Bill Text: IL SB2144 | 2021-2022 | 102nd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that all contracts for services, purchases, or sales related to the Coronavirus Business Interruption Grant (BIG) Program and entered into by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity that are not subject to public bid shall be disclosed to the public on the Department's website within 14 days after execution of the contract. Amends the Department of Employment Security Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that all contracts for services, purchases, or sales, including specifications in such contracts, entered into by the Department of Employment Security that are not subject to public bid shall be disclosed to the public on the Department's website within 14 days after execution of the contract. Provides other requirements concerning such contracts. Defines "specifications". Effective immediately.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-05-21 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments [SB2144 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2021-SB2144-Introduced.html

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102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2021 and 2022 SB2144 Introduced 2/26/2021, by Sen. Dan McConchie SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
20 ILCS 605/605-1050
20 ILCS 1005/1005-170 new
Amends Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that all contracts for services, purchases, or sales related to the Coronavirus Business Interruption Grant (BIG) Program and entered into by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity that are not subject to public bid shall be disclosed to the public on the Department's website within 14 days after execution of the contract. Amends the Department of Employment Security Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that all contracts for services, purchases, or sales, including specifications in such contracts, entered into by the Department of Employment Security that are not subject to public bid shall be disclosed to the public on the Department's website within 14 days after execution of the contract. Provides other requirements concerning such contracts. Defines "specifications". Effective immediately.
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A BILL FOR
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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 changing Section 605-1050 as follows:
(20 ILCS 605/605-1050)
Sec. 605-1050. Coronavirus Business Interruption Grant
Program (or BIG Program).
(a) Purpose. The Department may receive, directly or
indirectly, federal funds under the authority of legislation
passed in response to the Coronavirus epidemic including, but
not limited to, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic
Security Act, P.L. 116-136 (the "CARES Act"). Section 5001 of
the CARES Act establishes the Coronavirus Relief Fund, which
authorizes the State to expend funds that are necessary to
respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency. The financial
support of Qualifying Businesses is a necessary expense under
federal guidance for implementing Section 5001 of the CARES
Act. Upon receipt or availability of such funds, and subject
to appropriations for their use, the Department shall
administer a program to provide financial assistance to
Qualifying Businesses that have experienced interruption of

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business or other adverse conditions attributable to the
COVID-19 public health emergency. Support may be provided
directly by the Department to businesses and organizations or
in cooperation with a Qualified Partner. Financial assistance
may include, but not be limited to grants, expense
reimbursements, or subsidies.
(b) From appropriations for the BIG Program, up to
$60,000,000 may be allotted to the repayment or conversion of
Eligible Loans made pursuant to the Department's Emergency
Loan Fund Program. An Eligible Loan may be repaid or converted
through a grant payment, subsidy, or reimbursement payment to
the recipient or, on behalf of the recipient, to the Qualified
Partner, or by any other lawful method.
(c) From appropriations for the BIG Program, the
Department shall provide financial assistance through grants,
expense reimbursements, or subsidies to Qualifying Businesses
or a Qualified Partner to cover expenses or losses incurred
due to the COVID-19 public health emergency. With a minimum of
50% going to Qualified Businesses that enable critical support
services such as child care, day care, and early childhood
education, the BIG Program will reimburse costs or losses
incurred by Qualifying Businesses due to business interruption
caused by required closures, as authorized in federal guidance
regarding the Coronavirus Relief Fund. All spending related to
this program must be reimbursable by the Federal Coronavirus
Relief Fund in accordance with Section 5001 of the federal

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CARES Act and any related federal guidance, or the provisions
of any other federal source supporting the program.
(d) As more fully described in subsection (c), funds will
be appropriated to the BIG Program for distribution to or on
behalf of Qualifying Businesses. Of the funds appropriated, a
minimum of 30% shall be allotted for Qualified Businesses with
ZIP codes located in the most disproportionately impacted
areas of Illinois, based on positive COVID-19 cases.
(e) The Department shall coordinate with the Department of
Human Services with respect to making grants, expense
reimbursements or subsidies to any child care or day care
provider providing services under Section 9A-11 of the
Illinois Public Aid Code to determine what resources the
Department of Human Services may be providing to a child care
or day care provider under Section 9A-11 of the Illinois
Public Aid Code.
(f) The Department may establish by rule administrative
procedures for the grant program, including any application
procedures, grant agreements, certifications, payment
methodologies, and other accountability measures that may be
imposed upon participants in the program. The emergency
rulemaking process may be used to promulgate the initial rules
of the grant program.
(g) Definitions. As used in this Section:
(1) "COVID-19" means the novel coronavirus disease
deemed COVID-19 by the World Health Organization on

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February 11, 2020.
(2) "Qualifying Business" means a business or
organization that is experiencing business interruption
due to the COVID-19 public health emergency and is
eligible for reimbursement as prescribed by Section 601(a)
of the Social Security Act and added by Section 5001 of the
CARES Act or other federal legislation addressing the
COVID-19 crisis.
(3) "Eligible Loan" means a loan of up to $50,000 that
was deemed eligible for funding under the Department's
Emergency Loan Fund Program and for which repayment will
be eligible for reimbursement from Coronavirus Relief Fund
monies pursuant to Section 5001 of the federal CARES Act
and any related federal guidance.
(4) "Emergency Loan Fund Program", also referred to as
the "COVID-19 Emergency Relief Program", is a program
executed by the Department by which the State Small
Business Credit Initiative fund is utilized to guarantee
loans released by a financial intermediary or Qualified
Partner.
(5) "Qualified Partner" means a financial institution
or nonprofit with which the Department has entered into an
agreement or contract to provide or incentivize assistance
to Qualifying Businesses.
(h) Powers of the Department. The Department has the power
to:

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(1) provide grants, subsidies and expense
reimbursements to Qualified Businesses or, on behalf of
Qualified Businesses, to Qualified Partners from
appropriations to cover Qualified Businesses eligible
costs or losses incurred due to the COVID-19 public health
emergency, including losses caused by business
interruption or closure;
(2) enter into agreements, accept funds, issue grants,
and engage in cooperation with agencies of the federal
government, units of local government, financial
institutions, and nonprofit organizations to carry out the
purposes of this Program, and to use funds appropriated
for the BIG Program;
(3) prepare forms for application, notification,
contract, and other matters, and establish procedures,
rules, or regulations deemed necessary and appropriate to
carry out the provisions of this Section;
(4) provide staff, administration, and related support
required to manage the BIG Program and pay for the
staffing, administration, and related support;
(5) using data provided by the Illinois Department of
Public Health and other reputable sources, determine which
geographic regions in Illinois have been most
disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 public health
emergency, considering factors of positive cases, positive
case rates, and economic impact; and

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(6) determine which industries and businesses in
Illinois have been most disproportionately impacted by the
COVID-19 public health emergency and establish procedures
that prioritize greatly impacted industries and
businesses, as well as Qualified Businesses that did not
receive paycheck protection program assistance.
(i) All contracts for services, purchases, or sales
related to the Program created under this Section and entered
into by the Department that are not subject to public bid shall
be disclosed to the public on the Department's website within
14 days after execution of the contract. The Department or
vendor shall designate an individual to respond to public
inquiries regarding contracts subject to this Section.
Disclosure of contracts shall be posted on the Department's
website regardless of the source of funding.
(Source: P.A. 101-636, eff. 6-10-20.)
Section 10. The Department of Employment Security Law of
the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is amended by adding
Section 1005-170 as follows:
(20 ILCS 1005/1005-170 new)
Sec. 1005-170. Disclosure of no-bid contracts. All
contracts for services, purchases, or sales, including
specifications in such contracts, entered into by the
Department that are not subject to public bid shall be

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disclosed to the public on the Department's website within 14
days after execution of the contract. The Department or vendor
shall designate an individual to respond to public inquiries
regarding the contract. Disclosure of vendor contracts shall
be posted on the Department's website regardless of the source
of funding.
For purposes of this Section, "specifications" means any
description, provision, or requirement pertaining to the
nature of a supply, service, or other item to be procured under
a contract. "Specifications" may include a description of any
requirement for inspecting, testing, or preparing a supply,
service, professional or artistic service, construction, or
other item for delivery.
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.