State of Illinois
91st General Assembly
Legislation

   [ Search ]   [ Legislation ]
[ Home ]   [ Back ]   [ Bottom ]


[ Engrossed ][ Enrolled ][ House Amendment 001 ]

91_SB0752

 
                                               LRB9101810PTpk

 1        AN ACT concerning small businesses.

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

 4        Section  5.  The Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is
 5    amended by adding Section 46.70 as follows:

 6        (20 ILCS 605/46.70 new)
 7        (Section scheduled to be repealed on December 31, 2004)
 8        Sec. 46.70.  Small business incubator grants.
 9        (a)  Subject  to  availability  of  funds  in  the  Small
10    Business   Incubator  Fund,  the  Director  of  Commerce  and
11    Community Affairs may make grants to eligible small  business
12    incubators  in  an  amount  not to exceed 50% of State income
13    taxes paid in the previous calendar year by qualified  tenant
14    businesses subject to the restrictions of this Section.
15        (b)   There  is  created  a  special  fund  in  the State
16    Treasury known as the Small  Business  Incubator  Fund.   The
17    money  in  the  Fund may be used only for making grants under
18    subsection (a) of this Section.  The  Department  of  Revenue
19    shall   certify  by  March  1  of  each  year  to the General
20    Assembly the amount of State income taxes paid  by  qualified
21    tenant  businesses  in  the previous year.  The Department of
22    Revenue may, by rule, prescribe forms necessary  to  identify
23    qualified  tenant  businesses  under this Section.  An amount
24    equal to 50% of the amount certified  by  the  Department  of
25    Revenue shall be appropriated into the Fund annually.
26        (c)   Eligible  small  business incubators that receive a
27    grant under this Section may use the grant only  for  capital
28    improvements  on  the  building  housing  the  eligible small
29    business incubator. Each small business  incubator  shall  be
30    eligible  for a grant equal to no more than 50% of the amount
31    of State income taxes paid in the previous year by  qualified
 
                            -2-                LRB9101810PTpk
 1    tenant  businesses  of  the  small  business incubator, minus
 2    administrative costs. The eligible small  business  incubator
 3    must keep written records of the use of the grant money for a
 4    period of 5 years from disbursement.
 5        (d)   By April 1 of each year, an eligible small business
 6    incubator may apply for a grant under this Section  on  forms
 7    developed  by  the  Department.   The  Department may require
 8    applicants to provide proof of eligibility.  Upon  review  of
 9    the  applications,  the  Director  of  Commerce and Community
10    Affairs shall approve or disapprove the application.  At  the
11    start  of each fiscal year or upon approval of the budget for
12    that fiscal year, whichever  is  later,  the  Director  shall
13    determine the amount of funds available for grants under this
14    Section and shall then approve the grants.
15        (e)  For purposes of this Section:
16             (1)  "eligible  small  business  incubator" means an
17        entity that is dedicated to the successful development of
18        entrepreneurial companies, has a specific written  policy
19        identifying  requirements  for  a  business "to graduate"
20        from the incubator, either owns or leases real estate  in
21        which  qualified  tenant businesses operate, and provides
22        all  of  the  following  services:  management  guidance,
23        rental   spaces,   shared   basic   business   equipment,
24        technology support services, and assistance in  obtaining
25        financing.
26             (2)  "qualified  tenant  business"  means a business
27        that  currently  leases  space  from  an  eligible  small
28        business incubator, is less than 5 years old, and  either
29        has not fulfilled the eligible small business incubator's
30        graduation    requirements   or   has   fulfilled   these
31        requirements within the last 5 years.
32        (f)  Five percent of  the  amount  that  is  appropriated
33    annually  into  the  Small  Business  Incubator Fund shall be
34    allotted to the Department of Commerce and Community  Affairs
 
                            -3-                LRB9101810PTpk
 1    for  the purpose of administering, overseeing, and evaluating
 2    the grant process and outcome.
 3        (g)  This Section is repealed on December 31,  2004.  The
 4    evaluation  of  the  effectiveness  of  the grant process and
 5    subsequent  outcome  of  job  and  business  creation   shall
 6    recommend  the continuation or the repeal of this Section and
 7    shall be submitted to the Governor and the  General  Assembly
 8    before December 31, 2003.

 9        Section  10.   The State Finance Act is amended by adding
10    Section 5.490 as follows:

11        (30 ILCS 105/5.490 new)
12        Sec.  5.490.  The Small Business Incubator Fund.

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

[ Top ]