SJ0065 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SJ0065 LRB097 20783 KXB 67633 r

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois economy is recovering and our State continues to search for innovative methods of balancing our budget, spurring our economy, and growing our State's workforce and business opportunities and these goals are not mutually exclusive; and

WHEREAS, Illinois offers multiple economic incentive programs, grants, and tax incentives created by statute and in part administered by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and the Department of Revenue; and

WHEREAS, An analysis of the effectiveness and fairness and uniformity and predictability of each of these programs, grants, and incentives is necessary and currently is underway by this General Assembly; and

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois continues to search for solutions and incentives to bring new jobs to our State while still balancing the need for predictable State revenue, a redesigned revenue code, and continued recovery; and

WHEREAS, The General Assembly should articulate the type of new jobs and new industries we want to come to Illinois and take action to bring those jobs to our fine State; and

WHEREAS, We should encourage jobs that will lift our citizens' standard of living; jobs consistent with our role as stewards of our environment; jobs that boost our citizens wages; jobs that keep our best and brightest home in Illinois after earning their degrees; and attract jobs in industries that are rapidly growing and are the industries of the future; jobs that significantly expand our tax base and not reduce revenue; and

WHEREAS, The General Assembly should put parameters and guidelines on these goals for future incentive programs; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that we must continue to remain a competitive workforce and an ideal State to bring new industry and new jobs in this recovering economy; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we should design and create incentive programs that attract growth industries which include the industries and jobs of the future whether they be technology-based or otherwise but that they expand at least twice the rate of the State's Gross domestic product; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we create incentive programs that attract jobs smart for Illinois, including jobs that spur growth in multiple industries; that the new jobs take advantage of our graduates from Illinois institutions of higher education and keep them in Illinois; that the jobs are truly portable in that the jobs could have been established in other states or other countries but for the incentive program; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the jobs provide good wages and benefits for Illinoisans in that they pay over 250% of the federal poverty level, provide a safe work environment, and are not temporary in that their average duration exceeds one year of employment; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the jobs enhance our citizens standard of living and due to the level of pay and length of employment in comparison to the incentive provided will serve to expand our revenue base rather than contract our revenue base; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the design of our statutory incentive programs should generate at least 2 dollars of investment in our State for every dollar of incentive provided, be administered by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity based on recognized standards and benchmarks, and account for enhanced incentives for jobs or spending in economically depressed areas of our State.