House Sponsors: ERWIN-BLACK-MADIGAN,MJ-HOLBROOK-RONEN, LANG, FEIGENHOLTZ, RIGHTER AND POE. Senate Sponsors: DUDYCZ-CULLERTON-O'MALLEY Short description: DCCA-INTERNATIONAL TOURISM Synopsis of Bill as introduced: Amends the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois concerning the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs. Creates the International Tourism Program to promote Chicago as an international tourism destination. Provides that the Department and the City of Chicago must cooperate to implement and administer the program. Sets out certain powers for the joint program. Amends the State Finance Act to create the International Tourism Fund. Amends the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority Act. Provides that the State Treasurer shall deposit the lesser of $5,000,000 or one-half of certain amounts received into the International Tourism Fund (now the General Revenue Fund). STATE MANDATES NOTE (Dept. of Commerce and Community Affairs) Does not meet the definition of a State mandate. FISCAL NOTE (State Treasurer) Diverted funds over the past 5 years have averaged $2,177,000; $5 million is built into the bill. DCCA administers the fund; the Treasurer's office cannot estimate amounts to be spent. HOUSE AMENDMENT NO. 1. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs may (now must) implement and administer the International Tourism Program to promote Illinois (now Chicago) as an international tourism destination. Provides that the program may (now must) be funded by the International Tourism Fund. Provides that the program may promote international tourism through advertisements and other means compatible with international markets (now advertisements, articles, and exhibitions). SENATE AMENDMENT NO. 1. Deletes reference to: 30 ILCS 105/5.490 new 70 ILCS 3205/19 Deletes everything. Amends the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois concerning a joint international tourism program with the Section caption as the only provision. SENATE AMENDMENT NO. 2. Adds reference to: 30 ILCS 105/5.490 new 35 ILCS 145/6 from Ch. 120, par. 481b.36 Creates the International Tourism Program to be administered by the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs beginning January 1, 2000. Provides that as part of the program, the Department shall assist the City of Chicago's office of tourism and other convention and tourism bureaus in Chicago in the formation of the Illinois Partnership for International Meetings and Tourism under the General Not For Profit Corporation Act of 1986. Provides that the Partnership's Board of Directors shall consist of the Director of Commerce and Community Affairs, the chief executive of the City of Chicago's office of tourism, and 3 members appointed by the Director of Commerce and Community Affairs. Provides that the Partnership shall (i) work with the Department for efficient use of their international tourism marketing resources, (ii) promote Illinois in international meetings and tourism markets, (iii) work with convention and tourism bureaus throughout the State to increase the number of international tourists to Illinois, and (iv) provide training, technical support, and grants to convention and tourism bureaus in cities other than Chicago. Provides that the Department shall make the grants from money in the International Tourism Fund, a special fund created in the State Treasury. Provides that of the amounts deposited into the Fund, (i) in fiscal year 2000 after January 1, 2000, 55% shall be used for grants to convention and tourism bureaus in Chicago and 45% shall be used for grants to the Illinois Partnership's for International Meetings and Tourism and (ii) in fiscal years 2001 and thereafter, 27.5% shall be used for grants to the City of Chicago's Office of Tourism, 27.5% shall be used for grants to other convention and tourism bureaus in Chicago, and 45% shall be used for grants to the Partnership. Provides that of the amounts granted to the Partnership, not less than $1,000,000 shall be used annually to make grants to convention and tourism bureaus in cities other than Chicago that demonstrate their international tourism appeal and request to expand their international tourism marketing program. Provides that the bureaus must be certified by the Department as the designated grant recipient to serve an area of the State. Provides that the City of Chicago's Office of Tourism and the bureaus in Chicago may use the grants for general convention and tourism purposes. Amends the State Finance Act to create the International Tourism Fund. Amends the Hotel Operators' Occupation Tax Act to deposit 6% of a certain remainder of net revenue realized each month into the International Tourism Fund beginning August 1, 1999. Effective immediately. Last action on Bill: PUBLIC ACT.............................. 91-0604 Last action date: 99-08-16 Location: House Amendments to Bill: AMENDMENTS ADOPTED: HOUSE - 1 SENATE - 2 END OF INQUIRY Full Text Bill Status