Bill Text: IL HB3219 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Creates the Division on Downstate Economic Development within the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Provides legislative findings and a statement of purpose. Provides that the Division shall plan and coordinate existing State programs designed to aid and stimulate the economic development in downstate communities in specified regions. Sets forth the duties and responsibilities of the Division. Provides that the Division shall be overseen by the Assistant Director. Provides rulemaking authority. Effective immediately.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2023-05-19 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee [HB3219 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-HB3219-Introduced.html

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103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB3219 Introduced , by Rep. Michael J. Coffey, Jr. SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
20 ILCS 605/605-419 new
Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Creates the Division on Downstate Economic Development within the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Provides legislative findings and a statement of purpose. Provides that the Division shall plan and coordinate existing State programs designed to aid and stimulate the economic development in downstate communities in specified regions. Sets forth the duties and responsibilities of the Division. Provides that the Division shall be overseen by the Assistant Director. Provides rulemaking authority. Effective immediately.
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A BILL FOR
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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 605-419 as follows:
(20 ILCS 605/605-419 new)
Sec. 605-419. Division on Downstate Economic Development.
(a) The General Assembly finds that the State is a diverse
and vast state made up of different geographic areas and
unique economic environments, and there is a need to ensure
that the Department is prepared to face each unique challenge
with a unique solution. It is the purpose of this Section to
recognize that the needs and priorities of the regions outside
the State's largest urban, metropolitan area are significant
and, indeed, vital to the State's overall success when looking
at the economic success of the State. Therefore, there is
established within the Department a Division on Downstate
Economic Development.
(b) The Department shall provide for, staff, and
administer a Division on Downstate Economic Development, which
shall plan and coordinate existing State programs designed to
aid and stimulate the economic development in downstate

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communities that include the following economic development
regions:
Northern Stateline Region;
Northwest Region;
West Central Region;
North Central Region;
East Central Region;
Central Region;
Southwest Region;
Southeast Region; and
Southern Region.
(c) To fulfill the purposes set forth in subsection (a),
the Department shall assign appropriate duties to the
Division, including, but not limited to:
(1) Reviewing all current Department programs,
offerings, and forms of assistance that exist and are
available to downstate communities.
(2) Identifying Department functions and
operations that need to be housed under the Division
on Downstate Economic Development.
(3) Recommending any necessary improvements to the
manner by which the Department administers existing
Department programs, offerings, and forms of
assistance to downstate communities.
(4) Facilitating and streamlining the functions of
the Department in order to improve the Department's

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interaction with downstate communities.
(5) Gathering information concerning any State or
Federal program that is designed to revitalize or
assist downstate communities in the State and
providing this information to public and private
entities upon request.
(6) Promoting and assisting the development,
redevelopment, and revitalization of downstate
communities.
(7) Promoting the maintenance of jobs and seeking
the creation of new job opportunities in downstate
communities.
(8) Recommending to the General Assembly and the
Governor economic policies that may improve the
economic climate in downstate communities.
(9) Making rules necessary to carry out its
responsibilities under this Law.
(10) Encouraging new industrial enterprises to
locate in downstate communities through (i)
educational promotions that point out the
opportunities of downstate communities as commercial
and industrial fields of opportunity, (ii)
solicitation of industrial enterprises, and (iii) to
take any actions deemed necessary and proper in order
to meet the duties of the Division. The Division,
however, shall have no power to require reports from

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or to regulate any business.
(11) Accepting grants, loans, or appropriations
from the federal government or the State, or any
agency or instrumentality thereof, to be used for the
operating expenses of the Division or for any purposes
of the Division.
(d) If the Department identifies that an existing Office,
Division, or Program (under the Department's jurisdiction)
performs, plans, or coordinates a function or duty of the
Division created under this Section that is hereby
established, the Department may take any necessary actions to
prevent, to the best of its ability, the duplication of
existing Department operations. The Department shall take the
necessary actions prior to establishing the Division to use
existing Department funds and resources to implement this
Section.
(e) The Assistant Director shall oversee the
implementation and administration of all functions and duties
performed by the Division under this Section.
(f) The Department shall adopt any rules necessary to
implement the provisions of this Section.
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.