House Sponsors: JONES,JOHN-HOLBROOK-DAVIS,STEVE-HOFFMAN-REITZ. Senate Sponsors: WATSON Short description: TOURISM PROMOTION FUND-GRANTS Synopsis of Bill as introduced: Amends the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Allows the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs to make grants from the Tourism Promotion Fund for the administrative costs of not-for-profit regional tourism development organizations assisting the Department in developing tourism in a multi-county geographical area (now, the Department may provide contractual funding from the Tourism Promotion Fund for that purpose). Effective immediately. HOUSE AMENDMENT NO. 1. Adds reference to: 20 ILCS 605/605-705 was 20 ILCS 605/46.6a 20 ILCS 665/1 from Ch. 127, par. 200-21 20 ILCS 665/2 from Ch. 127, par. 200-22 20 ILCS 665/3 from Ch. 127, par. 200-23 20 ILCS 665/4 from Ch. 127, par. 200-24 20 ILCS 665/4a from Ch. 127, par. 200-24a 20 ILCS 665/5 from Ch. 127, par. 200-25 20 ILCS 665/7 from Ch. 127, par. 200-27 20 ILCS 665/8a from Ch. 127, par. 200-28a 20 ILCS 665/9 from Ch. 127, par. 200-29 20 ILCS 665/10 from Ch. 127, par. 200-30 20 ILCS 665/11 from Ch. 127, par. 200-31 20 ILCS 665/13 from Ch. 127, par. 200-33 20 ILCS 665/13a from Ch. 127, par. 200-33a 20 ILCS 665/14 from Ch. 127, par. 200-34 20 ILCS 665/6 rep. Further amends the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that to be eligible for a grant a convention and tourism bureau must be: (i) either a unit of local government or a not-for-profit organization; (ii) in existence for at least 2 years before July 1, 2001; (iii) operating with a paid, full-time staff whose sole purpose is to promote tourism; and (iv) affiliated with a municipality or county that supports the bureau with local hotel-motel taxes. Provides that bureaus requesting grants for the first time must be: (i) units of local government or not-for-profit organizations; (ii) in legal existence for at least 2 years before the request for a grant; (iii) operating with a paid, full-time staff whose sole purpose is to promote tourism; and (iv) affiliated with a municipality or county that supports the bureau with local hotel-motel taxes. Deletes a provision that the grants may not be used in support of the Chicago World's Fair. Amends the Illinois Promotion Act. Defines "tourism". Provides that the purpose of the Act is to promote the economic impact of tourism throughout the State through promotional activities, grants, and loans. Deletes a requirement that counties, municipalities, and local promotion groups must apply for grants pursuant to an order of the governing body of the county, municipality, or local promotion group. Provides that "individual" grants (now "these" grants) for the development or improvement of a tourist attraction may not exceed $1,000,000 and may not exceed 50% of the entire amount of actual expenditures for the project. Allows the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs to make grants and loans to not-for-profit organizations and for-profit business to promote, develop, or improve tourism destinations, attractions, or events. Deletes provisions concerning the transfer of certain revenues realized from the Chicago World's Fair into the Tourism Promotion Fund. Repeals a Section concerning limits on the grant amounts. Makes technical changes throughout the Act. SENATE AMENDMENT NO. 1. Deletes reference to: 20 ILCS 605/605-710 20 ILCS 665/1 20 ILCS 665/2 20 ILCS 665/3 20 ILCS 665/4 20 ILCS 665/4a 20 ILCS 665/5 20 ILCS 665/7 20 ILCS 665/8a 20 ILCS 665/9 20 ILCS 665/10 20 ILCS 665/11 20 ILCS 665/13 20 ILCS 665/13a 20 ILCS 665/14 20 ILCS 665/6 rep. Deletes everything. Amends the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Allows the Director of Commerce and Community Affairs to award grant funds to one or more entities if the funds are necessary to prevent a loss of funding that is critical to promoting tourism in a designated geographic area of the State. Effective immediately. Last action on Bill: PUBLIC ACT.............................. 92-0524 Last action date: FEB-08-2002 Location: House Amendments to Bill: AMENDMENTS ADOPTED: HOUSE - 1 SENATE - 1 END OF INQUIRY Full Text Bill Status