SB1747eng 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB1747 Engrossed LRB102 12964 HLH 18307 b

AN ACT concerning revenue.

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

Article 1. Illinois Energy Transition Zone Act

Section 1-1. Short title. This Article may be cited as the Illinois Energy Transition Zone Act. References in this Article to "this Act" mean this Article.

Section 1-5. Findings. The General Assembly finds and declares that the health, safety, and welfare of the people of this State are dependent upon a healthy economy and vibrant communities; that the closure of coal energy plants, coal mines, and nuclear energy plants across the state are detrimental to maintaining a healthy economy and vibrant communities; that the expansion of green energy creates significant job growth and contributes significantly to the health, safety, and welfare of the people of this State; that the continual encouragement, development, growth and expansion of green energy within the State requires a cooperative and continuous partnership between government and the green energy sector; and that there are certain depressed areas in this State that have lost jobs due to the closure of coal energy plants, coal mines, and nuclear energy plants and need the particular attention of government, labor and the citizens of Illinois to help attract green energy investment into these areas and directly aid the local community and its residents. Therefore, it is declared to be the purpose of this Act to explore ways of stimulating the growth of green energy in the State and to foster job growth in areas depressed by the closure of coal energy plants, coal mines and nuclear energy plants.

Section 1-10. Definitions. As used in this Act, unless the context otherwise requires:

"Agency" means a "State agency", as defined in Section 1-7 of the Illinois State Auditing Act.

"Board" means the Energy Transition Zone Board created in Section 1-45.

"Department" means the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

"Depressed area" means an area in which pervasive poverty, unemployment, and economic distress exist.

"Energy Transition Zone" means an area of the State certified by the Department as an Energy Transition Zone pursuant to this Act.

"Full-time equivalent job" means a job in which the new employee works for the recipient or for a corporation under contract to the recipient at a rate of at least 35 hours per week for a wage that meets or exceeds the prevailing wage for the locality in which the work is performed, as determined under Section 4 of the Prevailing Wage Act. A recipient who employs labor or services at a specific site or facility under contract with another may declare one full-time, permanent job for every 1,820 man hours worked per year under that contract. Vacations, paid holidays, and sick time are included in this computation. Overtime is not considered a part of regular hours.

"Full-time retained job" 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. A recipient who employs labor or services at a specific site or facility under contract with another may declare one retained employee per year for every 1,750 man hours worked per year under that contract, even if different individuals perform on-site labor or services.

"Green energy enterprise" means a company that is engaged in the production of solar energy, wind energy, water energy, geothermal energy, bioenergy, or hydrogen fuel and cells.

"Green energy project" means a project conducted by a green energy enterprise for the purpose of generating solar energy, wind energy, water energy, geothermal energy, bioenergy, or hydrogen fuel and cells.

"Local labor market area" means an economically integrated area within which individuals can reside and find employment within a reasonable distance or can readily change jobs without changing their place of residence.

"Rule" has the meaning provided in Section 1-70 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act.

Section 1-15. Qualifications for Energy Transition Zones. An area is qualified to become an Energy Transition Zone which:

(1) is a contiguous area, provided that a Zone area may exclude wholly surrounded territory within its boundaries;

(2) comprises a minimum of one-half square mile and not more than 12 square miles, exclusive of lakes and waterways;

(3) is entirely within a single municipality;

(4) satisfies any additional criteria established by the Department consistent with the purposes of this Act; and

(5) meets one or more of the following:

(A) the area contains a coal energy plant that was retired from service within 10 years of application for designation;

(B) the area contains a coal mine that was closed within 10 years of application for designation;

(C) the area contains a nuclear energy plant that was retired from service within 10 years of application for designation; or

(D) the area contains a nuclear plant that was decommissioned but continued storing nuclear waste prior to the effective date of this Act.

Section 1-20. Entities eligible to receive tax benefits. Green energy enterprises are eligible to receive certain tax benefits under this Act for green energy projects conducted within an Energy Transition Zone.

Section 1-25. Incentives for green energy enterprises located within an Energy Transition Zone.

(a) Green energy enterprises located in Energy Transition Zones are eligible to apply for a State income tax credit under the Energy Transition Zone Tax Credit Act.

(b) Green energy enterprises located in Energy Transition Zones will be eligible to receive an investment credit subject to the requirements of Section 232 of the Illinois Income Tax Act.

(c) Green energy enterprises are eligible to purchase building materials exempt from use and occupation taxes to be incorporated into their green energy projects within the Energy Transition Zone when purchased from a retailer within the Energy Transition Zone pursuant to Section 5k-1 of the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act.

(d) Green energy enterprises located in an Energy Transition Zone that meet the qualifications of Section 9-222.1B of the Illinois Public Utilities Act are exempt, in part or whole, from State and local taxes on gas and electricity.

(e) Green energy enterprise projects receiving incentives under this Act shall comply with the requirements of the Prevailing Wage Act.

Section 1-30. Initiation of Energy Transition Zones by municipality or county.

(a) No area may be designated as an Energy Transition Zone except pursuant to an initiating ordinance adopted in accordance with this Section.

(b) A municipality may by ordinance designate an area within its jurisdiction as an Energy Transition Zone, subject to the certification of the Department in accordance with this Act, if:

(1) the area is qualified in accordance with Section 1-15; and

(2) the municipality has conducted at least one public hearing within the proposed Zone area considering all of the following questions: whether to create the Zone; what local plans, tax incentives and other programs should be established in connection with the Zone; and what the boundaries of the Zone should be; public notice of the hearing shall be published in at least one newspaper of general circulation within the Zone area, not more than 20 days nor less than 5 days before the hearing.

(c) An ordinance designating an area as an Energy Transition Zone shall set forth:

(1) a precise description of the area comprising the Zone, either in the form of a legal description or by reference to roadways, lakes and waterways, and township, county boundaries;

(2) a finding that the Zone area meets the qualifications of Section 1-15;

(3) provisions for any tax incentives or reimbursement for taxes, which pursuant to State and federal law apply to green energy enterprises within the Zone at the election of the designating municipality, and which are not applicable throughout the municipality;

(4) a designation of the area as an Energy Transition Zone, subject to the approval of the Department in accordance with this Act; and

(5) the duration or term of the Energy Transition Zone.

(d) This Section does not prohibit a municipality from extending additional tax incentives or reimbursement for business enterprises in Energy Transition Zones or throughout their territory by separate ordinance.

Section 1-35. Application to Department. A municipality that has adopted an ordinance designating an area as an Energy Transition Zone shall make written application to the Department to have such proposed Energy Transition Zone certified by the Department as an Energy Transition Zone. The application shall include:

(1) a certified copy of the ordinance designating the proposed Zone;

(2) a map of the proposed Energy Transition Zone, showing existing streets and highways;

(3) an analysis, and any appropriate supporting documents and statistics, demonstrating that the proposed Zone area is qualified in accordance with Section 1-15;

(4) a statement detailing any tax, grant, and other financial incentives or benefits, and any programs, to be provided by the municipality or county to green energy enterprises within the Zone, other than those provided in the designating ordinance, which are not to be provided throughout the municipality or county;

(5) a statement setting forth the economic development and planning objectives for the Zone;

(6) an estimate of the economic impact of the Zone, considering all of the tax incentives, financial benefits and programs contemplated, upon the revenues of the municipality or county;

(7) a transcript of all public hearings on the Zone; and

(8) such additional information as the Department may by rule require.

Section 1-40. Department review of Energy Transition Zone applications.

(a) All applications that are to be considered and acted upon by the Department during a calendar year must be received by the Department no later than December 31 of the preceding calendar year.

Any application received after December 31 of any calendar year shall be held by the Department for consideration and action during the following calendar year. Each Energy Transition Zone application shall include a specific definition of the applicant's local labor market area.

(a-5) The Department shall, no later than July 31, 2021, develop an application process for an Energy Transition Zone application. The Department has emergency rulemaking authority for the purpose of application development only until 12 months after the effective date of this Act under subsection (ee) of Section 5-45 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act.

(b) Upon receipt of an application from a municipality, the Department shall review the application to determine whether the designated area qualifies as an Energy Transition Zone under Section 1-15 of this Act.

(c) No later than June 30, the Department shall notify all applicant municipalities of the Department's determination of the qualification of their respective designated energy transition Zone areas, along with supporting documentation of the basis for the Department's decision.

(d) If any such designated area is found to be qualified to be an Energy Transition Zone by the Department under subsection (c) of this Section, the Department shall, no later than July 15, send a letter of notification to each member of the General Assembly whose legislative district or representative district contains all or part of the designated area and publish a notice in at least one newspaper of general circulation within the proposed Zone area to notify the general public of the application and their opportunity to comment. Such notice shall include a description of the area and a brief summary of the application and shall indicate locations where the applicant has provided copies of the application for public inspection. The notice shall also indicate appropriate procedures for the filing of written comments from Zone residents, business, civic and other organizations and property owners to the Department.

Section 1-45. Energy Transition Zone Board.

(a) An Energy Transition Zone Board is hereby created within the Department.

(b) The Board shall consist of the following 5 members:

(1) the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, or his or her designee, who shall serve as chairperson;

(2) the Director of Revenue, or his or her designee; and

(3) 3 members appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate.

Board members shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties from funds appropriated for that purpose.

(c) Each member appointed under paragraph (3) of subsection (b) shall have at least 5 years of experience in business, economic development, or site location.

(d) Of the initial members appointed under paragraph (3) of subsection (b): one member shall serve for a term of 2 years; one member shall serve for a term of 3 years; and one member shall serve for a term of 4 years. Thereafter, all members appointed under paragraph (3) of subsection (b) shall serve for terms of 4 years. Members appointed under paragraph (3) of subsection (b) may be reappointed. The Governor may remove a member appointed under paragraph (3) of subsection (b) for incompetence, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office.

(e) By September 30, all applications filed by December 31 of the preceding calendar year and deemed qualified by the Department shall be approved or denied by the Board. If such application is not approved by September 30, the application shall be considered denied. If an application is denied, the Board shall inform the applicant of the specific reasons for the denial.

(f) A majority of the Board shall determine whether an application is approved or denied.

Section 1-50. Certification of Energy Transition Zones; effective date.

(a) Certification of Board-approved designated Energy Transition Zones shall be made by the Department by certification of the designating ordinance. The Department shall promptly issue a certificate for each Energy Transition Zone upon approval by the Board. The certificate shall be signed by the Director of the Department, shall make specific reference to the designating ordinance, which shall be attached thereto, and shall be filed in the office of the Secretary of State. A certified copy of the Energy Transition Zone Certificate, or a duplicate original thereof, shall be recorded in the office of recorder of deeds of the county in which the Energy Transition Zone lies.

(b) An Energy Transition Zone shall be effective on the date of the Department's certification. The Department shall transmit a copy of the certification to the Department of Revenue, and to the designating municipality.

(c) Upon certification of an Energy Transition Zone, the terms and provisions of the designating ordinance shall be in effect, and may not be amended or repealed except in accordance with Section 1-55.

(d) Energy Transition Zone designation will last for 13 years from the effective date of such designation and shall be subject to review by the Board after 13 years for an additional 10-year designation beginning on the expiration date of the Energy Transition Zone. During the review process, the Board shall consider the costs incurred by the State and units of local government as a result of tax benefits received by the Energy Transition Zone. Energy Transition Zones shall terminate at midnight of December 31 of the final calendar year of the certified term, except as provided in Section 1-55.

(e) Each Energy Transition Zone that reapplies for certification but does not receive a new certification shall expire on its scheduled termination date.

Section 1-55. Amendment and decertification of Energy Transition Zones.

(a) The terms of a certified Energy Transition Zone designating ordinance may be amended to:

(1) alter the boundaries of the Energy Transition Zone;

(2) expand, limit, or repeal tax incentives or benefits provided in the ordinance;

(3) alter the termination date of the Zone;

(4) make technical corrections in the Energy Transition Zone designating ordinance; but such amendment shall not be effective unless the Department issues an amended certificate for the Energy Transition Zone approving the amended designating ordinance. Upon the adoption of any ordinance amending or repealing the terms of a certified Energy Transition Zone designating ordinance, the municipality or county shall promptly file with the Department an application for approval thereof, containing substantially the same information as required for an application under Section 1-35 insofar as material to the proposed changes. The municipality or county must hold a public hearing on the proposed changes; or

(5) include an area within another municipality or county as part of the designated Energy Transition Zone provided the requirements of Section 1-15 are complied with.

(b) The Department shall approve or disapprove a proposed amendment to a certified Energy Transition Zone within 90 days of its receipt of the application from the municipality. The Department may not approve changes in a Zone which are not in conformity with this Act, as now or hereafter amended, or with other applicable laws. If the Department issues an amended certificate for an Energy Transition Zone, the amended certificate, together with the amended Zone designating ordinance, shall be filed, recorded, and transmitted as provided in this Act.

(c) An Energy Transition Zone may be decertified by joint action of the Department and the designating municipality in accordance with this Section. The designating municipality shall conduct at least one public hearing within the Zone prior to its adoption of an ordinance of de-designation. The mayor of the designating municipality shall execute a joint decertification agreement with the Department. A decertification of an Energy Transition Zone shall not become effective until at least 6 months after the execution of the decertification agreement, which shall be filed in the office of the Secretary of State.

(d) An Energy Transition Zone may be decertified for cause by the Department in accordance with this Section. Prior to decertification: (1) the Department shall notify the chief elected official of the designating municipality in writing of the specific deficiencies which provide cause for decertification; (2) the Department shall place the designating municipality on probationary status for at least 6 months during which time corrective action may be achieved in the Energy Transition Zone by the designating municipality; and (3) the Department shall conduct at least one public hearing within the Zone. If such corrective action is not achieved during the probationary period, the Department shall issue an amended certificate signed by the Director of the Department decertifying the Energy Transition Zone, which certificate shall be filed in the office of the Secretary of State. A certified copy of the amended Energy Transition Zone certificate, or a duplicate original thereof, shall be recorded in the office of recorder of the county in which the Energy Transition Zone lies, and shall be provided to the chief elected official of the designating municipality. Decertification of an Energy Transition Zone shall not become effective until 60 days after the date of filing.

(e) In the event of a decertification, an amendment reducing the length of the term or the area of an Energy Transition Zone, or the adoption of an ordinance reducing or eliminating tax benefits in an Energy Transition Zone, all benefits previously extended within the Zone pursuant to this Act or pursuant to any other Illinois law providing benefits specifically to or within Energy Transition Zones shall remain in effect for the original stated term of the Energy Transition Zone, with respect to green energy enterprises within the Zone on the effective date of such decertification or amendment.

Section 1-60. Powers and duties of Department.

(a) The Department shall administer this Act and shall have the following powers and duties:

(1) to monitor the implementation of this Act and submit reports evaluating the effectiveness of the program and any suggestions for legislation to the Governor and General Assembly by October 1 of every year preceding a regular Session of the General Assembly and to annually report to the General Assembly initial and current population, employment, per capita income, number of business establishments, dollar value of new construction and improvements, and the aggregate value of each tax incentive, based on information provided by the Department of Revenue for each Energy Transition Zone; and

(2) to adopt all necessary rules to carry out the purposes of this Act in accordance with the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act.

(b) The Department shall have all of the following specific duties:

(1) The Department shall provide information and appropriate assistance to persons desiring to locate and engage in business in an Energy Transition Zone and to persons engaged in green energy in an Energy Transition Zone.

(2) The Department shall, in cooperation with appropriate units of local government and State agencies, coordinate and streamline existing State business assistance programs and permit and license application procedures for Energy Transition Zone green energy enterprises.

(3) The Department shall publicize existing tax incentives and economic development programs within the Zone and upon request, offer technical assistance in abatement and alternative revenue source development to local units of government which have Energy Transition Zones within their jurisdiction.

(4) The Department shall work together with the responsible State and federal agencies to promote the coordination of other relevant programs, including but not limited to housing, community and economic development, small business, banking, financial assistance, and employment training programs which are carried on in an Energy Transition Zone.

(5) In order to stimulate employment opportunities for Zone residents, the Department, in cooperation with the Department of Human Services and the Department of Employment Security, is to initiate a test of the following 2 programs within the 12-month period following designation and approval by the Department of the first Energy Transition Zones: (i) the use of aid to families with dependent children benefits payable under Article IV of the Illinois Public Aid Code, General Assistance benefits payable under Article VI of the Illinois Public Aid Code, the unemployment insurance benefits payable under the Unemployment Insurance Act as training or employment subsidies leading to unsubsidized employment; and (ii) a program for voucher reimbursement of the cost of training Zone residents eligible under the Targeted Jobs Tax Credit provisions of the Internal Revenue Code for employment in private industry. These programs shall not be designed to subsidize businesses, but are intended to open up job and training opportunities not otherwise available. Nothing in this paragraph (5) shall be deemed to require Zone businesses to utilize these programs. These programs should be designed (i) for those individuals whose opportunities for job-finding are minimal without program participation, (ii) to minimize the period of benefit collection by such individuals, and (iii) to accelerate the transition of those individuals to unsubsidized employment. The Department is to seek agreement with business, organized labor, and the appropriate State Departments and agencies on the design, operation, and evaluation of the test programs.

(c) A report with recommendations including representative comments of these groups shall be submitted by the Department to the county or municipality that designated the area as an Energy Transition Zone, the Governor, and the General Assembly not later than 12 months after such test programs have commenced, or not later than 3 months following the termination of such test programs, whichever first occurs.

Section 1-65. State incentives regarding public services and physical infrastructure.

(a) This Act does not restrict tax incentive financing pursuant to the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act in the Illinois Municipal Code.

(b) The State Treasurer is authorized and encouraged to place deposits of State funds with financial institutions doing business in an Energy Transition Zone.

Section 1-70. Zone administration. The administration of an Energy Transition Zone shall be under the jurisdiction of the designating municipality. Each designating municipality shall, by ordinance, designate a Zone Administrator for the certified Zones within its jurisdiction. A Zone Administrator must be an officer or employee of the municipality. The Zone Administrator shall be the liaison between the designating municipality, the Department, and any designated Zone organizations within zones under his jurisdiction.

Section 1-75. Accounting.

(a) Any business receiving tax incentives due to its location within an Energy Transition Zone must annually report to the Department of Revenue information reasonably required by the Department of Revenue to enable the Department to verify and calculate the total Energy Transition Zone tax benefits for property taxes and taxes imposed by the State that are received by the business, broken down by incentive category and Energy Transition Zone, if applicable. Reports are due no later than May 31 of each year and shall cover the previous calendar year. The first report will be for the 2022 calendar year and is due no later than May 31, 2023.

(b) Green energy enterprises shall report their job creation, retention, and capital investment numbers within the Zone annually to the Department of Revenue no later than May 31 of each calendar year.

(c) The Department of Revenue shall aggregate and collect the tax, job, and capital investment data by Energy Transition Zone and report this information, formatted to exclude company-specific proprietary information, to the Department and the Board by August 1, 2023, and by August 1 of every calendar year thereafter. The Department shall include this information in their required reports under this Act.

(d) The Department of Revenue, in its discretion, may require that the reports filed under this Section be submitted electronically.

(e) If the Department determines that 80% or more of the businesses receiving tax incentives because of their location within a particular Energy Transition Zone failed to submit the information required under subsection (a) to the Department of Revenue in any calendar year, then the Energy Transition Zone may be decertified by the Department. If the Department is able to determine that specific businesses are failing to submit to the Zone Administrator the information required under subsection (a) to be submitted to the Department of Revenue, regardless of the Administrator's efforts to enforce reporting, the Department may, in its discretion, suspend the benefits to the specific business rather than decertifying the particular Energy Transition Zone.

(f) The Department of Revenue shall have the authority to adopt rules as are reasonable and necessary to implement the provisions of this Section.

Section 1-80. Zone Administrator.

(a) Each Zone Administrator shall post a copy of the boundaries of the Energy Transition Zone on its official Internet website and shall provide an electronic copy to the Department. The Department shall post each copy of the boundaries of an Energy Transition Zone that it receives from a Zone Administrator on its official Internet website.

(b) The Zone Administrator shall collect and aggregate the following information:

(1) the estimated cost of each building project, broken down into labor and materials; and

(2) within 60 days after the end of the project, the estimated cost of each building project, broken down into labor and materials.

(c) By April 1 of each year, each Zone Administrator shall file a copy of its fee schedule with the Department, and the Department shall post the fee schedule on its website. Zone Administrators shall charge no more than 0.5% of the cost of building materials of the project associated with the specific Energy Transition Zone, with a maximum fee of no more than $50,000.

Section 1-85. State regulatory exemptions in Energy Transition Zones.

(a) The Department shall conduct an ongoing review of such agency rules as may be identified by the Department or representatives of designating municipalities and counties as green energy enterprises and preliminarily appearing to the Department to:

(1) affect the conduct of business, industry and commerce;

(2) impose excessive costs on either the creation or conduct of such enterprises; and

(3) inhibit the development and expansions of enterprises within Energy Transition Zones.

The Department shall conduct hearings, pursuant to public notice, to solicit public comment on such identified rules as part of this review process.

(b) No later than August 1 of each calendar year, the Department shall publish in the Illinois Register a list of such rules identified pursuant to subsection (a). The Department shall transmit a copy of the list to each agency which has adopted rules on the list.

(c) Within 90 days of the publication of the list by the Department, each agency which adopted rules identified therein shall file a written report with the Department detailing for each identified rule:

(1) the need or justification;

(2) whether the rule is mandated by State or federal law, or is discretionary, and to what extent;

(3) a synopsis of the history of the rule, including any internal agency review after its original adoption; and

(4) any appropriate explanation of its relationship to other regulatory requirements.

The agency that adopted the rules shall also include any available data, analysis and studies concerning the economic impact of the identified rules. The agency responses shall be public records.

(d) No later than January 1 of the following calendar year, the Department shall file proposed rules exempting green energy enterprises within Energy Transition Zones from those agency rules contained in the published list, for which the Department finds that the job creation or business development incentives for Energy Transition Zone development engendered by the exemption outweigh the need and justification for the rule. In making its findings, the Department shall consider all information, data, and opinions submitted to it by the public, as well as by adopting agencies, as well as information otherwise available to it.

(e) The proposed rules adopted by the Department shall be in the form of amendments to the existing rules to be affected, and shall be subject to the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act.

(f) Upon its effective date, any exempting rule of the Department shall supersede the exempted agency rule in accordance with the terms of the exemption. Such exemptions may apply only to green energy enterprises within Energy Transition Zones during the effective term of the respective Zones. Agencies may not adopt emergency rules to circumvent an exemption affected by a Department exemption rule; any such emergency rules shall not be effective within Energy Transition Zones to the extent inconsistent with the terms of such an exemption.

Section 1-90. State and local regulatory alternatives.

(a) Agencies may provide in their rules for:

(1) the exemption of green energy enterprises within Energy Transition Zones; or

(2) modifications or alternatives specifically applicable to green energy enterprises within Energy Transition Zones, which impose less stringent standards or alternative standards for compliance (including, but not limited to, performance-based standards as a substitute for specific mandates of methods, procedures or equipment).

Such exemptions, modifications, or alternatives shall become effective by rule adopted in accordance with the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. The Agency adopting such exemptions, modifications or alternatives shall file with its proposed rule its findings that the proposed rule provides economic incentives within Energy Transition Zones which promote the purposes of this Act, and which, to the extent they include any exemptions or reductions in regulatory standards or requirements, outweigh the need or justification for the existing rule.

(b) If any agency adopts a rule pursuant to paragraph (a) affecting a rule contained on the list published by the Department, prior to the completion of the rulemaking process for the Department's rules under that Section, the agency shall immediately transmit a copy of its proposed rule to the Department, together with a statement of reasons as to why the Department should defer to the agency's proposed rule. Agency rules adopted under subsection (a) shall, however, be subject to the exemption rules adopted by the Department.

(c) Within Energy Transition Zones, the designating municipality may modify all local ordinances and regulations regarding (i) zoning; (ii) licensing; (iii) building codes, excluding however, any regulations treating building defects; or (iv) price controls (except for the minimum wage). Notwithstanding any shorter statute of limitation to the contrary, actions against any contractor or architect who designs, constructs or rehabilitates a building or structure in an Energy Transition Zone in accordance with local standards specifically applicable within Zones which have been relaxed may be commenced within 10 years from the time of beneficial occupancy of the building or use of the structure.

Section 1-95. Exemptions from regulatory relaxation. Sections 1-85 and 1-90 do not apply to rules adopted pursuant to:

(1) the Environmental Protection Act;

(2) the Illinois Historic Preservation Act;

(3) the Illinois Human Rights Act;

(4) any successor Acts to any of the foregoing; or

(5) any other Acts whose purpose is the protection of the environment, the preservation of historic places and landmarks, or the protection of persons against discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, marital status, national origin, or physical or mental disability.

(b) No exemption, modification, or alternative to any agency rule shall be effective which:

(1) presents a significant risk to the health or safety of persons resident in or employed within an Energy Transition Zone;

(2) would conflict with federal law such that the State, or any unit of local government or school district, or any area of the State other than Energy Transition Zones, or any business enterprise located outside of an Energy Transition Zone would be disqualified from a federal program or from federal tax or other benefits;

(3) would suspend or modify an agency rule mandated by law; or

(4) would eliminate or reduce benefits to individuals who are residents of or employed within a Zone.

Section 1-100. Business notifications. Any business located within the Energy Transition Zone which has received tax credits or exemptions, regulatory relief or any other benefits under this Act shall notify the Department and the county and municipal officials in which the Energy Transition Zone is located within 60 days of the cessation of any business operations conducted within the Energy Transition Zone. The Department shall adopt rules to carry out this Section.

Article 5. Energy Transition Tax Credit Act

Section 5-1. Short title. This Article may be cited as the Energy Transition Tax Credit Act. References in this Article to "this Act" mean this Article.

Section 5-5. Purpose. The General Assembly finds and declares that the health, safety, and welfare of the people of this State are dependent upon a healthy economy and vibrant communities; that the closure of coal plants, coal mines, and nuclear energy plants across the states are detrimental to maintaining a healthy economy and vibrant communities; that the expansion of green energy creates significant job growth and contributes significantly to the health, safety, and welfare of the people of this State; that the continual encouragement, development, growth and expansion of green energy within the State requires a cooperative and continuous partnership between government and the green energy sector; and that there are certain depressed areas in this State that have lost jobs due to the closure of coal plants, coal mines, and nuclear energy plants and need the particular attention of government, labor and the citizens of Illinois to help attract green energy investment into these areas and directly aid the local community and its residents. Therefore, it is declared to be the purpose of this Act, in conjunction with the Energy Transition Zone Act, to provide green energy enterprises an incentive to stimulate the growth of green energy in the State and to foster job growth in areas depressed by the closure of coal plants, coal mines, and nuclear energy plants.

Section 5-10. Definitions. As used in this Act:

"Agreement" means the Agreement between a Taxpayer and the Department under the provisions of Section 5-55 of this Act.

"Applicant" means a Taxpayer operating a green energy enterprise, as determined by the Energy Transition Zone Act, located within or that the green energy enterprise plans to locate within an Energy Transition Zone. "Applicant" does not include a Taxpayer who closes or substantially reduces an operation at one location in the State and relocates substantially the same operation to a location in an Energy Transition Zone. This does not prohibit a Taxpayer from expanding its operations at a location in an Energy Transition Zone, provided that existing operations of a similar nature located within the State are not closed or substantially reduced. This also does not prohibit a Taxpayer from moving its operations from one location in the State to an Energy Transition Zone for the purpose of expanding the operation provided that the Department determines that expansion cannot reasonably be accommodated within the municipality in which the business is located, or in the case of a business located in an incorporated area of the county, within the county in which the business is located, after conferring with the chief elected official of the municipality or county and taking into consideration any evidence offered by the municipality or county regarding the ability to accommodate expansion within the municipality or county.

"Committee" means the Energy Transition Investment Committee created under Section 5-25 of this Act within the Illinois Economic Development Board.

"Credit" means the amount agreed to between the Department and the Applicant under this Act, but not to exceed the lesser of: (1) the sum of (i) 50% of the Incremental Income Tax attributable to New Employees at the Applicant's project and (ii) 10% of the training costs of New Employees; or (2) 100% of the Incremental Income Tax attributable to New Employees at the Applicant's project. However, if the project is located in an underserved area, then the amount of the Credit may not exceed the lesser of: (1) the sum of (i) 75% of the Incremental Income Tax attributable to New Employees at the Applicant's project and (ii) 10% of the training costs of New Employees; or (2) 100% of the Incremental Income Tax attributable to New Employees at the Applicant's project. If an Applicant agrees to hire the required number of New Employees, then the maximum amount of the Credit for that Applicant may be increased by an amount not to exceed 25% of the Incremental Income Tax attributable to retained employees at the Applicant's project; provided that, in order to receive the increase for retained employees, the Applicant must provide the additional evidence required under paragraph (3) of subsection (b) of Section 5-30.

"Department" means the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

"Director" means the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

"Full-time Employee" means an individual who is employed for consideration for at least 35 hours each week or who renders any other standard of service generally accepted by industry custom or practice as full-time employment. An individual for whom a W-2 is issued by a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) is a full-time employee if employed in the service of the Applicant for consideration for at least 35 hours each week or who renders any other standard of service generally accepted by industry custom or practice as full-time employment to Applicant.

"Green energy" means solar energy, wind energy, water energy, geothermal energy, bioenergy, or hydrogen fuel and cells.

"Green energy production facility" means a facility owned by a green energy enterprise (as defined in the Illinois Energy Transition Zone Act) that is used in the production of solar energy, wind energy, water energy, geothermal energy, bioenergy, or hydrogen fuel and cells."Incremental Income Tax" means the total amount withheld during the taxable year from the compensation of New Employees and, if applicable, retained employees under Article 7 of the Illinois Income Tax Act arising from employment at a project that is the subject of an Agreement.

"New Employee" means a full-time employee first employed by a taxpayer in the project that is the subject of an agreement and who is hired after the taxpayer enters into the agreement. The term "New Employee" does not include:

(1) an employee of the Taxpayer who performs a job that was previously performed by another employee, if that job existed for at least 6 months before hiring the employee;

(2) an employee of the Taxpayer who was previously employed in Illinois by a Related Member of the Taxpayer and whose employment was shifted to the Taxpayer after the Taxpayer entered into the Agreement; or

(3) 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 an indirect ownership interest of at least 5% in the profits, capital, or value of the taxpayer.

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section, an employee may be considered a New Employee under the Agreement if the employee performs a job that was previously performed by an employee who was:

(1) treated under the Agreement as a New Employee; and

(2) promoted by the Taxpayer to another job.

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section, the Department may award a Credit to an Applicant with respect to an employee hired prior to the date of the Agreement if:

(1) the Applicant is in receipt of a letter from the Department stating an intent to enter into a credit Agreement;

(2) the letter described in paragraph (1) is issued by the Department not later than 15 days after the effective date of this Act; and

(3) the employee was hired after the date the letter described in paragraph (1) was issued.

"Noncompliance Date" means, in the case of a Taxpayer that is not complying with the requirements of the Agreement or the provisions of this Act, the day following the last date upon which the Taxpayer was in compliance with the requirements of the Agreement and the provisions of this Act, as determined by the Director, pursuant to Section 5-75.

"Pass through entity" means an entity that is exempt from the tax under subsection (b) or (c) of Section 205 of the Illinois Income Tax Act.

"Related Member" means a person that, with respect to the Taxpayer during any portion of the taxable year, is any one of the following:

(1) An individual stockholder, if the stockholder and the members of the stockholder's family (as defined in Section 318 of the Internal Revenue Code) own directly, indirectly, beneficially, or constructively, in the aggregate, at least 50% of the value of the Taxpayer's outstanding stock.

(2) A partnership, estate, or trust and any partner or beneficiary, if the partnership, estate, or trust, and its partners or beneficiaries own directly, indirectly, beneficially, or constructively, in the aggregate, at least 50% of the profits, capital, stock, or value of the Taxpayer.

(3) A corporation, and any party related to the corporation in a manner that would require an attribution of stock from the corporation to the party or from the party to the corporation under the attribution rules of Section 318 of the Internal Revenue Code, if the Taxpayer owns directly, indirectly, beneficially, or constructively at least 50% of the value of the corporation's outstanding stock.

(4) A corporation and any party related to that corporation in a manner that would require an attribution of stock from the corporation to the party or from the party to the corporation under the attribution rules of Section 318 of the Internal Revenue Code, if the corporation and all such related parties own in the aggregate at least 50% of the profits, capital, stock, or value of the Taxpayer.

(5) A person to or from whom there is attribution of stock ownership in accordance with Section 1563(e) of the Internal Revenue Code, except, for purposes of determining whether a person is a Related Member under this paragraph, 20% shall be substituted for 5% wherever 5% appears in Section 1563(e) of the Internal Revenue Code.

"Taxpayer" means an individual, corporation, partnership, or other entity that has any Illinois income tax liability.

"Underserved area" means a geographic area that meets one or more of the following conditions:

(1) the area has a poverty rate of at least 20% according to the latest federal decennial census;

(2) 75% or more of the children in the area participate in the federal free lunch program according to reported statistics from the State Board of Education;

(3) at least 20% of the households in the area receive assistance under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); or

(4) the area has an average unemployment rate, as determined by the Illinois Department of Employment Security, that is more than 120% of the national unemployment average, as determined by the U.S. Department of Labor, for a period of at least 2 consecutive calendar years preceding the date of the application.

Section 5-15. Powers of the Department. The Department, in addition to those powers granted under the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, is granted and shall have all the powers necessary or convenient to carry out and effectuate the purposes and provisions of this Act, including, but not limited to, power and authority to:

(1) Adopt rules deemed necessary and appropriate for the administration of the programs; establish forms for applications, notifications, contracts, or any other agreements; and accept applications at any time during the year.

(2) Provide and assist Taxpayers pursuant to the provisions of this Act, and cooperate with Taxpayers that are parties to Agreements to promote, foster, and support economic development, capital investment, and job creation or retention within the Energy Transition Zone.

(c) Enter into agreements and memoranda of understanding for participation of and engage in cooperation with agencies of the federal government, local units of government, universities, research foundations or institutions, regional economic development corporations, or other organizations for the purposes of this Act.

(4) Gather information and conduct inquiries, in the manner and by the methods as it deems desirable, including without limitation, gathering information with respect to Applicants for the purpose of making any designations or certifications necessary or desirable or to gather information to assist the Committee with any recommendation or guidance in the furtherance of the purposes of this Act.

(5) Establish, negotiate and effectuate any term, agreement or other document with any person, necessary or appropriate to accomplish the purposes of this Act; and to consent, subject to the provisions of any Agreement with another party, to the modification or restructuring of any Agreement to which the Department is a party.

(6) Fix, determine, charge, and collect any premiums, fees, charges, costs, and expenses from Applicants, including, without limitation, any application fees, commitment fees, program fees, financing charges, or publication fees as deemed appropriate to pay expenses necessary or incident to the administration, staffing, or operation in connection with the Department's or Committee's activities under this Act, or for preparation, implementation, and enforcement of the terms of the Agreement, or for consultation, advisory and legal fees, and other costs; however, all fees and expenses incident thereto shall be the responsibility of the Applicant.

(7) Provide for sufficient personnel to permit administration, staffing, operation, and related support required to adequately discharge its duties and responsibilities described in this Act from funds made available through charges to Applicants or from funds as may be appropriated by the General Assembly for the administration of this Act.

(8) Require Applicants, upon written request, to issue any necessary authorization to the appropriate federal, state, or local authority for the release of information concerning a project being considered under the provisions of this Act, with the information requested to include, but not be limited to, financial reports, returns, or records relating to the Taxpayer or its project.

(9) Require that a Taxpayer shall at all times keep proper books of record and account in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied, with the books, records, or papers related to the Agreement in the custody or control of the Taxpayer open for reasonable Department inspection and audits, and including, without limitation, the making of copies of the books, records, or papers, and the inspection or appraisal of any of the Taxpayer or project assets.

(10) Take whatever actions are necessary or appropriate to protect the State's interest in the event of bankruptcy, default, foreclosure, or noncompliance with the terms and conditions of financial assistance or participation required under this Act, including the power to sell, dispose, lease, or rent, upon terms and conditions determined by the Director to be appropriate, real or personal property that the Department may receive as a result of these actions.

Section 5-20. Tax credit awards.

(a) Subject to the conditions set forth in this Act, a Taxpayer is entitled to a Credit against or, as described in subsection (f) of this Section, a payment towards taxes imposed pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) of Section 201 of the Illinois Income Tax Act that may be imposed on the Taxpayer for a taxable year beginning on or after January 1, 2022, if the Taxpayer is awarded a Credit by the Department under this Act for that taxable year.

The Department shall make Credit awards under this Act to foster job creation and the development of green energy in Energy Transition Zones.

(b) A person that proposes a project to create new jobs and to invest in the development of a green energy production facility in an Energy Transition Zone must enter into an Agreement with the Department for the Credit under this Act

(c) The Credit shall be claimed for the taxable years specified in the Agreement.

(d) The Credit shall not exceed the Incremental Income Tax attributable to the project that is the subject of the Agreement.

(e) Nothing herein shall prohibit a Tax Credit Award to an Applicant that uses a PEO if all other award criteria are satisfied.

(f) This Section is exempt from the provisions of Section 250 of the Illinois Income Tax Act.

Section 5-25. Application for a project to create and retain new jobs and to develop green energy.

(a) Any green energy enterprise proposing a project to build a green energy production facility located or planned to be located in an Energy Transition Zone may request consideration for designation of its project, by formal written letter of request or by formal application to the Department, in which the Applicant states its intent to make at least a specified level of investment and intends to hire or retain a specified number of full-time employees at a designated location in Illinois. As circumstances require, the Department may require a formal application from an Applicant and a formal letter of request for assistance.

(b) In order to qualify for Credits under this Act, an Applicant's project must:

(1) be for the purpose of producing green energy;

(2) if the Applicant has more than 100 employees, involve an investment of at least $2,500,000 in capital improvements to be placed in service within an Energy Transition Zone as a direct result of the project; if the Applicant has 100 or fewer employees, then there is no capital investment requirement; and

(3) if the Applicant has more than 100 employees, employ a number of new employees in the Energy Transition Zone equal to the lesser of (A) 10% of the number of full-time employees employed by the applicant world-wide on the date the application is filed with the Department or (B) 50 New Employees; and, if the Applicant has 100 or fewer employees, employ a number of new employees in the State equal to the lesser of (A) 5% of the number of full-time employees employed by the applicant world-wide on the date the application is filed with the Department or (B) 50 New Employees;

(c) After receipt of an application, the Department may enter into an Agreement with the Applicant if the application is accepted in accordance with Section 5-25.

Section 5-30. Review of application.

(a) In addition to those duties granted under the Illinois Economic Development Board Act, the Illinois Economic Development Board shall form an Energy Transition Investment Committee for the purpose of making recommendations for applications. At the request of the Board, the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity or his or her designee, the Director of the Governor's Office of Management and Budget or his or her designee, the Director of Revenue or his or her designee, the Director of Employment Security or his or her designee, and an elected official of the affected locality, such as the chair of the county board or the mayor, may serve as members of the Committee to assist with its analysis and deliberations.

(b) At the Department's request, the Committee shall convene, make inquiries, and conduct studies in the manner and by the methods as it deems desirable, review information with respect to Applicants, and make recommendations for projects to benefit an Energy Transition Zone. In making its recommendation that an Applicant's application for Credit should or should not be accepted, which shall occur within a reasonable time frame as determined by the nature of the application, the Committee shall determine that all the following conditions exist:

(1) The Applicant's project intends, as required by subsection (b) of Section 5, to make the required investment in the Energy Transition Zone and intends to hire the required number of New Employees in the Energy Transition Zone as a result of that project.

(2) The Applicant's project is economically sound and will benefit the people of the Energy Transition Zone by increasing opportunities for employment and engaging in the development of green energy.

(3) That, if not for the Credit, the project would not occur in Illinois, which may be demonstrated by evidence that receipt of the Credit is essential to the Applicant's decision to create new jobs in the State, such as the magnitude of the cost differential between Illinois and a competing State; in addition, if the Applicant is seeking an increase in the maximum amount of the Credit for retained employees, the Applicant must provide evidence the Applicant has multi-state location options and could reasonably and efficiently locate outside of the State or demonstrate that at least one other state is being considered for the project.

(4) A cost differential is identified, using best available data, in the projected costs for the Applicant's project compared to the costs in the competing state, including the impact of the competing state's incentive programs. The competing state's incentive programs shall include state, local, private, and federal funds available.

(5) The political subdivisions affected by the project have committed local incentives with respect to the project, considering local ability to assist.

(6) Awarding the Credit will result in an overall positive fiscal impact to the State, as certified by the Committee using the best available data.

(7) The Credit is not otherwise prohibited by this Act.

Section 5-35. Limitation to amount of costs of specified items. The total amount of the Credit allowed during all tax years may not exceed the aggregate amount of costs incurred by the Taxpayer during all prior tax years for the following items, to the extent provided in the Agreement:

(1) capital investment, including, but not limited to, equipment, buildings, or land;

(2) infrastructure development;

(3) debt service, except refinancing of current debt;

(4) research and development;

(5) job training and education;

(6) lease costs; or

(7) relocation costs.

Section 5-40. Relocation of jobs to Energy Transition Zone. A taxpayer is not entitled to claim the credit provided by this Act with respect to any jobs that the taxpayer relocates from one site in Illinois to another site in an Energy Transition Zone. Moreover, any full-time employee of an eligible green energy enterprise relocated to an Energy Transition Zone in connection with that qualifying project is deemed to be a new employee for purposes of this Act. Determinations under this Section shall be made by the Department.

Section 5-45. Determination of amount of the Credit. In determining the amount of the Credit that should be awarded, the Committee shall provide guidance on, and the Department shall take into consideration, all of the following factors:

(1) The number and location of jobs created and retained in relation to the economy of the Energy Transition Zone where the projected investment is to occur.

(2) The potential impact on the economy of the Energy Transition Zone.

(3) The advancement of green energy in the Energy Transition Zone.

(4) The incremental payroll attributable to the project.

(5) The capital investment attributable to the project.

(6) The amount of the average wage and benefits paid by the Applicant in relation to the wage and benefits of the Energy Transition Zone.

(7) The costs to Illinois and the affected political subdivisions with respect to the project.

(8) The financial assistance that is otherwise provided by Illinois and the affected political subdivisions.

Section 5-50. Amount and duration of credit.

(a) The Department shall determine the amount and duration of the credit awarded under this Act. The duration of the credit may not exceed 10 taxable years. The credit may be stated as a percentage of the Incremental Income Tax attributable to the applicant's project and may include a fixed dollar limitation. An Agreement for the credit must be finalized and signed by all parties while the area in which the project is located is designated an Energy Transition Zone. The credit may last longer than the applicable Energy Transition Zone designation. Agreements entered into prior to the de-designation of an Energy Transition Zone will be honored for the length of the Agreement.

(b) The tax credit may not reduce the taxpayer's liability to less than zero. If the amount of tax credit exceeds the liability for the year, the excess may be carried forward and applied to the tax liability of the 5 taxable years following the excess credit year. The credit must be applied to the earliest year for which there is a tax liability. If there are credits from more than one tax year that are available to offset a liability, then the earlier credit will be applied first.

Section 5-55. Contents of Agreements with Applicants. The Department shall enter into an Agreement with an Applicant that is awarded a Credit under this Act. The Agreement must include all of the following:

(1) A detailed description of the project that is the subject of the Agreement, including the location and amount of the investment and jobs created or retained.

(2) The duration of the Credit and the first taxable year for which the Credit may be claimed.

(3) The Credit amount that will be allowed for each taxable year.

(4) A requirement that the Taxpayer shall maintain operations at the project location that shall be stated as a minimum number of years not to exceed 10.

(5) A specific method for determining the number of New Employees employed during a taxable year.

(6) A requirement that the Taxpayer shall annually report to the Department the number of New Employees, the Incremental Income Tax withheld in connection with the New Employees, and any other information the Director needs to perform the Director's duties under this Act.

(7) A requirement that the Director is authorized to verify with the appropriate State agencies the amounts reported under paragraph (6), and after doing so shall issue a certificate to the Taxpayer stating that the amounts have been verified.

(8) A requirement that the Taxpayer shall provide written notification to the Director not more than 30 days after the Taxpayer makes or receives a proposal that would transfer the Taxpayer's State tax liability obligations to a successor Taxpayer.

(9) A detailed description of the number of New Employees to be hired, and the occupation and payroll of the full-time jobs to be created or retained as a result of the project.

(10) The minimum investment the green energy enterprise will make in capital improvements, the time period for placing the property in service, and the designated green energy production of the project.

(11) A requirement that the Taxpayer shall provide written notification to the Director and the Committee not more than 30 days after the Taxpayer determines that the minimum job creation or retention, employment payroll, or investment no longer is being or will be achieved or maintained as set forth in the terms and conditions of the Agreement.

(12) A provision that, if the total number of New Employees falls below a specified level, the allowance of Credit shall be suspended until the number of New Employees equals or exceeds the Agreement amount.

(13) A detailed description of the items for which the costs incurred by the Taxpayer will be included in the limitation on the Credit provided in Section 5-40.

(14) A provision that, if the Taxpayer never meets either the investment or job creation and retention requirements specified in the Agreement during the entire 5-year period beginning on the first day of the first taxable year in which the Agreement is executed and ending on the last day of the fifth taxable year after the Agreement is executed, then the Agreement is automatically terminated on the last day of the fifth taxable year after the Agreement is executed and the Taxpayer is not entitled to the award of any credits for any of that 5-year period.

(15) A provision specifying that, if the Taxpayer ceases principal operations with the intent to shut down the project in the Energy Transition Zone permanently during the term of the Agreement, then the entire credit amount awarded to the Taxpayer prior to the date the Taxpayer ceases principal operations shall be returned to the Department.

(16) Any other performance conditions or contract provisions as the Department determines are appropriate. The Department shall post on its website the terms of each Agreement entered into under this Act. Such information shall be posted within 10 days after entering into the Agreement and must include the following:

(A) the name of the recipient business;

(B) the location of the project;

(C) the estimated value of the credit;

(D) the number of new jobs and, if applicable, retained jobs pledged as a result of the project; and

(E) whether or not the project is located in an underserved area.

Section 5-60. Certificate of verification; submission to the Department of Revenue. A Taxpayer claiming a Credit under this Act shall submit to the Department of Revenue a copy of the Director's certificate of verification under this Act for the taxable year.

For a Taxpayer to be eligible for a certificate of verification, the Taxpayer shall provide proof as required by the Department prior to the end of each calendar year, including, but not limited to, attestation by the Taxpayer that:

(1) The project has substantially achieved the level of new full-time jobs in the Energy Transition Zone, as specified in its Agreement.

(2) The project has substantially achieved the level of annual payroll in the Energy Transition Zone, as specified in its Agreement.

(3) The project has substantially achieved the level of capital investment in the Energy Transition Zone, as specified in its Agreement;

(4) The project has assisted in the development of green energy production in the Energy Transition Zone, as specified in its Agreement.

Section 5-65. Supplier diversity. Each taxpayer claiming a credit under this Act shall, no later than April 15 of each taxable year for which the taxpayer claims a credit under this Act, submit to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity an annual report containing the information described in subsections (b), (c), (d), and (e) of Section 5-117 of the Public Utilities Act. Those reports shall be submitted in the form and manner required by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

Section 5-70. Pass through entities.

(a) For partners, shareholders of Subchapter S corporations, and owners of limited liability companies, if the liability company is treated as a partnership for purposes of federal and State income taxation, there is allowed a credit under this Section to be determined in accordance with the determination of income and distributive share of income under Sections 702 and 704 and Subchapter S of the Internal Revenue Code.

(b) The Credit provided under subsection (a) is in addition to any Credit to which a shareholder or partner is otherwise entitled under a separate Agreement under this Act. A pass through entity and a shareholder or partner of the pass through entity may not claim more than one Credit under the same Agreement.

Section 5-75. Noncompliance; notice; assessment. If the Director determines that a Taxpayer who has received a Credit under this Act is not complying with the requirements of the Agreement or all of the provisions of this Act, the Director shall provide notice to the Taxpayer of the alleged noncompliance, and allow the Taxpayer a hearing under the provisions of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. If, after such notice and any hearing, the Director determines that a noncompliance exists, the Director shall issue to the Department of Revenue notice to that effect, stating the Noncompliance Date. If, during the term of an Agreement, the Taxpayer ceases operations at a project location that is the subject of that Agreement with the intent to terminate operations in the Energy Transition Zone, the Department and the Department of Revenue shall recapture from the Taxpayer the entire Credit amount awarded under that Agreement prior to the date the taxpayer ceases operations. The Department shall, subject to appropriation, reallocate the recaptured amounts to the local workforce investment area in which the project was located for the purposes of workforce development, expanded opportunities for unemployed persons, and expanded opportunities for women and minorities in the workforce.

Section 5-80. Annual report. On or before July 1 each year, the Committee shall submit a report to the Department on the tax credit program under this Act to the Governor and the General Assembly. The report shall include information on the number of Agreements that were entered into under this Act during the preceding calendar year, a description of the project that is the subject of each Agreement, an update on the status of projects under Agreements entered into before the preceding calendar year, and the sum of the Credits awarded under this Act. A copy of the report shall be delivered to the Governor and to each member of the General Assembly.

The report must include, for each Agreement:

(1) the original estimates of the value of the Credit and the number of new jobs to be created and, if applicable, the number of retained jobs;

(2) any relevant modifications to existing Agreements;

(3) a statement of the progress made by each Taxpayer in meeting the terms of the original Agreement;

(4) a statement of wages paid to New Employees and, if applicable, retained employees in the State;

(5) any information reported under Section 5-65 of this Act; and

(6) a copy of the original Agreement.

Section 5-85. Evaluation of tax credit program. On a biennial basis, the Department shall evaluate the tax credit program. The evaluation shall include an assessment of the effectiveness of the program in creating new jobs in Illinois and of the revenue impact of the program, and may include a review of the practices and experiences of other states with similar programs. The Director shall submit a report on the evaluation to the Governor and the General Assembly after June 30 and before November 1 in each odd-numbered year.

Section 5-90. Adoption of rules. The Department may adopt rules necessary to implement this Act. The rules may provide for recipients of Credits under this Act to be charged fees to cover administrative costs of the tax credit program. Fees collected shall be deposited into the Energy Transition Fund.

Section 5-95. The Energy Transition Fund.

(a) The Energy Transition Fund is established as a special fund within the State treasury to be used exclusively for the purposes of this Act, including paying for the costs of administering this Act. The Fund shall be administered by the Department.

(b) The Fund consists of collected fees, appropriations from the General Assembly, and gifts and grants to the Fund.

(c) The State Treasurer shall invest the money in the Fund not currently needed to meet the obligations of the Fund in the same manner as other public funds may be invested. Interest that accrues from these investments shall be deposited into the Fund.

(d) The money in the Fund at the end of a State fiscal year remains in the Fund to be used exclusively for the purposes of this Act. Expenditures from the Fund are subject to appropriation by the General Assembly.

Section 5-100. Program terms and conditions.

(a) Any documentary materials or data made available or received by any member of a Committee or any agent or employee of the Department shall be deemed confidential and shall not be deemed public records to the extent that the materials or data consists of trade secrets, commercial or financial information regarding the operation of the business conducted by the Applicant for or recipient of any tax credit under this Act, or any information regarding the competitive position of a business in a particular field of endeavor.

(b) Nothing in this Act shall be construed as creating any rights in any Applicant to enter into an Agreement or in any person to challenge the terms of any Agreement.

Article 10. Amendatory Provisions

Section 10-5. The Illinois Administrative Procedure Act is amended by changing Section 5-45 as follows:

(5 ILCS 100/5-45) (from Ch. 127, par. 1005-45)

Sec. 5-45. Emergency rulemaking.

(a) "Emergency" means the existence of any situation that any agency finds reasonably constitutes a threat to the public interest, safety, or welfare.

(b) If any agency finds that an emergency exists that requires adoption of a rule upon fewer days than is required by Section 5-40 and states in writing its reasons for that finding, the agency may adopt an emergency rule without prior notice or hearing upon filing a notice of emergency rulemaking with the Secretary of State under Section 5-70. The notice shall include the text of the emergency rule and shall be published in the Illinois Register. Consent orders or other court orders adopting settlements negotiated by an agency may be adopted under this Section. Subject to applicable constitutional or statutory provisions, an emergency rule becomes effective immediately upon filing under Section 5-65 or at a stated date less than 10 days thereafter. The agency's finding and a statement of the specific reasons for the finding shall be filed with the rule. The agency shall take reasonable and appropriate measures to make emergency rules known to the persons who may be affected by them.

(c) An emergency rule may be effective for a period of not longer than 150 days, but the agency's authority to adopt an identical rule under Section 5-40 is not precluded. No emergency rule may be adopted more than once in any 24-month period, except that this limitation on the number of emergency rules that may be adopted in a 24-month period does not apply to (i) emergency rules that make additions to and deletions from the Drug Manual under Section 5-5.16 of the Illinois Public Aid Code or the generic drug formulary under Section 3.14 of the Illinois Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, (ii) emergency rules adopted by the Pollution Control Board before July 1, 1997 to implement portions of the Livestock Management Facilities Act, (iii) emergency rules adopted by the Illinois Department of Public Health under subsections (a) through (i) of Section 2 of the Department of Public Health Act when necessary to protect the public's health, (iv) emergency rules adopted pursuant to subsection (n) of this Section, (v) emergency rules adopted pursuant to subsection (o) of this Section, or (vi) emergency rules adopted pursuant to subsection (c-5) of this Section. Two or more emergency rules having substantially the same purpose and effect shall be deemed to be a single rule for purposes of this Section.

(c-5) To facilitate the maintenance of the program of group health benefits provided to annuitants, survivors, and retired employees under the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, rules to alter the contributions to be paid by the State, annuitants, survivors, retired employees, or any combination of those entities, for that program of group health benefits, shall be adopted as emergency rules. The adoption of those rules shall be considered an emergency and necessary for the public interest, safety, and welfare.

(d) In order to provide for the expeditious and timely implementation of the State's fiscal year 1999 budget, emergency rules to implement any provision of Public Act 90-587 or 90-588 or any other budget initiative for fiscal year 1999 may be adopted in accordance with this Section by the agency charged with administering that provision or initiative, except that the 24-month limitation on the adoption of emergency rules and the provisions of Sections 5-115 and 5-125 do not apply to rules adopted under this subsection (d). The adoption of emergency rules authorized by this subsection (d) shall be deemed to be necessary for the public interest, safety, and welfare.

(e) In order to provide for the expeditious and timely implementation of the State's fiscal year 2000 budget, emergency rules to implement any provision of Public Act 91-24 or any other budget initiative for fiscal year 2000 may be adopted in accordance with this Section by the agency charged with administering that provision or initiative, except that the 24-month limitation on the adoption of emergency rules and the provisions of Sections 5-115 and 5-125 do not apply to rules adopted under this subsection (e). The adoption of emergency rules authorized by this subsection (e) shall be deemed to be necessary for the public interest, safety, and welfare.

(f) In order to provide for the expeditious and timely implementation of the State's fiscal year 2001 budget, emergency rules to implement any provision of Public Act 91-712 or any other budget initiative for fiscal year 2001 may be adopted in accordance with this Section by the agency charged with administering that provision or initiative, except that the 24-month limitation on the adoption of emergency rules and the provisions of Sections 5-115 and 5-125 do not apply to rules adopted under this subsection (f). The adoption of emergency rules authorized by this subsection (f) shall be deemed to be necessary for the public interest, safety, and welfare.

(g) In order to provide for the expeditious and timely implementation of the State's fiscal year 2002 budget, emergency rules to implement any provision of Public Act 92-10 or any other budget initiative for fiscal year 2002 may be adopted in accordance with this Section by the agency charged with administering that provision or initiative, except that the 24-month limitation on the adoption of emergency rules and the provisions of Sections 5-115 and 5-125 do not apply to rules adopted under this subsection (g). The adoption of emergency rules authorized by this subsection (g) shall be deemed to be necessary for the public interest, safety, and welfare.

(h) In order to provide for the expeditious and timely implementation of the State's fiscal year 2003 budget, emergency rules to implement any provision of Public Act 92-597 or any other budget initiative for fiscal year 2003 may be adopted in accordance with this Section by the agency charged with administering that provision or initiative, except that the 24-month limitation on the adoption of emergency rules and the provisions of Sections 5-115 and 5-125 do not apply to rules adopted under this subsection (h). The adoption of emergency rules authorized by this subsection (h) shall be deemed to be necessary for the public interest, safety, and welfare.

(i) In order to provide for the expeditious and timely implementation of the State's fiscal year 2004 budget, emergency rules to implement any provision of Public Act 93-20 or any other budget initiative for fiscal year 2004 may be adopted in accordance with this Section by the agency charged with administering that provision or initiative, except that the 24-month limitation on the adoption of emergency rules and the provisions of Sections 5-115 and 5-125 do not apply to rules adopted under this subsection (i). The adoption of emergency rules authorized by this subsection (i) shall be deemed to be necessary for the public interest, safety, and welfare.

(j) In order to provide for the expeditious and timely implementation of the provisions of the State's fiscal year 2005 budget as provided under the Fiscal Year 2005 Budget Implementation (Human Services) Act, emergency rules to implement any provision of the Fiscal Year 2005 Budget Implementation (Human Services) Act may be adopted in accordance with this Section by the agency charged with administering that provision, except that the 24-month limitation on the adoption of emergency rules and the provisions of Sections 5-115 and 5-125 do not apply to rules adopted under this subsection (j). The Department of Public Aid may also adopt rules under this subsection (j) necessary to administer the Illinois Public Aid Code and the Children's Health Insurance Program Act. The adoption of emergency rules authorized by this subsection (j) shall be deemed to be necessary for the public interest, safety, and welfare.

(k) In order to provide for the expeditious and timely implementation of the provisions of the State's fiscal year 2006 budget, emergency rules to implement any provision of Public Act 94-48 or any other budget initiative for fiscal year 2006 may be adopted in accordance with this Section by the agency charged with administering that provision or initiative, except that the 24-month limitation on the adoption of emergency rules and the provisions of Sections 5-115 and 5-125 do not apply to rules adopted under this subsection (k). The Department of Healthcare and Family Services may also adopt rules under this subsection (k) necessary to administer the Illinois Public Aid Code, the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act, the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Prescription Drug Discount Program Act (now the Illinois Prescription Drug Discount Program Act), and the Children's Health Insurance Program Act. The adoption of emergency rules authorized by this subsection (k) shall be deemed to be necessary for the public interest, safety, and welfare.

(l) In order to provide for the expeditious and timely implementation of the provisions of the State's fiscal year 2007 budget, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services may adopt emergency rules during fiscal year 2007, including rules effective July 1, 2007, in accordance with this subsection to the extent necessary to administer the Department's responsibilities with respect to amendments to the State plans and Illinois waivers approved by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services necessitated by the requirements of Title XIX and Title XXI of the federal Social Security Act. The adoption of emergency rules authorized by this subsection (l) shall be deemed to be necessary for the public interest, safety, and welfare.

(m) In order to provide for the expeditious and timely implementation of the provisions of the State's fiscal year 2008 budget, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services may adopt emergency rules during fiscal year 2008, including rules effective July 1, 2008, in accordance with this subsection to the extent necessary to administer the Department's responsibilities with respect to amendments to the State plans and Illinois waivers approved by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services necessitated by the requirements of Title XIX and Title XXI of the federal Social Security Act. The adoption of emergency rules authorized by this subsection (m) shall be deemed to be necessary for the public interest, safety, and welfare.

(n) In order to provide for the expeditious and timely implementation of the provisions of the State's fiscal year 2010 budget, emergency rules to implement any provision of Public Act 96-45 or any other budget initiative authorized by the 96th General Assembly for fiscal year 2010 may be adopted in accordance with this Section by the agency charged with administering that provision or initiative. The adoption of emergency rules authorized by this subsection (n) shall be deemed to be necessary for the public interest, safety, and welfare. The rulemaking authority granted in this subsection (n) shall apply only to rules promulgated during Fiscal Year 2010.

(o) In order to provide for the expeditious and timely implementation of the provisions of the State's fiscal year 2011 budget, emergency rules to implement any provision of Public Act 96-958 or any other budget initiative authorized by the 96th General Assembly for fiscal year 2011 may be adopted in accordance with this Section by the agency charged with administering that provision or initiative. The adoption of emergency rules authorized by this subsection (o) is deemed to be necessary for the public interest, safety, and welfare. The rulemaking authority granted in this subsection (o) applies only to rules promulgated on or after July 1, 2010 (the effective date of Public Act 96-958) through June 30, 2011.

(p) In order to provide for the expeditious and timely implementation of the provisions of Public Act 97-689, emergency rules to implement any provision of Public Act 97-689 may be adopted in accordance with this subsection (p) by the agency charged with administering that provision or initiative. The 150-day limitation of the effective period of emergency rules does not apply to rules adopted under this subsection (p), and the effective period may continue through June 30, 2013. The 24-month limitation on the adoption of emergency rules does not apply to rules adopted under this subsection (p). The adoption of emergency rules authorized by this subsection (p) is deemed to be necessary for the public interest, safety, and welfare.

(q) In order to provide for the expeditious and timely implementation of the provisions of Articles 7, 8, 9, 11, and 12 of Public Act 98-104, emergency rules to implement any provision of Articles 7, 8, 9, 11, and 12 of Public Act 98-104 may be adopted in accordance with this subsection (q) by the agency charged with administering that provision or initiative. The 24-month limitation on the adoption of emergency rules does not apply to rules adopted under this subsection (q). The adoption of emergency rules authorized by this subsection (q) is deemed to be necessary for the public interest, safety, and welfare.

(r) In order to provide for the expeditious and timely implementation of the provisions of Public Act 98-651, emergency rules to implement Public Act 98-651 may be adopted in accordance with this subsection (r) by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services. The 24-month limitation on the adoption of emergency rules does not apply to rules adopted under this subsection (r). The adoption of emergency rules authorized by this subsection (r) is deemed to be necessary for the public interest, safety, and welfare.

(s) In order to provide for the expeditious and timely implementation of the provisions of Sections 5-5b.1 and 5A-2 of the Illinois Public Aid Code, emergency rules to implement any provision of Section 5-5b.1 or Section 5A-2 of the Illinois Public Aid Code may be adopted in accordance with this subsection (s) by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services. The rulemaking authority granted in this subsection (s) shall apply only to those rules adopted prior to July 1, 2015. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, any emergency rule adopted under this subsection (s) shall only apply to payments made for State fiscal year 2015. The adoption of emergency rules authorized by this subsection (s) is deemed to be necessary for the public interest, safety, and welfare.

(t) In order to provide for the expeditious and timely implementation of the provisions of Article II of Public Act 99-6, emergency rules to implement the changes made by Article II of Public Act 99-6 to the Emergency Telephone System Act may be adopted in accordance with this subsection (t) by the Department of State Police. The rulemaking authority granted in this subsection (t) shall apply only to those rules adopted prior to July 1, 2016. The 24-month limitation on the adoption of emergency rules does not apply to rules adopted under this subsection (t). The adoption of emergency rules authorized by this subsection (t) is deemed to be necessary for the public interest, safety, and welfare.

(u) In order to provide for the expeditious and timely implementation of the provisions of the Burn Victims Relief Act, emergency rules to implement any provision of the Act may be adopted in accordance with this subsection (u) by the Department of Insurance. The rulemaking authority granted in this subsection (u) shall apply only to those rules adopted prior to December 31, 2015. The adoption of emergency rules authorized by this subsection (u) is deemed to be necessary for the public interest, safety, and welfare.

(v) In order to provide for the expeditious and timely implementation of the provisions of Public Act 99-516, emergency rules to implement Public Act 99-516 may be adopted in accordance with this subsection (v) by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services. The 24-month limitation on the adoption of emergency rules does not apply to rules adopted under this subsection (v). The adoption of emergency rules authorized by this subsection (v) is deemed to be necessary for the public interest, safety, and welfare.

(w) In order to provide for the expeditious and timely implementation of the provisions of Public Act 99-796, emergency rules to implement the changes made by Public Act 99-796 may be adopted in accordance with this subsection (w) by the Adjutant General. The adoption of emergency rules authorized by this subsection (w) is deemed to be necessary for the public interest, safety, and welfare.

(x) In order to provide for the expeditious and timely implementation of the provisions of Public Act 99-906, emergency rules to implement subsection (i) of Section 16-115D, subsection (g) of Section 16-128A, and subsection (a) of Section 16-128B of the Public Utilities Act may be adopted in accordance with this subsection (x) by the Illinois Commerce Commission. The rulemaking authority granted in this subsection (x) shall apply only to those rules adopted within 180 days after June 1, 2017 (the effective date of Public Act 99-906). The adoption of emergency rules authorized by this subsection (x) is deemed to be necessary for the public interest, safety, and welfare.

(y) In order to provide for the expeditious and timely implementation of the provisions of Public Act 100-23, emergency rules to implement the changes made by Public Act 100-23 to Section 4.02 of the Illinois Act on the Aging, Sections 5.5.4 and 5-5.4i of the Illinois Public Aid Code, Section 55-30 of the Alcoholism and Other Drug Abuse and Dependency Act, and Sections 74 and 75 of the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act may be adopted in accordance with this subsection (y) by the respective Department. The adoption of emergency rules authorized by this subsection (y) is deemed to be necessary for the public interest, safety, and welfare.

(z) In order to provide for the expeditious and timely implementation of the provisions of Public Act 100-554, emergency rules to implement the changes made by Public Act 100-554 to Section 4.7 of the Lobbyist Registration Act may be adopted in accordance with this subsection (z) by the Secretary of State. The adoption of emergency rules authorized by this subsection (z) is deemed to be necessary for the public interest, safety, and welfare.

(aa) In order to provide for the expeditious and timely initial implementation of the changes made to Articles 5, 5A, 12, and 14 of the Illinois Public Aid Code under the provisions of Public Act 100-581, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services may adopt emergency rules in accordance with this subsection (aa). The 24-month limitation on the adoption of emergency rules does not apply to rules to initially implement the changes made to Articles 5, 5A, 12, and 14 of the Illinois Public Aid Code adopted under this subsection (aa). The adoption of emergency rules authorized by this subsection (aa) is deemed to be necessary for the public interest, safety, and welfare.

(bb) In order to provide for the expeditious and timely implementation of the provisions of Public Act 100-587, emergency rules to implement the changes made by Public Act 100-587 to Section 4.02 of the Illinois Act on the Aging, Sections 5.5.4 and 5-5.4i of the Illinois Public Aid Code, subsection (b) of Section 55-30 of the Alcoholism and Other Drug Abuse and Dependency Act, Section 5-104 of the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013, and Section 75 and subsection (b) of Section 74 of the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act may be adopted in accordance with this subsection (bb) by the respective Department. The adoption of emergency rules authorized by this subsection (bb) is deemed to be necessary for the public interest, safety, and welfare.

(cc) In order to provide for the expeditious and timely implementation of the provisions of Public Act 100-587, emergency rules may be adopted in accordance with this subsection (cc) to implement the changes made by Public Act 100-587 to: Sections 14-147.5 and 14-147.6 of the Illinois Pension Code by the Board created under Article 14 of the Code; Sections 15-185.5 and 15-185.6 of the Illinois Pension Code by the Board created under Article 15 of the Code; and Sections 16-190.5 and 16-190.6 of the Illinois Pension Code by the Board created under Article 16 of the Code. The adoption of emergency rules authorized by this subsection (cc) is deemed to be necessary for the public interest, safety, and welfare.

(dd) In order to provide for the expeditious and timely implementation of the provisions of Public Act 100-864, emergency rules to implement the changes made by Public Act 100-864 to Section 3.35 of the Newborn Metabolic Screening Act may be adopted in accordance with this subsection (dd) by the Secretary of State. The adoption of emergency rules authorized by this subsection (dd) is deemed to be necessary for the public interest, safety, and welfare.

(ee) In order to provide for the expeditious and timely implementation of the provisions of Public Act 100-1172, emergency rules implementing the Illinois Underground Natural Gas Storage Safety Act may be adopted in accordance with this subsection by the Department of Natural Resources. The adoption of emergency rules authorized by this subsection is deemed to be necessary for the public interest, safety, and welfare.

(ff) In order to provide for the expeditious and timely initial implementation of the changes made to Articles 5A and 14 of the Illinois Public Aid Code under the provisions of Public Act 100-1181, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services may on a one-time-only basis adopt emergency rules in accordance with this subsection (ff). The 24-month limitation on the adoption of emergency rules does not apply to rules to initially implement the changes made to Articles 5A and 14 of the Illinois Public Aid Code adopted under this subsection (ff). The adoption of emergency rules authorized by this subsection (ff) is deemed to be necessary for the public interest, safety, and welfare.

(gg) In order to provide for the expeditious and timely implementation of the provisions of Public Act 101-1, emergency rules may be adopted by the Department of Labor in accordance with this subsection (gg) to implement the changes made by Public Act 101-1 to the Minimum Wage Law. The adoption of emergency rules authorized by this subsection (gg) is deemed to be necessary for the public interest, safety, and welfare.

(hh) In order to provide for the expeditious and timely implementation of the provisions of Public Act 101-10, emergency rules may be adopted in accordance with this subsection (hh) to implement the changes made by Public Act 101-10 to subsection (j) of Section 5-5.2 of the Illinois Public Aid Code. The adoption of emergency rules authorized by this subsection (hh) is deemed to be necessary for the public interest, safety, and welfare.

(ii) In order to provide for the expeditious and timely implementation of the provisions of Public Act 101-10, emergency rules to implement the changes made by Public Act 101-10 to Sections 5-5.4 and 5-5.4i of the Illinois Public Aid Code may be adopted in accordance with this subsection (ii) by the Department of Public Health. The adoption of emergency rules authorized by this subsection (ii) is deemed to be necessary for the public interest, safety, and welfare.

(jj) In order to provide for the expeditious and timely implementation of the provisions of Public Act 101-10, emergency rules to implement the changes made by Public Act 101-10 to Section 74 of the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act may be adopted in accordance with this subsection (jj) by the Department of Human Services. The adoption of emergency rules authorized by this subsection (jj) is deemed to be necessary for the public interest, safety, and welfare.

(kk) In order to provide for the expeditious and timely implementation of the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act and Public Act 101-27, the Department of Revenue, the Department of Public Health, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of State Police, and the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation may adopt emergency rules in accordance with this subsection (kk). The rulemaking authority granted in this subsection (kk) shall apply only to rules adopted before December 31, 2021. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (c), emergency rules adopted under this subsection (kk) shall be effective for 180 days. The adoption of emergency rules authorized by this subsection (kk) is deemed to be necessary for the public interest, safety, and welfare.

(ll) In order to provide for the expeditious and timely implementation of the provisions of the Leveling the Playing Field for Illinois Retail Act, emergency rules may be adopted in accordance with this subsection (ll) to implement the changes made by the Leveling the Playing Field for Illinois Retail Act. The adoption of emergency rules authorized by this subsection (ll) is deemed to be necessary for the public interest, safety, and welfare.

(mm) In order to provide for the expeditious and timely implementation of the provisions of Section 25-70 of the Sports Wagering Act, emergency rules to implement Section 25-70 of the Sports Wagering Act may be adopted in accordance with this subsection (mm) by the Department of the Lottery as provided in the Sports Wagering Act. The adoption of emergency rules authorized by this subsection (mm) is deemed to be necessary for the public interest, safety, and welfare.

(nn) In order to provide for the expeditious and timely implementation of the Sports Wagering Act, emergency rules to implement the Sports Wagering Act may be adopted in accordance with this subsection (nn) by the Illinois Gaming Board. The adoption of emergency rules authorized by this subsection (nn) is deemed to be necessary for the public interest, safety, and welfare.

(oo) In order to provide for the expeditious and timely implementation of the provisions of subsection (c) of Section 20 of the Video Gaming Act, emergency rules to implement the provisions of subsection (c) of Section 20 of the Video Gaming Act may be adopted in accordance with this subsection (oo) by the Illinois Gaming Board. The adoption of emergency rules authorized by this subsection (oo) is deemed to be necessary for the public interest, safety, and welfare.

(pp) In order to provide for the expeditious and timely implementation of the provisions of Section 50 of the Sexual Assault Evidence Submission Act, emergency rules to implement Section 50 of the Sexual Assault Evidence Submission Act may be adopted in accordance with this subsection (pp) by the Department of State Police. The adoption of emergency rules authorized by this subsection (pp) is deemed to be necessary for the public interest, safety, and welfare.

(qq) In order to provide for the expeditious and timely implementation of the provisions of the Illinois Works Jobs Program Act, emergency rules may be adopted in accordance with this subsection (qq) to implement the Illinois Works Jobs Program Act. The adoption of emergency rules authorized by this subsection (qq) is deemed to be necessary for the public interest, safety, and welfare.

(rr) In order to provide for the expeditious and timely implementation of the Illinois Energy Transition Zone Act, emergency rules to implement the provisions of subsection (a-5) of Section 1-40 of the Illinois Energy Transition Zone Act may be adopted in accordance with this subsection (aa) by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for period of 12 months after the effective date of the Illinois Energy Transition Zone Act. The adoption of emergency rules authorized by this subsection (aa) is deemed to be necessary for the public interest, safety, and welfare.

(Source: P.A. 100-23, eff. 7-6-17; 100-554, eff. 11-16-17; 100-581, eff. 3-12-18; 100-587, Article 95, Section 95-5, eff. 6-4-18; 100-587, Article 110, Section 110-5, eff. 6-4-18; 100-864, eff. 8-14-18; 100-1172, eff. 1-4-19; 100-1181, eff. 3-8-19; 101-1, eff. 2-19-19; 101-10, Article 20, Section 20-5, eff. 6-5-19; 101-10, Article 35, Section 35-5, eff. 6-5-19; 101-27, eff. 6-25-19; 101-31, Article 15, Section 15-5, eff. 6-28-19; 101-31, Article 25, Section 25-900, eff. 6-28-19; 101-31, Article 35, Section 35-3, eff. 6-28-19; 101-377, eff. 8-16-19; 101-601, eff. 12-10-19.)

Section 10-10. The State Finance Act is amended by adding Section 5.935 as follows:

(30 ILCS 105/5.935 new)

Sec. 5.935. The Energy Transition Fund.

Section 10-15. The State Mandates Act is amended by adding Section 8.45 as follows:

(30 ILCS 805/8.45 new)

Sec. 8.45. Exempt mandate. Notwithstanding Sections 6 and 8 of this Act, no reimbursement by the State is required for the implementation of any mandate created by this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly.

Section 10-20. The Illinois Income Tax Act is amended by adding Sections 232 and 233 as follows:

(35 ILCS 5/232 new)

Sec. 232. Investment credit; Energy Transition Zone.

(a) For tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2022, a taxpayer shall be allowed a credit against the tax imposed by subsections (a) and (b) of Section 201 for investment in qualified property which is placed in service for the use of the production of green energy by a green energy enterprise in an Energy Transition Zone created pursuant to the Illinois Energy Transition Zone Act. For partners, shareholders of Subchapter S corporations, and owners of limited liability companies, if the liability company is treated as a partnership for purposes of federal and State income taxation, there shall be allowed a credit under this Section to be determined in accordance with the determination of income and distributive share of income under Sections 702 and 704 and Subchapter S of the Internal Revenue Code. The credit shall be 0.5% of the basis for such property. The credit shall be available only in the taxable year in which the property is placed in service in the Energy Transition Zone and shall not be allowed to the extent that it would reduce a taxpayer's liability for the tax imposed by subsections (a) and (b) of Section 201 to below zero. The credit shall be allowed for the tax year in which the property is placed in service, or, if the amount of the credit exceeds the tax liability for that year, whether it exceeds the original liability or the liability as later amended, such excess may be carried forward and applied to the tax liability of the 5 taxable years following the excess credit year. The credit shall be applied to the earliest year for which there is a liability. If there is credit from more than one tax year that is available to offset a liability, the credit accruing first in time shall be applied first.

(b) The term "qualified property" means property which:

(1) is tangible, whether new or used, including buildings and structural components of buildings;

(2) is depreciable pursuant to Section 167 of the Internal Revenue Code, except that "3-year property" as defined in Section 168(c)(2)(A) of that Code is not eligible for the credit provided by this subsection (f-1);

(3) is acquired by purchase as defined in Section 179(d) of the Internal Revenue Code;

(4) is used in the Energy Transition Zone by the taxpayer in relation to producing green energy; and

(5) has not been previously used in Illinois in such a manner and by such a person as would qualify for the credit provided by this Section.

(c) The basis of qualified property shall be the basis used to compute the depreciation deduction for federal income tax purposes.

(d) If the basis of the property for federal income tax depreciation purposes is increased after it has been placed in service in the Energy Transition Zone by the taxpayer, the amount of such increase shall be deemed property placed in service on the date of such increase in basis.

(e) The term "placed in service" shall have the same meaning as under Section 46 of the Internal Revenue Code.

(f) If during any taxable year, any property ceases to be qualified property in the hands of the taxpayer within 48 months after being placed in service, or the situs of any qualified property is moved outside the Energy Transition Zone within 48 months after being placed in service, the tax imposed under subsections (a) and (b) of Section 201 for such taxable year shall be increased. Such increase shall be determined by (i) recomputing the investment credit which would have been allowed for the year in which credit for such property was originally allowed by eliminating such property from such computation, and (ii) subtracting such recomputed credit from the amount of credit previously allowed. For the purposes of this subsection, a reduction of the basis of qualified property resulting from a redetermination of the purchase price shall be deemed a disposition of qualified property to the extent of such reduction.

(g) The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall provide a tax credit certificate indicating the credit amount and the year in which the property is placed in service.

(35 ILCS 5/233 new)

Sec. 233. Energy Transition Tax Credit Act. For tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2022, a taxpayer who qualifies for a credit under the Energy Transition Tax Credit Act is entitled to a credit against the taxes imposed under subsections (a) and (b) of Section 201 of this Act as provided in that Act.

Section 10-25. The Retailers' Occupation Tax Act is amended by adding Section 5k-1 as follows:

(35 ILCS 120/5k-1 new)

Sec. 5k-1. Building materials exemption; Energy Transition Zone.

(a) Each retailer who makes a qualified sale of building materials to be incorporated into a green energy project, as defined in the Energy Transition Zone Act, being built by a green energy enterprise in an Energy Transition Zone established by or municipality under the Illinois Energy Transition Zone Act by remodeling, rehabilitation or new construction, may deduct receipts from such sales when calculating the tax imposed by this Act. For purposes of this Section, "qualified sale" means a sale of building materials that will be incorporated into real estate as part of a building project for which an Energy Transition Zone Building Materials Exemption Certificate has been issued to the purchaser by the Department. A construction contractor or other entity shall not make tax-free purchases unless it has an active Energy Transition Zone Building Materials Exemption Certificate issued by the Department at the time of the purchase.

(b) To document the exemption allowed under this Section, the retailer must obtain from the purchaser the certification required under subsection (c), which must contain the Energy Transition Zone Building Materials Exemption Certificate number issued to the purchaser by the Department. Upon request from the Energy Transition Zone Administrator, the Department shall issue an Energy Transition Zone Building Materials Exemption Certificate for each construction contractor or other entity identified by the Energy Transition Zone Administrator. The Department shall make the Energy Transition Zone Building Materials Exemption Certificates available directly to each Energy Transition Zone Administrator, construction contractor, or other entity. The request for Energy Transition Zone Building Materials Exemption Certificates from the Energy Transition Zone Administrator to the Department must include the following information:

(1) the name and address of the construction contractor or other entity;

(2) the name and number of the Energy Transition Zone;

(3) the name and location or address of the green energy enterprise;

(4) the estimated amount of the exemption for each construction contractor or other entity for which a request for Energy Transition Zone Building Materials Exemption Certificate is made, based on a stated estimated average tax rate and the percentage of the contract that consists of materials;

(5) the period of time over which supplies for the project are expected to be purchased; and

(6) other reasonable information as the Department may require, including, but not limited to FEIN numbers, to determine if the contractor or other entity, or any partner, or a corporate officer, and in the case of a limited liability company, any manager or member, of the construction contractor or other entity, is or has been the owner, a partner, a corporate officer, and in the case of a limited liability company, a manager or member, of a person that is in default for moneys due to the Department under this Act or any other tax or fee Act administered by the Department.

The Department shall issue the Energy Transition Zone Building Materials Exemption Certificates within 3 business days after receipt of request from the Zone Administrator. This requirement does not apply in circumstances where the Department, for reasonable cause, is unable to issue the Energy Transition Zone Building Materials Exemption Certificate within 3 business days. The Department may refuse to issue an Energy Transition Zone Building Materials Exemption Certificate if the owner, any partner, or a corporate officer, and in the case of a limited liability company, any manager or member, of the construction contractor or other entity is or has been the owner, a partner, a corporate officer, and in the case of a limited liability company, a manager or member, of a person that is in default for moneys due to the Department under this Act or any other tax or fee Act administered by the Department. The Energy Transition Zone Building Materials Exemption Certificate shall contain language stating that if the construction contractor or other entity who is issued the Energy Transition Zone Building Materials Exemption Certificate makes a tax-exempt purchase, as described in this Section, that is not eligible for exemption under this Section or allows another person to make a tax-exempt purchase, as described in this Section, that is not eligible for exemption under this Section, then, in addition to any tax or other penalty imposed, the construction contractor or other entity is subject to a penalty equal to the tax that would have been paid by the retailer under this Act as well as any applicable local retailers' occupation tax on the purchase that is not eligible for the exemption.

The Department, in its discretion, may require that the request for Energy Transition Zone Building Materials Exemption Certificates be submitted electronically. The Department may, in its discretion, issue the Energy Transition Zone Building Materials Exemption Certificates electronically. The Energy Transition Zone Building Materials Exemption Certificate number shall be designed in such a way that the Department can identify from the unique number on the Energy Transition Zone Building Materials Exemption Certificate issued to a given construction contractor or other entity, the name of the Energy Transition Zone, the project for which the Energy Transition Zone Building Materials Exemption Certificate is issued, and the construction contractor or other entity to whom the Energy Transition Zone Building Materials Exemption Certificate is issued. The Energy Transition Zone Building Materials Exemption Certificate shall contain an expiration date, which shall be no more than 2 years after the date of issuance. At the request of the Zone Administrator, the Department may renew an Energy Transition Zone Building Materials Exemption Certificate. After the Department issues Energy Transition Zone Building Materials Exemption Certificates for a given Energy Transition Zone project, the Energy Transition Zone Administrator may notify the Department of additional construction contractors or other entities eligible for an Energy Transition Zone Building Materials Exemption Certificate. Upon notification by the Energy Transition Zone Administrator and subject to the other provisions of this subsection (b), the Department shall issue an Energy Transition Zone Building Materials Exemption Certificate to each additional construction contractor or other entity identified by the Energy Transition Zone Administrator. An Energy Transition Zone Administrator may notify the Department to rescind an Energy Transition Zone Building Materials Exemption Certificate previously issued by the Department but that has not yet expired. Upon notification by the Energy Transition Zone Administrator and subject to the other provisions of this subsection (b), the Department shall issue the rescission of the Energy Transition Zone Building Materials Exemption Certificate to the construction contractor or other entity identified by the Energy Transition Zone Administrator and provide a copy to the Energy Transition Zone Administrator.

If the Department of Revenue determines that a construction contractor or other entity that was issued an Energy Transition Zone Building Materials Exemption Certificate under this subsection (b) made a tax-exempt purchase, as described in this Section, that was not eligible for exemption under this Section or allowed another person to make a tax-exempt purchase, as described in this Section, that was not eligible for exemption under this Section, then, in addition to any tax or other penalty imposed, the construction contractor or other entity is subject to a penalty equal to the tax that would have been paid by the retailer under this Act as well as any applicable local retailers' occupation tax on the purchase that was not eligible for the exemption.

(c) In addition, the retailer must obtain certification from the purchaser that contains:

(1) a statement that the building materials are being purchased for incorporation into a green energy project located in an Illinois Energy Transition Zone;

(2) the location or address of the real estate into which the building materials will be incorporated;

(3) the name of the Energy Transition Zone in which that real estate is located;

(4) a description of the building materials being purchased;

(5) the purchaser's Energy Transition Zone Building Materials Exemption Certificate number issued by the Department; and

(6) the purchaser's signature and date of purchase.

(d) The deduction allowed by this Section for the sale of building materials may be limited, to the extent authorized by ordinance by the municipality or county that created the Energy Transition Zone into which the building materials will be incorporated. The ordinance, however, may neither require nor prohibit the purchase of building materials from any retailer or class of retailers in order to qualify for the exemption allowed under this Section. The provisions of this Section are exempt from Section 2-70.

Section 10-30. The Illinois Municipal Code is amended by changing Section 8-11-2 as follows:

(65 ILCS 5/8-11-2) (from Ch. 24, par. 8-11-2)

Sec. 8-11-2. The corporate authorities of any municipality may tax any or all of the following occupations or privileges:

1. (Blank).

2. Persons engaged in the business of distributing, supplying, furnishing, or selling gas for use or consumption within the corporate limits of a municipality of 500,000 or fewer population, and not for resale, at a rate not to exceed 5% of the gross receipts therefrom.

2a. Persons engaged in the business of distributing, supplying, furnishing, or selling gas for use or consumption within the corporate limits of a municipality of over 500,000 population, and not for resale, at a rate not to exceed 8% of the gross receipts therefrom. If imposed, this tax shall be paid in monthly payments.

3. The privilege of using or consuming electricity acquired in a purchase at retail and used or consumed within the corporate limits of the municipality at rates not to exceed the following maximum rates, calculated on a monthly basis for each purchaser:

(i) For the first 2,000 kilowatt-hours used or consumed in a month; 0.61 cents per kilowatt-hour;

(ii) For the next 48,000 kilowatt-hours used or consumed in a month; 0.40 cents per kilowatt-hour;

(iii) For the next 50,000 kilowatt-hours used or consumed in a month; 0.36 cents per kilowatt-hour;

(iv) For the next 400,000 kilowatt-hours used or consumed in a month; 0.35 cents per kilowatt-hour;

(v) For the next 500,000 kilowatt-hours used or consumed in a month; 0.34 cents per kilowatt-hour;

(vi) For the next 2,000,000 kilowatt-hours used or consumed in a month; 0.32 cents per kilowatt-hour;

(vii) For the next 2,000,000 kilowatt-hours used or consumed in a month; 0.315 cents per kilowatt-hour;

(viii) For the next 5,000,000 kilowatt-hours used or consumed in a month; 0.31 cents per kilowatt-hour;

(ix) For the next 10,000,000 kilowatt-hours used or consumed in a month; 0.305 cents per kilowatt-hour; and

(x) For all electricity used or consumed in excess of 20,000,000 kilowatt-hours in a month, 0.30 cents per kilowatt-hour.

If a municipality imposes a tax at rates lower than either the maximum rates specified in this Section or the alternative maximum rates promulgated by the Illinois Commerce Commission, as provided below, the tax rates shall be imposed upon the kilowatt-hour categories set forth above with the same proportional relationship as that which exists among such maximum rates. Notwithstanding the foregoing, until December 31, 2008, no municipality shall establish rates that are in excess of rates reasonably calculated to produce revenues that equal the maximum total revenues such municipality could have received under the tax authorized by this subparagraph in the last full calendar year prior to August 1, 1998 (the effective date of Section 65 of Public Act 90-561); provided that this shall not be a limitation on the amount of tax revenues actually collected by such municipality.

Upon the request of the corporate authorities of a municipality, the Illinois Commerce Commission shall, within 90 days after receipt of such request, promulgate alternative rates for each of these kilowatt-hour categories that will reflect, as closely as reasonably practical for that municipality, the distribution of the tax among classes of purchasers as if the tax were based on a uniform percentage of the purchase price of electricity. A municipality that has adopted an ordinance imposing a tax pursuant to subparagraph 3 as it existed prior to August 1, 1998 (the effective date of Section 65 of Public Act 90-561) may, rather than imposing the tax permitted by Public Act 90-561, continue to impose the tax pursuant to that ordinance with respect to gross receipts received from residential customers through July 31, 1999, and with respect to gross receipts from any non-residential customer until the first bill issued to such customer for delivery services in accordance with Section 16-104 of the Public Utilities Act but in no case later than the last bill issued to such customer before December 31, 2000. No ordinance imposing the tax permitted by Public Act 90-561 shall be applicable to any non-residential customer until the first bill issued to such customer for delivery services in accordance with Section 16-104 of the Public Utilities Act but in no case later than the last bill issued to such non-residential customer before December 31, 2000.

4. Persons engaged in the business of distributing, supplying, furnishing, or selling water for use or consumption within the corporate limits of the municipality, and not for resale, at a rate not to exceed 5% of the gross receipts therefrom.

None of the taxes authorized by this Section may be imposed with respect to any transaction in interstate commerce or otherwise to the extent to which the business or privilege may not, under the constitution and statutes of the United States, be made the subject of taxation by this State or any political sub-division thereof; nor shall any persons engaged in the business of distributing, supplying, furnishing, selling or transmitting gas, water, or electricity, or using or consuming electricity acquired in a purchase at retail, be subject to taxation under the provisions of this Section for those transactions that are or may become subject to taxation under the provisions of the Municipal Retailers' Occupation Tax Act authorized by Section 8-11-1; nor shall any tax authorized by this Section be imposed upon any person engaged in a business or on any privilege unless the tax is imposed in like manner and at the same rate upon all persons engaged in businesses of the same class in the municipality, whether privately or municipally owned or operated, or exercising the same privilege within the municipality.

Any of the taxes enumerated in this Section may be in addition to the payment of money, or value of products or services furnished to the municipality by the taxpayer as compensation for the use of its streets, alleys, or other public places, or installation and maintenance therein, thereon or thereunder of poles, wires, pipes, or other equipment used in the operation of the taxpayer's business.

(a) If the corporate authorities of any home rule municipality have adopted an ordinance that imposed a tax on public utility customers, between July 1, 1971, and October 1, 1981, on the good faith belief that they were exercising authority pursuant to Section 6 of Article VII of the 1970 Illinois Constitution, that action of the corporate authorities shall be declared legal and valid, notwithstanding a later decision of a judicial tribunal declaring the ordinance invalid. No municipality shall be required to rebate, refund, or issue credits for any taxes described in this paragraph, and those taxes shall be deemed to have been levied and collected in accordance with the Constitution and laws of this State.

(b) In any case in which (i) prior to October 19, 1979, the corporate authorities of any municipality have adopted an ordinance imposing a tax authorized by this Section (or by the predecessor provision of the Revised Cities and Villages Act) and have explicitly or in practice interpreted gross receipts to include either charges added to customers' bills pursuant to the provision of paragraph (a) of Section 36 of the Public Utilities Act or charges added to customers' bills by taxpayers who are not subject to rate regulation by the Illinois Commerce Commission for the purpose of recovering any of the tax liabilities or other amounts specified in such paragraph (a) of Section 36 of that Act, and (ii) on or after October 19, 1979, a judicial tribunal has construed gross receipts to exclude all or part of those charges, then neither that municipality nor any taxpayer who paid the tax shall be required to rebate, refund, or issue credits for any tax imposed or charge collected from customers pursuant to the municipality's interpretation prior to October 19, 1979. This paragraph reflects a legislative finding that it would be contrary to the public interest to require a municipality or its taxpayers to refund taxes or charges attributable to the municipality's more inclusive interpretation of gross receipts prior to October 19, 1979, and is not intended to prescribe or limit judicial construction of this Section. The legislative finding set forth in this subsection does not apply to taxes imposed after January 1, 1996 (the effective date of Public Act 89-325).

(c) The tax authorized by subparagraph 3 shall be collected from the purchaser by the person maintaining a place of business in this State who delivers the electricity to the purchaser. This tax shall constitute a debt of the purchaser to the person who delivers the electricity to the purchaser and if unpaid, is recoverable in the same manner as the original charge for delivering the electricity. Any tax required to be collected pursuant to an ordinance authorized by subparagraph 3 and any such tax collected by a person delivering electricity shall constitute a debt owed to the municipality by such person delivering the electricity, provided, that the person delivering electricity shall be allowed credit for such tax related to deliveries of electricity the charges for which are written off as uncollectible, and provided further, that if such charges are thereafter collected, the delivering supplier shall be obligated to remit such tax. For purposes of this subsection (c), any partial payment not specifically identified by the purchaser shall be deemed to be for the delivery of electricity. Persons delivering electricity shall collect the tax from the purchaser by adding such tax to the gross charge for delivering the electricity, in the manner prescribed by the municipality. Persons delivering electricity shall also be authorized to add to such gross charge an amount equal to 3% of the tax to reimburse the person delivering electricity for the expenses incurred in keeping records, billing customers, preparing and filing returns, remitting the tax and supplying data to the municipality upon request. If the person delivering electricity fails to collect the tax from the purchaser, then the purchaser shall be required to pay the tax directly to the municipality in the manner prescribed by the municipality. Persons delivering electricity who file returns pursuant to this paragraph (c) shall, at the time of filing such return, pay the municipality the amount of the tax collected pursuant to subparagraph 3.

(d) For the purpose of the taxes enumerated in this Section:

"Gross receipts" means the consideration received for distributing, supplying, furnishing or selling gas for use or consumption and not for resale, and the consideration received for distributing, supplying, furnishing or selling water for use or consumption and not for resale, and for all services rendered in connection therewith valued in money, whether received in money or otherwise, including cash, credit, services and property of every kind and material and for all services rendered therewith, and shall be determined without any deduction on account of the cost of the service, product or commodity supplied, the cost of materials used, labor or service cost, or any other expenses whatsoever. "Gross receipts" shall not include that portion of the consideration received for distributing, supplying, furnishing, or selling gas or water to business enterprises or green energy enterprises described in paragraph (e) of this Section to the extent and during the period in which the exemption authorized by paragraph (e) is in effect or for school districts or units of local government described in paragraph (f) during the period in which the exemption authorized in paragraph (f) is in effect.

For utility bills issued on or after May 1, 1996, but before May 1, 1997, and for receipts from those utility bills, "gross receipts" does not include one-third of (i) amounts added to customers' bills under Section 9-222 of the Public Utilities Act, or (ii) amounts added to customers' bills by taxpayers who are not subject to rate regulation by the Illinois Commerce Commission for the purpose of recovering any of the tax liabilities described in Section 9-222 of the Public Utilities Act. For utility bills issued on or after May 1, 1997, but before May 1, 1998, and for receipts from those utility bills, "gross receipts" does not include two-thirds of (i) amounts added to customers' bills under Section 9-222 of the Public Utilities Act, or (ii) amount added to customers' bills by taxpayers who are not subject to rate regulation by the Illinois Commerce Commission for the purpose of recovering any of the tax liabilities described in Section 9-222 of the Public Utilities Act. For utility bills issued on or after May 1, 1998, and for receipts from those utility bills, "gross receipts" does not include (i) amounts added to customers' bills under Section 9-222 of the Public Utilities Act, or (ii) amounts added to customers' bills by taxpayers who are not subject to rate regulation by the Illinois Commerce Commission for the purpose of recovering any of the tax liabilities described in Section 9-222 of the Public Utilities Act.

For purposes of this Section "gross receipts" shall not include amounts added to customers' bills under Section 9-221 of the Public Utilities Act. This paragraph is not intended to nor does it make any change in the meaning of "gross receipts" for the purposes of this Section, but is intended to remove possible ambiguities, thereby confirming the existing meaning of "gross receipts" prior to January 1, 1996 (the effective date of Public Act 89-325).

"Person" as used in this Section means any natural individual, firm, trust, estate, partnership, association, joint stock company, joint adventure, corporation, limited liability company, municipal corporation, the State or any of its political subdivisions, any State university created by statute, or a receiver, trustee, guardian or other representative appointed by order of any court.

"Person maintaining a place of business in this State" shall mean any person having or maintaining within this State, directly or by a subsidiary or other affiliate, an office, generation facility, distribution facility, transmission facility, sales office or other place of business, or any employee, agent, or other representative operating within this State under the authority of the person or its subsidiary or other affiliate, irrespective of whether such place of business or agent or other representative is located in this State permanently or temporarily, or whether such person, subsidiary or other affiliate is licensed or qualified to do business in this State.

"Public utility" shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3-105 of the Public Utilities Act and shall include alternative retail electric suppliers as defined in Section 16-102 of that Act.

"Purchase at retail" shall mean any acquisition of electricity by a purchaser for purposes of use or consumption, and not for resale, but shall not include the use of electricity by a public utility directly in the generation, production, transmission, delivery or sale of electricity.

"Purchaser" shall mean any person who uses or consumes, within the corporate limits of the municipality, electricity acquired in a purchase at retail.

(e) Any municipality that imposes taxes upon public utilities or upon the privilege of using or consuming electricity pursuant to this Section whose territory includes any part of an enterprise zone, Energy Transition Zone, or federally designated Foreign Trade Zone or Sub-Zone may, by a majority vote of its corporate authorities, exempt from those taxes for a period not exceeding 20 years any specified percentage of gross receipts of public utilities received from, or electricity used or consumed by, business enterprises or green energy enterprises that:

(1) either (i) make investments that cause the creation of a minimum of 200 full-time equivalent jobs in Illinois, (ii) make investments of at least $175,000,000 that cause the creation of a minimum of 150 full-time equivalent jobs in Illinois, or (iii) make investments that cause the retention of a minimum of 1,000 full-time jobs in Illinois; and

(2) are either (i) located in an Enterprise Zone established pursuant to the Illinois Enterprise Zone Act or (ii) Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity designated High Impact Businesses located in a federally designated Foreign Trade Zone or Sub-Zone; or (iii) located in an Energy Transition Zone established pursuant to the Illinois Energy Transition Zone Act; and

(3) are certified by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity as complying with the requirements specified in clauses (1) and (2) of this paragraph (e).

Upon adoption of the ordinance authorizing the exemption, the municipal clerk shall transmit a copy of that ordinance to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall determine whether the business enterprises or green energy enterprises located in the municipality meet the criteria prescribed in this paragraph. If the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity determines that the business enterprises or green energy enterprises meet the criteria, it shall grant certification. The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall act upon certification requests within 30 days after receipt of the ordinance.

Upon certification of the business enterprise or green energy enterprises by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall notify the Department of Revenue of the certification. The Department of Revenue shall notify the public utilities of the exemption status of the gross receipts received from, and the electricity used or consumed by, the certified business enterprises and certified green energy enterprises. Such exemption status shall be effective within 3 months after certification.

(f) A municipality that imposes taxes upon public utilities or upon the privilege of using or consuming electricity under this Section and whose territory includes part of another unit of local government or a school district may by ordinance exempt the other unit of local government or school district from those taxes.

(g) The amendment of this Section by Public Act 84-127 shall take precedence over any other amendment of this Section by any other amendatory Act passed by the 84th General Assembly before August 1, 1985 (the effective date of Public Act 84-127).

(h) In any case in which, before July 1, 1992, a person engaged in the business of transmitting messages through the use of mobile equipment, such as cellular phones and paging systems, has determined the municipality within which the gross receipts from the business originated by reference to the location of its transmitting or switching equipment, then (i) neither the municipality to which tax was paid on that basis nor the taxpayer that paid tax on that basis shall be required to rebate, refund, or issue credits for any such tax or charge collected from customers to reimburse the taxpayer for the tax and (ii) no municipality to which tax would have been paid with respect to those gross receipts if the provisions of Public Act 87-773 had been in effect before July 1, 1992, shall have any claim against the taxpayer for any amount of the tax.

(Source: P.A. 100-201, eff. 8-18-17.)

Section 10-35. The Public Utilities Act is amended by changing Sections 9-221 and 9-222 and by adding Section 9-222.1b as follows:

(220 ILCS 5/9-221) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 9-221)

Sec. 9-221. Whenever a municipality pursuant to Section 8-11-2 of the Illinois Municipal Code, as heretofore and hereafter amended, imposes a tax on any public utility, such utility may charge its customers, other than customers who are certified business enterprises or certified green energy enterprises under paragraph (e) of Section 8-11-2 of the Illinois Municipal Code or are exempted from those taxes under paragraph (f) of that Section, to the extent of such exemption and during the period in which such exemption is in effect, in addition to any rate authorized by this Act, an additional charge equal to the sum of (1) an amount equal to such municipal tax, or any part thereof (2) 3% of such tax, or any part thereof, as the case may be, to cover costs of accounting, and (3) an amount equal to the increase in taxes and other payments to governmental bodies resulting from the amount of such additional charge. Such utility shall file with the Commission a true and correct copy of the municipal ordinance imposing such tax; and also shall file with the Commission a supplemental schedule applicable to such municipality which shall specify such additional charge and which shall become effective upon filing without further notice. Such additional charge shall be shown separately on the utility bill to each customer. The Commission shall have power to investigate whether or not such supplemental schedule correctly specifies such additional charge, but shall have no power to suspend such supplemental schedule. If the Commission finds, after a hearing, that such supplemental schedule does not correctly specify such additional charge, it shall by order require a refund to the appropriate customers of the excess, if any, with interest, in such manner as it shall deem just and reasonable, and in and by such order shall require the utility to file an amended supplemental schedule corresponding to the finding and order of the Commission.

(Source: P.A. 87-895; 88-132.)

(220 ILCS 5/9-222) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 9-222)

Sec. 9-222. Whenever a tax is imposed upon a public utility engaged in the business of distributing, supplying, furnishing, or selling gas for use or consumption pursuant to Section 2 of the Gas Revenue Tax Act, or whenever a tax is required to be collected by a delivering supplier pursuant to Section 2-7 of the Electricity Excise Tax Act, or whenever a tax is imposed upon a public utility pursuant to Section 2-202 of this Act, such utility may charge its customers, other than customers who are high impact businesses under Section 5.5 of the Illinois Enterprise Zone Act, or certified business enterprises under Section 9-222.1 of this Act, or certified green energy enterprises under Section 9-221.B, to the extent of such exemption and during the period in which such exemption is in effect, in addition to any rate authorized by this Act, an additional charge equal to the total amount of such taxes. The exemption of this Section relating to high impact businesses shall be subject to the provisions of subsections (a), (b), and (b-5) of Section 5.5 of the Illinois Enterprise Zone Act. This requirement shall not apply to taxes on invested capital imposed pursuant to the Messages Tax Act, the Gas Revenue Tax Act and the Public Utilities Revenue Act. Such utility shall file with the Commission a supplemental schedule which shall specify such additional charge and which shall become effective upon filing without further notice. Such additional charge shall be shown separately on the utility bill to each customer. The Commission shall have the power to investigate whether or not such supplemental schedule correctly specifies such additional charge, but shall have no power to suspend such supplemental schedule. If the Commission finds, after a hearing, that such supplemental schedule does not correctly specify such additional charge, it shall by order require a refund to the appropriate customers of the excess, if any, with interest, in such manner as it shall deem just and reasonable, and in and by such order shall require the utility to file an amended supplemental schedule corresponding to the finding and order of the Commission. Except with respect to taxes imposed on invested capital, such tax liabilities shall be recovered from customers solely by means of the additional charges authorized by this Section.

(Source: P.A. 91-914, eff. 7-7-00; 92-12, eff. 7-1-01.)

(220 ILCS 5/9-222.1b new)

Sec. 9-222.1b. Green energy enterprises. A green energy enterprise as defined in the Illinois Energy Transition Zone Act, which is located within an area designated by a county or municipality as an Energy Transition Zone pursuant to the Illinois Energy Transition Zone Act shall be exempt from the additional charges added to the green energy enterprise's utility bills as a pass-on of municipal and State utility taxes under Sections 9-221 and 9-222 of this Act, to the extent such charges are exempted by ordinance adopted in accordance with paragraph (e) of Section 8-11-2 of the Illinois Municipal Code in the case of municipal utility taxes, and to the extent such charges are exempted by the percentage specified by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity in the case of State utility taxes, provided such green energy enterprise meets the following criteria:

(1) it (i) makes investments which cause the creation of a minimum of 200 full-time equivalent jobs in an Energy Transition Zone; (ii) makes investments of at least $175,000,000 which cause the creation of a minimum of 150 full-time equivalent jobs in an Energy Transition Zone; or (iii) makes investments which cause the retention of a minimum of 1,000 full-time jobs in an Energy Transition Zone; and

(2) it is located in an Energy Transition Zone established pursuant to the Illinois Energy Transition Zone Act; and

(3) it is certified by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity as complying with the requirements specified in clauses (1) and (2) of this Section.

The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall determine the period during which such exemption from the charges imposed under Section 9-222 is in effect which shall not exceed 30 years or the certified term of the energy transition Zone, whichever period is shorter.

The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall have the power to adopt rules to carry out the provisions of this Section including procedures for complying with the requirements specified in clauses (1) and (2) of this Section and procedures for applying for the exemptions authorized under this Section; to define the amounts and types of eligible investments which green energy enterprises must make in order to receive State utility tax exemptions pursuant to Sections 9-222 and 9-222.1B of this Act; to approve such utility tax exemptions for green energy enterprises whose investments are not yet placed in service; and to require that green energy enterprises granted tax exemptions repay the exempted tax should the green energy enterprise fail to comply with the terms and conditions of the certification. However, no green energy enterprise shall be required, as a condition for certification under clause (3) of this Section, to attest that its decision to invest under clause (1) of this Section and to locate under clause (2) of this Section is predicated upon the availability of the exemptions authorized by this Section.

A green energy enterprise shall be exempt, in whole or in part, from the pass-on charges of municipal utility taxes imposed under Section 9-221, only if it meets the criteria specified in clauses (1) through (3) of this Section and the municipality has adopted an ordinance authorizing the exemption under paragraph (e) of Section 8-11-2 of the Illinois Municipal Code. Upon certification of the green energy enterprises by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall notify the Department of Revenue of such certification. The Department of Revenue shall notify the public utilities of the exemption status of green energy enterprises from the pass-on charges of State and municipal utility taxes. Such exemption status shall be effective within 3 months after certification of the green energy enterprise.

Section 10-40. The Prevailing Wage Act is amended by changing Section 2 as follows:

(820 ILCS 130/2) (from Ch. 48, par. 39s-2)

Sec. 2. This Act applies to the wages of laborers, mechanics and other workers employed in any public works, as hereinafter defined, by any public body and to anyone under contracts for public works. This includes any maintenance, repair, assembly, or disassembly work performed on equipment whether owned, leased, or rented.

As used in this Act, unless the context indicates otherwise:

"Public works" means all fixed works constructed or demolished by any public body, or paid for wholly or in part out of public funds. "Public works" as defined herein includes all projects financed in whole or in part with bonds, grants, loans, or other funds made available by or through the State or any of its political subdivisions, including but not limited to: bonds issued under the Industrial Project Revenue Bond Act (Article 11, Division 74 of the Illinois Municipal Code), the Industrial Building Revenue Bond Act, the Illinois Finance Authority Act, the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority Act, or the Build Illinois Bond Act; loans or other funds made available pursuant to the Build Illinois Act; loans or other funds made available pursuant to the Riverfront Development Fund under Section 10-15 of the River Edge Redevelopment Zone Act; or funds from the Fund for Illinois' Future under Section 6z-47 of the State Finance Act, funds for school construction under Section 5 of the General Obligation Bond Act, funds authorized under Section 3 of the School Construction Bond Act, funds for school infrastructure under Section 6z-45 of the State Finance Act, and funds for transportation purposes under Section 4 of the General Obligation Bond Act. "Public works" also includes (i) all projects financed in whole or in part with funds from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity under the Illinois Renewable Fuels Development Program Act for which there is no project labor agreement; (ii) all work performed pursuant to a public private agreement under the Public Private Agreements for the Illiana Expressway Act or the Public-Private Agreements for the South Suburban Airport Act; and (iii) all projects undertaken under a public-private agreement under the Public-Private Partnerships for Transportation Act. "Public works" also includes all projects at leased facility property used for airport purposes under Section 35 of the Local Government Facility Lease Act. "Public works" also includes the construction of a new wind power facility by a business designated as a High Impact Business under Section 5.5(a)(3)(E) of the Illinois Enterprise Zone Act. "Public works" also includes projects qualifying for incentives under the Illinois Energy Transition Zone Act. "Public works" does not include work done directly by any public utility company, whether or not done under public supervision or direction, or paid for wholly or in part out of public funds. "Public works" also includes any corrective action performed pursuant to Title XVI of the Environmental Protection Act for which payment from the Underground Storage Tank Fund is requested. "Public works" does not include projects undertaken by the owner at an owner-occupied single-family residence or at an owner-occupied unit of a multi-family residence. "Public works" does not include work performed for soil and water conservation purposes on agricultural lands, whether or not done under public supervision or paid for wholly or in part out of public funds, done directly by an owner or person who has legal control of those lands.

"Construction" means all work on public works involving laborers, workers or mechanics. This includes any maintenance, repair, assembly, or disassembly work performed on equipment whether owned, leased, or rented.

"Locality" means the county where the physical work upon public works is performed, except (1) that if there is not available in the county a sufficient number of competent skilled laborers, workers and mechanics to construct the public works efficiently and properly, "locality" includes any other county nearest the one in which the work or construction is to be performed and from which such persons may be obtained in sufficient numbers to perform the work and (2) that, with respect to contracts for highway work with the Department of Transportation of this State, "locality" may at the discretion of the Secretary of the Department of Transportation be construed to include two or more adjacent counties from which workers may be accessible for work on such construction.

"Public body" means the State or any officer, board or commission of the State or any political subdivision or department thereof, or any institution supported in whole or in part by public funds, and includes every county, city, town, village, township, school district, irrigation, utility, reclamation improvement or other district and every other political subdivision, district or municipality of the state whether such political subdivision, municipality or district operates under a special charter or not.

"Labor organization" means an organization that is the exclusive representative of an employer's employees recognized or certified pursuant to the National Labor Relations Act.

The terms "general prevailing rate of hourly wages", "general prevailing rate of wages" or "prevailing rate of wages" when used in this Act mean the hourly cash wages plus annualized fringe benefits for training and apprenticeship programs approved by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training, health and welfare, insurance, vacations and pensions paid generally, in the locality in which the work is being performed, to employees engaged in work of a similar character on public works.

(Source: P.A. 100-1177, eff. 6-1-19.)

Article 99. Effective date

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