Public Act 094-0388
 
HB4053 Enrolled LRB094 11458 JAM 42385 b

    AN ACT concerning State government.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
Illinois Global Partnership Act.
 
    Section 5. Definitions. As used in this Act, unless the
context requires otherwise:
    "Board" means the board of directors of Illinois Global
Partnership, Inc.
    "IGP" or "Partnership" means Illinois Global Partnership,
Inc., the not-for-profit entity incorporated as provided in
this Act.
 
    Section 10. Findings; purpose. The General Assembly finds
that it is important to encourage international business
developments for Illinois companies and to encourage
international tourism in Illinois by creating partnerships
that open markets, by accessing customers, and by facilitating
transactions. Therefore, the purpose of the Illinois Global
Partnership, Inc., is to build Illinois' profile as a region
prepared to do business with the world and as a world tourism
destination. The Partnership shall encourage international
business development for Illinois companies and international
tourism by affecting policy and creating partnerships that open
markets, access customers, and facilitate transactions.
 
    Section 15. Partnership established. A not-for-profit
corporation to be known as "Illinois Global Partnership, Inc."
is created. IGP shall be incorporated under the General Not for
Profit Corporation Act of 1986 and shall be registered,
incorporated, organized, and operated in compliance with the
laws of this State. IGP shall not be a State agency. The
General Assembly determines, however, that public policy
dictates that IGP operate in the most open and accessible
manner consistent with its public purpose. To this end, the
General Assembly specifically declares that IGP and its board
and advisory committee shall adopt and adhere to the provisions
of the State Records Act, the Open Meetings Act, and the
Freedom of Information Act.
    IGP shall establish one or more corporate offices, at least
one of which shall be located in Sangamon County.
 
    Section 20. Board of directors. IGP shall be governed by a
board of directors. The IGP board of directors shall consist of
14 members. Five of the members shall be voting members
appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the
Senate. The Speaker and Minority Leader of the House of
Representatives, the President and Minority Leader of the
Senate, the Lieutenant Governor, the Director of Agriculture,
the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the
Chairperson of the Illinois Arts Council, and the Director of
the Illinois Finance Authority, or the designee of each, shall
be non-voting ex officio members.
    Of the members appointed by the Governor, one member must
have a background in agriculture, one member must have a
background in manufacturing, and one member must have a
background in international business relations.
    Of the initial members appointed by the Governor, 3 members
shall serve 4-year terms and 2 members shall serve 2-year terms
as designated by the Governor. Thereafter, members appointed by
the Governor shall serve 4-year terms. A vacancy among members
appointed by the Governor shall be filled by appointment by the
Governor for the remainder of the vacated term.
    Members of the board shall receive no compensation but
shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the performance of
their duties.
    The Governor shall designate the chairman of the board
until a successor is designated. The board shall meet at the
call of the chair.
    No less than 90 days after a majority of the members of the
board of directors of the IGP is appointed by the Governor, the
board shall develop a policy adopted by resolution of the board
stating the board's plan for the use of services provided by
businesses owned by minorities, females, and persons with
disabilities, as defined under the Business Enterprise for
Minorities, Females, and Persons with Disabilities Act. The
board shall provide a copy of this resolution to the Governor
and the General Assembly upon its adoption.
    On December 31 of each year, the board shall report to the
General Assembly and the Governor regarding the use of services
provided by businesses owned by minorities, females, and
persons with disabilities, as defined under the Business
Enterprise for Minorities, Females, and Persons with
Disabilities Act.
 
    Section 25. Powers of IGP. IGP has the power to:
        (1) Host monthly leadership forums to give small groups
    of top business leaders the ability to interact with top
    federal, State, and local governmental officials.
        (2) Manage trips to Washington, D.C., for key business
    leaders, giving this group exposure to top policy makers in
    the federal administration and Congress.
        (3) Manage trips to the State for members of Congress
    and their staffs, giving this group exposure to Illinois
    businesses, research facilities, and other statewide
    highlights.
        (4) Host monthly trade missions from international
    companies, introducing these influential travelers to key
    leaders at Illinois businesses for the expressed purpose of
    building partnerships with suppliers and customers.
        (5) Manage trips to other states and foreign countries
    for Illinois business leaders to give them and their
    respective companies exposure to new and expanding
    markets.
        (6) Manage meetings with prospective partners to
    discuss products, markets, pricing, and other elements of
    the transaction.
        (7) Attract international participation in high
    profile Illinois projects.
        (8) Make recommendations to the Governor and the
    members of the General Assembly concerning the role the
    State performs in international business development.
        (9) Assist Illinois businesses to engage in, expand,
    and increase foreign trade.
        (10) Establish or co-sponsor mentoring conferences,
    using experienced manufacturing exporters, to explain and
    provide information to prospective export manufacturers
    and businesses concerning the process of exporting to both
    domestic and international opportunities.
        (11) Provide technical assistance to prospective
    export manufacturers and businesses seeking to establish
    domestic and international export opportunities.
        (12) Coordinate with the Department of Commerce and
    Economic Opportunity's Small Business Development Centers
    to link buyers with prospective export manufacturers and
    businesses.
        (13) Promote, both domestically and abroad, products
    made in Illinois in order to inform consumers and buyers of
    their high quality standards and craftsmanship.
        (14) Develop an electronic data base to compile
    information on international trade and investment
    activities in Illinois companies, provide access to
    research and business opportunities through external data
    bases, and connect this data base through international
    communication systems with appropriate domestic and
    worldwide networks users.
        (15) Collect and distribute to foreign commercial
    libraries directories, catalogs, brochures, and other
    information of value to foreign businesses considering
    doing business in this State.
        (16) Establish an export finance awareness program to
    provide information to banking organizations about methods
    used by banks to provide financing for businesses engaged
    in exporting and about other State and federal programs to
    promote and expedite export financing.
        (17) Undertake a survey of Illinois' businesses to
    identify exportable products and the businesses interested
    in exporting.
        (18) In cooperation with the Department of
    Agriculture, (i) provide assistance to those manufacturing
    and service companies that desire to export agricultural
    machinery, implements, equipment, other manufactured
    products, and professional services; (ii) encourage
    Illinois companies to initiate exporting or increase their
    export sales of agricultural and manufactured products;
    (iii) cooperate with agencies and instrumentalities of the
    federal government in trade development activities in
    overseas markets; (iv) conduct the necessary research
    within Illinois and in overseas markets in order to assist
    exporting companies; (v) promote the State of Illinois as a
    source of agricultural and manufactured products through
    information and promotion campaigns overseas; and (vi)
    conduct an information program for foreign buyers of
    Illinois agricultural and manufactured products.
        (19) In cooperation with the Department of
    Agriculture, establish overseas offices for (i) the
    promotion of the export of Illinois agricultural and
    manufactured products; (ii) representation of Illinois
    seaports; (iii) economic development; and (iv) tourism
    promotion and services.
        (20) Charge fees for and recover the costs of its
    services.
        (21) Participate in the authority and responsibility
    of the State's international tourism programs,
    initiatives, undertakings, and efforts. IGP and its board
    may exercise their powers and shall perform their duties in
    accordance with the fulfillment of IGP's responsibility
    for international tourism.
        (22) Assume from the Department of Agriculture on July
    1, 2005, all contractual personnel, books, records,
    papers, documents, property both real and personal, and
    pending business in any way pertaining to the international
    functions of the Bureau of Marketing.
 
    Section 30. Powers of the board of directors. The board of
directors shall have the power to:
    (1) Secure funding for programs and activities of IGP from
federal, State, local, and private sources and from fees
charged for services and published materials; solicit,
receive, hold, invest, and administer any grant, payment, or
gift of funds or property; and make expenditures consistent
with the powers granted to it.
    (2) Make and enter into contracts and other instruments
necessary or convenient for the exercise of its powers and
functions.
    (3) Sue and be sued, and appear and defend in all actions
and proceedings, in its corporate name to the same extent as a
natural person.
    (4) Adopt, use, and alter a common corporate seal for IGP.
    (5) Elect or appoint officers and agents as its affairs
require and allow them reasonable compensation.
    (6) Adopt, amend, and repeal bylaws, not inconsistent with
the powers granted to it or the articles of incorporation, for
the administration of the affairs of IGP and the exercise of
its corporate powers.
    (7) Acquire, enjoy, use, and dispose of patents,
copyrights, and trademarks and any licenses, royalties, and
other rights or interests thereunder or therein.
    (8) Do all acts and things necessary or convenient to carry
out the powers granted to it.
 
    Section 35. President. The board shall appoint a
President, who is the chief executive officer of the board and
of IGP. In addition to any other duties set forth in this Act,
the President shall do the following:
        (1) Direct and supervise the administrative affairs
    and activities of the board and of IGP, in accordance with
    the board's rules and policies.
        (2) Attend meetings of the board.
        (3) Keep minutes of all proceedings of the board.
        (4) Approve all accounts for salaries, per diem
    payments, and allowable expenses of the board and IGP
    employees and consultants and approve all expenses
    incidental to the operation of the board and IGP.
        (5) Report and make recommendations to the board on the
    merits and status of any proposed facility.
        (6) Perform any other duty that the board requires for
    carrying out the provisions of this Act.
 
    Section 40. Advisory committee. An advisory committee is
established for the benefit of IGP and its board of directors
in the performance of their powers, duties, and functions under
this Act. The board shall provide for the number,
qualifications, and appointment of members of the advisory
committee.
 
    Section 45. Employees. The Department of Agriculture may
establish a lease agreement program under which IGP may hire
any individual who, as of July 1, 2005, is employed by the
Department of Agriculture or who, as of July 1, 2005, is
employed by the Office of the Governor and has responsibilities
specifically in support of an international trade or tourism
program. Under the agreement, the employee shall retain his or
her status as a State employee but shall work under the direct
supervision of IGP. Retention of State employee status shall
include the right to participate in the State Employees
Retirement System. The Department of Central Management
Services shall establish the terms and conditions of the lease
agreements.
 
    Section 50. Finances; audits; annual report.
    (a) IGP may accept funds, grants, gifts, and services from
the government of the United States or its agencies, from this
State or its departments, agencies, or instrumentalities, from
any other governmental unit, and from private and civic sources
for the purpose of funding any projects authorized by this Act.
IGP may receive appropriations.
    (b) Services of personnel, use of equipment and office
space, and other necessary services may be accepted from
members of the board as part of IGP's financial support.
    (c) State funds appropriated for the operations and
functions of IGP for fiscal year 2011 and each fiscal year
thereafter should not exceed 60% of IGP's funding from all
sources for the fiscal year.
    (d) The board shall arrange for the annual financial audit
of IGP by one or more independent certified public accountants
in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
The annual audit results shall be included in the annual report
required under subsection (e).
    (e) IGP shall report annually on its activities and
finances to the Governor and the members of the General
Assembly.
 
    Section 55. Agriculture marketing. IGP has authority and
responsibility with respect to:
    (1) Marketing and promotion of Illinois agricultural
products.
    (2) Consulting services and marketing information for
Illinois agribusinesses.
    (3) Representing Illinois at trade shows and seminars
related to the State's agricultural exporting capabilities.
 
    Section 60. Other State programs. State executive branch
agencies may consult with IGP before continuing or undertaking
any international marketing program or programs authorized by
law as of or after the effective date of this Act.
 
    Section 90. Authority of DCEO. Nothing in this Act shall
diminish the authority of the Department of Commerce and
Economic Opportunity with respect to the Bureau of Tourism and
the overseas offices of the Office of Trade and Investment.
 
    Section 97. Severability. The provisions of this Act are
severable under Section 1.31 of the Statute on Statutes.
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1,
2005.