HB6840 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB093 15933 BDD 41552 b

93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2003 and 2004
HB6840

Introduced 02/09/04, by Jim Watson - Ron Stephens - Bill Mitchell - Chapin Rose

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

20 ILCS 605/605-8 new

Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Creates the Economic Development Advisory Board within the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to make recommendations to the Department on economic development matters. Sets forth procedures by which members are appointed to the Board. Sets forth procedures for the operation of the Board. Sets forth the duties of the Board. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning economic development.

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

Section 5. The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is amended by adding Section 605-8 as follows:

(20 ILCS 605/605-8 new)

Sec. 605-8. Economic Development Advisory Board.

(a) The Economic Development Advisory Board is created within the Department.

(b) The Advisory Board shall consist of 10 voting members as follows: 2 members appointed by the Governor, one of whom shall be designated as the chairperson of the Advisory Board at the time of appointment; 2 members appointed by the President of the Senate; 2 members appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; 2 members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and 2 members appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives. The Director or his or her designee shall serve, ex officio, as a nonvoting member.

Of the members appointed by each legislative leader, one must be a member of the General Assembly and one must (i) have meaningful experience in matters concerning economic development; (ii) have knowledge about the economic development needs of the State and its regions; and (iii) have the ability to contribute to the evaluation of current State economic development efforts and to the planning of future endeavors and programs to develop the State's economy.

Each appointed member shall serve at the pleasure of the person, or his or her successor, who appointed the member. If a vacancy occurs in the Advisory Board membership, the vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as the initial appointment.

All members must be appointed to the Advisory Board on or before January 1, 2005.

(c) The Advisory Board may begin to conduct business on January 1, 2005. The Advisory Board may adopt bylaws, it must meet at least once each calendar quarter, and it may establish committees and officers as it deems necessary. For purposes of Advisory Board meetings, a quorum is 6 members. Meetings of the Advisory Board are subject to the Open Meetings Act. The Advisory Board must afford an opportunity for public comment at each of its meetings.

(d) Advisory Board members shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for their reasonable travel expenses from funds available for that purpose. The Department shall provide staff and administrative support services to the Advisory Board.

(e) The Advisory Board shall make recommendations to the Department concerning all of the following:

(1) The development of statewide, regional, and local economic development strategies, objectives, benchmarks, and plans.

(2) The assessment and periodic reassessment of these development strategies, objectives, benchmarks, and plans.

(3) A review of the State's economic strengths and weaknesses relative to other American states and, where applicable, to foreign nations.

(4) The evaluation and periodic reevaluation of the success of economic programs in meeting State, regional, or local economic development goals and strategies and of the effectiveness of the Department's implementation of these economic programs.

(5) The development and implementation of cost-benefit analyses of economic development projects and the appraisal of these analyses for business projects seeking economic development assistance.

(6) The assessment of State programs and policies implemented and enforced by all other State agencies and their impact on economic development and the business climate in the State.

(7) Any other task pertaining to the economic, business, and workforce development of this State.

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