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1     AN ACT concerning State government.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5 Illinois Global Partnership Act.
 
6     Section 5. Definitions. As used in this Act, unless the
7 context requires otherwise:
8     "Board" means the board of directors of Illinois Global
9 Partnership, Inc.
10     "IGP" or "Partnership" means Illinois Global Partnership,
11 Inc., the not-for-profit entity incorporated as provided in
12 this Act.
 
13     Section 10. Findings; purpose. The General Assembly finds
14 that it is important to encourage international business
15 developments for Illinois companies and to encourage
16 international tourism in Illinois by creating partnerships
17 that open markets, by accessing customers, and by facilitating
18 transactions. Therefore, the purpose of the Illinois Global
19 Partnership, Inc., is to build Illinois' profile as a region
20 prepared to do business with the world and as a world tourism
21 destination. The Partnership shall encourage international
22 business development for Illinois companies and international
23 tourism by affecting policy and creating partnerships that open
24 markets, access customers, and facilitate transactions.
 
25     Section 15. Partnership established. A not-for-profit
26 corporation to be known as "Illinois Global Partnership, Inc."
27 is created. IGP shall be incorporated under the General Not for
28 Profit Corporation Act of 1986 and shall be registered,
29 incorporated, organized, and operated in compliance with the
30 laws of this State. IGP shall not be a State agency. The

 

 

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1 General Assembly determines, however, that public policy
2 dictates that IGP operate in the most open and accessible
3 manner consistent with its public purpose. To this end, the
4 General Assembly specifically declares that IGP and its board
5 and advisory committee shall adopt and adhere to the provisions
6 of the State Records Act, the Open Meetings Act, and the
7 Freedom of Information Act.
8     IGP shall establish one or more corporate offices, at least
9 one of which shall be located in Sangamon County.
 
10     Section 20. Board of directors. IGP shall be governed by a
11 board of directors. The IGP board of directors shall consist of
12 14 members. Five of the members shall be voting members
13 appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the
14 Senate. The Speaker and Minority Leader of the House of
15 Representatives, the President and Minority Leader of the
16 Senate, the Lieutenant Governor, the Director of Agriculture,
17 the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the
18 Chairperson of the Illinois Arts Council, and the Director of
19 the Illinois Finance Authority, or the designee of each, shall
20 be non-voting ex officio members.
21     Of the members appointed by the Governor, one member must
22 have a background in agriculture, one member must have a
23 background in manufacturing, and one member must have a
24 background in international business relations.
25     Of the initial members appointed by the Governor, 3 members
26 shall serve 4-year terms and 2 members shall serve 2-year terms
27 as designated by the Governor. Thereafter, members appointed by
28 the Governor shall serve 4-year terms. A vacancy among members
29 appointed by the Governor shall be filled by appointment by the
30 Governor for the remainder of the vacated term.
31     Members of the board shall receive no compensation but
32 shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the performance of
33 their duties.
34     The Governor shall designate the chairman of the board
35 until a successor is designated. The board shall meet at the

 

 

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1 call of the chair.
2     No less than 90 days after a majority of the members of the
3 board of directors of the IGP is appointed by the Governor, the
4 board shall develop a policy adopted by resolution of the board
5 stating the board's plan for the use of services provided by
6 businesses owned by minorities, females, and persons with
7 disabilities, as defined under the Business Enterprise for
8 Minorities, Females, and Persons with Disabilities Act. The
9 board shall provide a copy of this resolution to the Governor
10 and the General Assembly upon its adoption.
11     On December 31 of each year, the board shall report to the
12 General Assembly and the Governor regarding the use of services
13 provided by businesses owned by minorities, females, and
14 persons with disabilities, as defined under the Business
15 Enterprise for Minorities, Females, and Persons with
16 Disabilities Act.
 
17     Section 25. Powers of IGP. IGP has the power to:
18         (1) Host monthly leadership forums to give small groups
19     of top business leaders the ability to interact with top
20     federal, State, and local governmental officials.
21         (2) Manage trips to Washington, D.C., for key business
22     leaders, giving this group exposure to top policy makers in
23     the federal administration and Congress.
24         (3) Manage trips to the State for members of Congress
25     and their staffs, giving this group exposure to Illinois
26     businesses, research facilities, and other statewide
27     highlights.
28         (4) Host monthly trade missions from international
29     companies, introducing these influential travelers to key
30     leaders at Illinois businesses for the expressed purpose of
31     building partnerships with suppliers and customers.
32         (5) Manage trips to other states and foreign countries
33     for Illinois business leaders to give them and their
34     respective companies exposure to new and expanding
35     markets.

 

 

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1         (6) Manage meetings with prospective partners to
2     discuss products, markets, pricing, and other elements of
3     the transaction.
4         (7) Attract international participation in high
5     profile Illinois projects.
6         (8) Make recommendations to the Governor and the
7     members of the General Assembly concerning the role the
8     State performs in international business development.
9         (9) Assist Illinois businesses to engage in, expand,
10     and increase foreign trade.
11         (10) Establish or co-sponsor mentoring conferences,
12     using experienced manufacturing exporters, to explain and
13     provide information to prospective export manufacturers
14     and businesses concerning the process of exporting to both
15     domestic and international opportunities.
16         (11) Provide technical assistance to prospective
17     export manufacturers and businesses seeking to establish
18     domestic and international export opportunities.
19         (12) Coordinate with the Department of Commerce and
20     Economic Opportunity's Small Business Development Centers
21     to link buyers with prospective export manufacturers and
22     businesses.
23         (13) Promote, both domestically and abroad, products
24     made in Illinois in order to inform consumers and buyers of
25     their high quality standards and craftsmanship.
26         (14) Develop an electronic data base to compile
27     information on international trade and investment
28     activities in Illinois companies, provide access to
29     research and business opportunities through external data
30     bases, and connect this data base through international
31     communication systems with appropriate domestic and
32     worldwide networks users.
33         (15) Collect and distribute to foreign commercial
34     libraries directories, catalogs, brochures, and other
35     information of value to foreign businesses considering
36     doing business in this State.

 

 

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1         (16) Establish an export finance awareness program to
2     provide information to banking organizations about methods
3     used by banks to provide financing for businesses engaged
4     in exporting and about other State and federal programs to
5     promote and expedite export financing.
6         (17) Undertake a survey of Illinois' businesses to
7     identify exportable products and the businesses interested
8     in exporting.
9         (18) In cooperation with the Department of
10     Agriculture, (i) provide assistance to those manufacturing
11     and service companies that desire to export agricultural
12     machinery, implements, equipment, other manufactured
13     products, and professional services; (ii) encourage
14     Illinois companies to initiate exporting or increase their
15     export sales of agricultural and manufactured products;
16     (iii) cooperate with agencies and instrumentalities of the
17     federal government in trade development activities in
18     overseas markets; (iv) conduct the necessary research
19     within Illinois and in overseas markets in order to assist
20     exporting companies; (v) promote the State of Illinois as a
21     source of agricultural and manufactured products through
22     information and promotion campaigns overseas; and (vi)
23     conduct an information program for foreign buyers of
24     Illinois agricultural and manufactured products.
25         (19) In cooperation with the Department of
26     Agriculture, establish overseas offices for (i) the
27     promotion of the export of Illinois agricultural and
28     manufactured products; (ii) representation of Illinois
29     seaports; (iii) economic development; and (iv) tourism
30     promotion and services.
31         (20) Charge fees for and recover the costs of its
32     services.
33         (21) Participate in the authority and responsibility
34     of the State's international tourism programs,
35     initiatives, undertakings, and efforts. IGP and its board
36     may exercise their powers and shall perform their duties in

 

 

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1     accordance with the fulfillment of IGP's responsibility
2     for international tourism.
3         (22) Assume from the Department of Agriculture on July
4     1, 2005, all contractual personnel, books, records,
5     papers, documents, property both real and personal, and
6     pending business in any way pertaining to the international
7     functions of the Bureau of Marketing.
 
8     Section 30. Powers of the board of directors. The board of
9 directors shall have the power to:
10     (1) Secure funding for programs and activities of IGP from
11 federal, State, local, and private sources and from fees
12 charged for services and published materials; solicit,
13 receive, hold, invest, and administer any grant, payment, or
14 gift of funds or property; and make expenditures consistent
15 with the powers granted to it.
16     (2) Make and enter into contracts and other instruments
17 necessary or convenient for the exercise of its powers and
18 functions.
19     (3) Sue and be sued, and appear and defend in all actions
20 and proceedings, in its corporate name to the same extent as a
21 natural person.
22     (4) Adopt, use, and alter a common corporate seal for IGP.
23     (5) Elect or appoint officers and agents as its affairs
24 require and allow them reasonable compensation.
25     (6) Adopt, amend, and repeal bylaws, not inconsistent with
26 the powers granted to it or the articles of incorporation, for
27 the administration of the affairs of IGP and the exercise of
28 its corporate powers.
29     (7) Acquire, enjoy, use, and dispose of patents,
30 copyrights, and trademarks and any licenses, royalties, and
31 other rights or interests thereunder or therein.
32     (8) Do all acts and things necessary or convenient to carry
33 out the powers granted to it.
 
34     Section 35. President. The board shall appoint a

 

 

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1 President, who is the chief executive officer of the board and
2 of IGP. In addition to any other duties set forth in this Act,
3 the President shall do the following:
4         (1) Direct and supervise the administrative affairs
5     and activities of the board and of IGP, in accordance with
6     the board's rules and policies.
7         (2) Attend meetings of the board.
8         (3) Keep minutes of all proceedings of the board.
9         (4) Approve all accounts for salaries, per diem
10     payments, and allowable expenses of the board and IGP
11     employees and consultants and approve all expenses
12     incidental to the operation of the board and IGP.
13         (5) Report and make recommendations to the board on the
14     merits and status of any proposed facility.
15         (6) Perform any other duty that the board requires for
16     carrying out the provisions of this Act.
 
17     Section 40. Advisory committee. An advisory committee is
18 established for the benefit of IGP and its board of directors
19 in the performance of their powers, duties, and functions under
20 this Act. The board shall provide for the number,
21 qualifications, and appointment of members of the advisory
22 committee.
 
23     Section 45. Employees. The Department of Agriculture may
24 establish a lease agreement program under which IGP may hire
25 any individual who, as of July 1, 2005, is employed by the
26 Department of Agriculture or who, as of July 1, 2005, is
27 employed by the Office of the Governor and has responsibilities
28 specifically in support of an international trade or tourism
29 program. Under the agreement, the employee shall retain his or
30 her status as a State employee but shall work under the direct
31 supervision of IGP. Retention of State employee status shall
32 include the right to participate in the State Employees
33 Retirement System. The Department of Central Management
34 Services shall establish the terms and conditions of the lease

 

 

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1 agreements.
 
2     Section 50. Finances; audits; annual report.
3     (a) IGP may accept funds, grants, gifts, and services from
4 the government of the United States or its agencies, from this
5 State or its departments, agencies, or instrumentalities, from
6 any other governmental unit, and from private and civic sources
7 for the purpose of funding any projects authorized by this Act.
8 IGP may receive appropriations.
9     (b) Services of personnel, use of equipment and office
10 space, and other necessary services may be accepted from
11 members of the board as part of IGP's financial support.
12     (c) State funds appropriated for the operations and
13 functions of IGP for fiscal year 2011 and each fiscal year
14 thereafter should not exceed 60% of IGP's funding from all
15 sources for the fiscal year.
16     (d) The board shall arrange for the annual financial audit
17 of IGP by one or more independent certified public accountants
18 in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
19 The annual audit results shall be included in the annual report
20 required under subsection (e).
21     (e) IGP shall report annually on its activities and
22 finances to the Governor and the members of the General
23 Assembly.
 
24     Section 55. Agriculture marketing. IGP has authority and
25 responsibility with respect to:
26     (1) Marketing and promotion of Illinois agricultural
27 products.
28     (2) Consulting services and marketing information for
29 Illinois agribusinesses.
30     (3) Representing Illinois at trade shows and seminars
31 related to the State's agricultural exporting capabilities.
 
32     Section 60. Other State programs. State executive branch
33 agencies may consult with IGP before continuing or undertaking

 

 

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1 any international marketing program or programs authorized by
2 law as of or after the effective date of this Act.
 
3     Section 90. Authority of DCEO. Nothing in this Act shall
4 diminish the authority of the Department of Commerce and
5 Economic Opportunity with respect to the Bureau of Tourism and
6 the overseas offices of the Office of Trade and Investment.
 
7     Section 97. Severability. The provisions of this Act are
8 severable under Section 1.31 of the Statute on Statutes.
 
9     Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1,
10 2005.