 as follows:

(70 ILCS 210/5) (from Ch. 85, par. 1225)

Sec. 5. The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority shall also have the following rights and powers:

(a) To accept from Chicago Park Fair, a corporation, an assignment of whatever sums of money it may have received from the Fair and Exposition Fund, allocated by the Department of Agriculture of the State of Illinois, and Chicago Park Fair is hereby authorized to assign, set over and transfer any of those funds to the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority. The Authority has the right and power hereafter to receive sums as may be distributed to it by the Department of Agriculture of the State of Illinois from the Fair and Exposition Fund pursuant to the provisions of Sections 5, 6i, and 28 of the State Finance Act. All sums received by the Authority shall be held in the sole custody of the secretary-treasurer of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Board.

(b) To accept the assignment of, assume and execute any contracts heretofore entered into by Chicago Park Fair.

(c) To acquire, own, construct, equip, lease, operate and maintain grounds, buildings and facilities to carry out its corporate purposes and duties, and to carry out or otherwise provide for the recreational, cultural, commercial or residential development of Navy Pier, and to fix and collect just, reasonable and nondiscriminatory charges for the use thereof. The charges so collected shall be made available to defray the reasonable expenses of the Authority and to pay the principal of and the interest upon any revenue bonds issued by the Authority. The Authority shall be subject to and comply with the Lake Michigan and Chicago Lakefront Protection Ordinance, the Chicago Building Code, the Chicago Zoning Ordinance, and all ordinances and regulations of the City of Chicago contained in the following Titles of the Municipal Code of Chicago: Businesses, Occupations and Consumer Protection; Health and Safety; Fire Prevention; Public Peace, Morals and Welfare; Utilities and Environmental Protection; Streets, Public Ways, Parks, Airports and Harbors; Electrical Equipment and Installation; Housing and Economic Development (only Chapter 5-4 thereof); and Revenue and Finance (only so far as such Title pertains to the Authority's duty to collect taxes on behalf of the City of Chicago).

(d) To enter into contracts treating in any manner with the objects and purposes of this Act.

(e) To lease any buildings to the Adjutant General of the State of Illinois for the use of the Illinois National Guard or the Illinois Naval Militia.

(f) To exercise the right of eminent domain by condemnation proceedings in the manner provided by the Eminent Domain Act, including, with respect to Site B only, the authority to exercise quick take condemnation by immediate vesting of title under Article 20 of the Eminent Domain Act, to acquire any privately owned real or personal property and, with respect to Site B only, public property used for rail transportation purposes (but no such taking of such public property shall, in the reasonable judgment of the owner, interfere with such rail transportation) for the lawful purposes of the Authority in Site A, at Navy Pier, and at Site B. Just compensation for property taken or acquired under this paragraph shall be paid in money or, notwithstanding any other provision of this Act and with the agreement of the owner of the property to be taken or acquired, the Authority may convey substitute property or interests in property or enter into agreements with the property owner, including leases, licenses, or concessions, with respect to any property owned by the Authority, or may provide for other lawful forms of just compensation to the owner. Any property acquired in condemnation proceedings shall be used only as provided in this Act. Except as otherwise provided by law, the City of Chicago shall have a right of first refusal prior to any sale of any such property by the Authority to a third party other than substitute property. The Authority shall develop and implement a relocation plan for businesses displaced as a result of the Authority's acquisition of property. The relocation plan shall be substantially similar to provisions of the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Act and regulations promulgated under that Act relating to assistance to displaced businesses. To implement the relocation plan the Authority may acquire property by purchase or gift or may exercise the powers authorized in this subsection (f), except the immediate vesting of title under Article 20 of the Eminent Domain Act, to acquire substitute private property within one mile of Site B for the benefit of displaced businesses located on property being acquired by the Authority. However, no such substitute property may be acquired by the Authority unless the mayor of the municipality in which the property is located certifies in writing that the acquisition is consistent with the municipality's land use and economic development policies and goals. The acquisition of substitute property is declared to be for public use. In exercising the powers authorized in this subsection (f), the Authority shall use its best efforts to relocate businesses within the area of McCormick Place or, failing that, within the City of Chicago.

(g) To enter into contracts relating to construction projects which provide for the delivery by the contractor of a completed project, structure, improvement, or specific portion thereof, for a fixed maximum price, which contract may provide that the delivery of the project, structure, improvement, or specific portion thereof, for the fixed maximum price is insured or guaranteed by a third party capable of completing the construction.

(h) To enter into agreements with any person with respect to the use and occupancy of the grounds, buildings, and facilities of the Authority, including concession, license, and lease agreements on terms and conditions as the Authority determines. Notwithstanding Section 24, agreements with respect to the use and occupancy of the grounds, buildings, and facilities of the Authority for a term of more than one year shall be entered into in accordance with the procurement process provided for in Section 25.1.

(i) To enter into agreements with any person with respect to the operation and management of the grounds, buildings, and facilities of the Authority or the provision of goods and services on terms and conditions as the Authority determines.

(j) After conducting the procurement process provided for in Section 25.1, to enter into one or more contracts to provide for the design and construction of all or part of the Authority's Expansion Project grounds, buildings, and facilities. Any contract for design and construction of the Expansion Project shall be in the form authorized by subsection (g), shall be for a fixed maximum price not in excess of the funds that are authorized to be made available for those purposes during the term of the contract, and shall be entered into before commencement of construction.

(k) To enter into agreements, including project agreements with labor unions, that the Authority deems necessary to complete the Expansion Project or any other construction or improvement project in the most timely and efficient manner and without strikes, picketing, or other actions that might cause disruption or delay and thereby add to the cost of the project.

(l) To provide incentives to organizations and entities that agree to make use of the grounds, buildings, and facilities of the Authority for conventions, meetings, or trade shows. The incentives may take the form of discounts from regular fees charged by the Authority, subsidies for or assumption of the costs incurred with respect to the convention, meeting, or trade show, or other inducements. The Authority shall be reimbursed by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for incentives that qualify under the provisions of Section 605-725 of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois.

No later than February 15 of each year, the Chairman of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority shall certify to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the State Comptroller, and the State Treasurer the amounts provided during the previous calendar year as incentives for conventions, meetings, or trade shows that (i) have been approved by the Authority and the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, (ii) demonstrate registered attendance in excess of 10,000 individuals, and (iii) but for the incentive, would not have used the facilities of the Authority for the convention, meeting, or trade show. The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may audit the accuracy of the certification. Subject to appropriation, on July 15 of each year the Comptroller shall order transferred and the Treasurer shall transfer into the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority Incentive Fund from the General Revenue Fund the lesser of the amount certified by the Chairman or $10,000,000. No later than 30 days after the transfer, amounts in the Fund shall be paid by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to the Authority to reimburse the Authority for incentives paid to attract large conventions, meetings, and trade shows to its facilities in the previous calendar year as provided in Section 605-725 of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provided that all amounts certified by the Authority have been paid, on the last day of each fiscal year moneys remaining in the Fund shall be transferred to the General Revenue Fund.

Nothing in this Act shall be construed to authorize the Authority to spend the proceeds of any bonds or notes issued under Section 13.2 or any taxes levied under Section 13 to construct a stadium to be leased to or used by professional sports teams.

(Source: P.A. 94-1055, eff. 1-1-07.)