Rep. Kelly M. Cassidy
Filed: 4/10/2024
 
 
 




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1
AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 4959


2 AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend House Bill 4959 by replacing 
3everything after the enacting clause with the following:

4 "Section 5. The Department of Commerce and Economic 
5Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois 
6is amended by adding Section 605-1115 as follows:

7 (20 ILCS 605/605-1115 new)
8 Sec. 605-1115. Creative Economy Task Force. 
9 (a) Subject to appropriation, the Creative Economy Task 
10Force is created within the Department of Commerce and 
11Economic Opportunity to create a strategic plan to develop the 
12creative economy in this State.
13 (b) The task force shall consist of the following members:
14  (1) the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity 
15 or the Director's designee, who shall serve as chair of 
16 the task force;
 
 
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1  (2) the Executive Director of the Illinois Arts 
2 Council or the Executive Director's designee, who shall 
3 serve as the vice-chair of the task force;
4  (3) one member appointed by the Speaker of the House 
5 of Representatives;
6  (4) one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the 
7 House of Representatives;
8  (5) one member appointed by the President of the 
9 Senate;
10  (6) one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the 
11 Senate;
12  (7) one member from the banking industry with 
13 experience in matters involving the federal small business 
14 administration, appointed by the Governor;
15  (8) one member from a certified public accounting firm 
16 or other company with experience in financial modeling and 
17 in the creative arts, appointed by the Governor;
18  (9) one member recommended by the Illinois State 
19 Association of Counties, appointed by the Governor;
20  (10) one member from an Illinois public institution of 
21 higher education or nonprofit research institution with 
22 experience in matters involving cultural arts, appointed 
23 by the Governor;
24  (11) the Director of Labor or the Director's designee; 
25 and 
26  (12) five members from this State's arts community, 
 
 
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1 appointed by the Governor, including, but not limited to, 
2 the following sectors:
3   (A) film, television, and video production;
4   (B) recorded audio and music production;
5   (C) animation production;
6   (D) video game development;
7   (E) live theater, orchestra, ballet, and opera;
8   (F) live music performance;
9   (G) visual arts, including sculpture, painting, 
10 graphic design, and photography;
11   (H) production facilities, such as film and 
12 television studios;
13   (I) live music or performing arts venues; and
14   (J) arts service organizations.
15 (c) No later than July 1, 2026, the task force shall 
16collect and analyze data on the current state of the creative 
17economy in this State and develop a strategic plan to improve 
18this State's creative economy that can be rolled out in 
19incremental phases to reach identified economic, social 
20justice, and business development goals. The goal of the 
21strategic plan shall be to ensure that this State is 
22competitive with respect to attracting creative economy 
23business, retaining talent within this State, and developing 
24marketable content that can be exported for national and 
25international consumption and monetization. The strategic plan 
26shall address support for the creative community within 
 
 
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1historically marginalized communities, as well as the creative 
2economy at large, and take into account the diverse interests, 
3strengths, and needs of the people of this State. In 
4developing the strategic plan for the creative economy in this 
5State, the task force shall:
6  (1) identify existing studies of aspects affecting the 
7 creative economy, including studies relating to tax 
8 issues, legislation, finance, population and demographics, 
9 and employment;
10  (2) conduct a comparative analysis with other 
11 jurisdictions that have successfully developed creative 
12 economy plans and programs;
13  (3) conduct in-depth interviews to identify best 
14 practices for structuring a strategic plan for this State;
15  (4) evaluate existing banking models for financing 
16 creative economy projects in the private sector and 
17 develop a financial model to promote investment in this 
18 State's creative economy;
19  (5) evaluate existing federal, State, and local tax 
20 incentives and make recommendations for improvements to 
21 support the creative economy;
22  (6) identify the role that counties and cities play 
23 with respect to the strategic plan, and identify specific 
24 counties and cities that may need or want a stronger 
25 creative economy;
26  (7) identify opportunities for aligning with new 
 
 
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1 business models and the integration of new technologies;
2  (8) identify the role that State education programs in 
3 the creative arts play in the creative economy and with 
4 respect to advancing the strategic plan;
5  (9) identify geographic areas with the least amount of 
6 access or opportunity for a creative economy;
7  (10) identify opportunities for earn and learn job 
8 training employment for students who have enrolled or 
9 completed a program in the arts, low-income or unemployed 
10 creative workers, and others with demonstrated interest in 
11 creative work in their communities; and
12  (11) identify existing initiatives and projects that 
13 can be used as models for earn and learn opportunities or 
14 as examples of best practices for earn and learn 
15 opportunities that can be replicated Statewide or in 
16 different regions.
17 (d) The task force shall submit its findings and 
18recommendations to the General Assembly no later than July 1, 
192026.
20 (e) Members of the task force shall serve without 
21compensation but may be reimbursed for necessary expenses 
22incurred in the performance of their duties. The Department of 
23Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall provide administrative 
24support to the task force.
25 (f) Appropriations for the task force may be used to 
26support operational expenses of the Department, including 
 
 
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