Public Act 102-0628
 
SB1833 EnrolledLRB102 16583 RJF 21980 b

    AN ACT concerning State government.
 
    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 605-1057 as follows:
 
    (20 ILCS 605/605-1057 new)
    Sec. 605-1057. State-designated cultural districts.
    (a) As used in this Section, "State-designated cultural
district" means a geographical area certified under this
Section that has a distinct, historic, and cultural identity.
Municipalities or 501(c)(3) organizations working on behalf of
a certified geographical area should seek to:
        (1) Promote a distinct historic and cultural
    community.
        (2) Encourage economic development and supports
    entrepreneurship in the geographic area and community.
        (3) Encourage the preservation and development of
    historic and culturally significant structures,
    traditions, and languages.
        (4) Foster local cultural development and education.
        (5) Provide a focal point for celebrating and
    strengthening the unique cultural identity of the
    community.
        (6) Promote growth and opportunity without generating
    displacement or expanding inequality.
    (b) Administrative authority. The Department of Commerce
and Economic Opportunity shall establish criteria and
guidelines for State-designated cultural districts by rule in
accordance with qualifying criteria outlined in subsection
(c). In executing its powers and duties under this Section,
the Department shall:
        (1) establish a competitive application system by
    which a community may apply for certification as a
    State-designated cultural district;
        (2) provide technical assistance for State-designated
    cultural districts by collaborating with all relevant
    offices and grantees of the Department to help them
    identify and achieve their goals for cultural
    preservation, including, but not limited to, promotional
    support of State-designated cultural districts and support
    for small businesses looking to access resources;
        (3) collaborate with other State agencies, units of
    local government, community organizations, and private
    entities to maximize the benefits of State-designated
    cultural districts; and
        (4) establish an advisory committee to advise the
    Department on program rules and the certification process.
    The advisory committee shall reflect the diversity of the
    State of Illinois, including geographic, racial, and
    ethnic diversity. The advisory committee must include:
            (A) a representative of the Department of Commerce
        and Economic Opportunity appointed by the Director;
            (B) a representative of the Department of
        Agriculture appointed by the Director of Agriculture;
            (C) a representative of the Illinois Housing
        Development Authority appointed by the Executive
        Director of the Illinois Housing Development
        Authority;
            (D) two members of the House of Representatives
        appointed one each by the Speaker of the House of
        Representatives and the Minority Leader of the House
        of Representatives;
            (E) two members of the Senate appointed one each
        by the President of the Senate and the Minority Leader
        of the Senate; and
            (F) four community representatives appointed by
        the Governor representing diverse racial, ethnic, and
        geographic groups not captured in the membership of
        the other designees, with the input of community and
        stakeholder groups.
    (c) Certification. A geographical area within the State
may be certified as a State-designated cultural district by
applying to the Department for certification. Certification as
a State-designated cultural district shall be for a period of
10 years, after which the district may renew certification
every 5 years. A municipality or 501(c)(3) organization may
apply for certification on behalf of a geographic area. The
applying entity is responsible for complying with reporting
requirements under subsection (f). The Department shall
develop criteria to assess whether an applicant qualifies for
certification under this Section. That criteria must include a
demonstration that the applicant and the community:
        (1) have been historically impacted and are currently
    at risk of losing their cultural identity because of
    gentrification, displacement, or the COVID-19 pandemic;
        (2) can demonstrate a history of economic
    disinvestment; and
        (3) can demonstrate strong community support for the
    cultural district designation through active and formal
    participation by community organizations and municipal and
    regional government agencies or officials.
    (d) Each applicant shall be encouraged by the Department
to:
        (1) have development plans that include and prioritize
    the preservation of local businesses and retention of
    existing residents and businesses; and
        (2) have an education framework in place informed with
    a vision of food justice, social justice, community
    sustainability, and social equity.
    (e) The Department shall award no more than 5
State-designated cultural districts every year. At no point
shall the total amount of State-designated cultural districts
be more than 15, unless otherwise directed by the Director of
the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity in
consultation with the advisory committee.
    (f) Within 12 months after being designated a cultural
district, the State-designated cultural district shall submit
a report to the Department detailing its current programs and
goals for the next 4 years of its designation. For each year
thereafter that the district remains a State-designated
cultural district, it shall submit a report to the Department
on the status of the program and future developments of the
district. Any State-designated cultural district that fails to
file a report for 2 consecutive years shall lose its status.
    (g) This Section is repealed on July 1, 2031.