Contact your legislator today — for tech’s sake.

As you may know, the Illinois General Assembly is heading into their last week of session and debating a state budget for 2009. Lawmakers are considering a new tax on software in our State. This may sound like something that would only affect high-tech companies, but it could actually impact many businesses — large and small — across Illinois which depend on custom software for their day-to-day operations. Systems that support payroll, accounting, design, marketing — even e-mail — could cost more because of the tax.

We all want Illinois to be a State where people want to live and businesses want to locate and thrive. Amidst difficult economic times, Illinois companies don’t need another tax.  Illinois has made strides in recent years when it comes to technology growth and new job opportunities, and we’re moving in the right direction.

Let’s keep it that way. Tell your State legislator you don’t want to take a step backwards.

Contact your elected officials today, and urge them to oppose the software tax!

For more information on the proposed software tax, visit Protect Illinois Technology.

Click here to send an email directly to your State legislators.

Take action and be part of the process in just a few minutes flat!

ITP Testifies in IL Senate Committee

The Illinois Technology Partnership recently had the opportunity to provide testimony in the Illinois Senate’s Telecommunications and Technology Committee as they held subject matter hearings on the Telecom Act Rewrite & Technology Policy.  Several issues were discussed – including the upcoming sunset of the Illinois Telecommunications Act, how drastically the landscape has changed since the Act was last revamped in 2001, and what the future of technology in our state can look like in a way that is both healthy for business and fair to consumers.

Many thanks to Chairman Michael Bond, the committee members, and Senate staff for their interest and commitment.

To read the full version of our written statement, please click here.

Contact your legislator today about SB1522

Next week, a committee of the Illinois House of Representatives will vote on a bill that is important to technology in Illinois – Senate Bill 1522, the Emerging Technology Industries Act.

This bill (SB 1522) will help foster a diverse and growing technology industry in Illinois.   It will stimulate our economy, generate high quality jobs, and encourage innovation and research. This research results in advancements in science and medicine, but tech companies and talent often leave Illinois to do this kind of work because they are lured away by competing incentives in other states.

Whether you work in the tech field or simply depend on technology in your everyday life, this bill is important to all of us as technology consumers.

Take action today!

Specifically, SB1522 will attract and retain start-ups here in Illinois and create technology jobs by:

1.    Establishing a program to award grants to emerging tech businesses in Illinois
2.    Creating an income tax credit for qualified individuals who make an investment in these businesses.
To read the full text of the bill, click here.

You can be an important voice for the future of technology businesses and organizations, as well as the employees and consumers that depend on them.

And we’ve made it easy:

Click here to send an email directly to your State Rep.

Take action and be part of the process in just a few minutes flat!

ITP Supports Legislation that Supports Technology

The Illinois Technology Partnership is proud to announce its support for the following state legislation. These bills not only support the technology community, but as tech has become the common denominator in all industries, will help spur growth in a number of areas.

The bill summaries are below, but to read more and learn about the bill sponsors and status, click on the hyperlinks provided.

To locate YOUR legislators and voice your support for these and other bills that promote investment in technology, visit www.civicfootprint.org (if you live in Cook County), or the State Board of Elections throughout the entire State.

Finance – Technology Account (TDA)

House Bill 175, Senate Bill 265

Amends the Technology Development Act. Authorizes the State Treasurer to segregate up to 2% of the Treasurer’s investment portfolio in the Technology Development Account IIa. Authorizes investments from the account to provide venture capital to help attract, assist, and retain quality technology businesses in Illinois. Contains provisions concerning soliciting proposals from entities to manage and be the General Partner of Technology Development Account IIb, consisting of investments from the private sector that must invest, at the direction of the Treasurer, in tandem with TDA IIa. Sets restrictions and conditions. Effective immediately.

Emerging Technology Investment

House Bill 351, Senate Bill 1522

Creates the Emerging Technology Industries Act. Requires the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to establish and maintain a program to award grants to emerging-technology enterprises in the State. Sets forth eligibility requirements and funding priorities for awarding the grants, and sets forth procedures for awarding the grants. Requires written contracts in which the emerging-technology enterprise guarantees that it will perform the actions expected to be performed. Sets dollar limits on matching funds for federal Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) grants and total grant matching funds per year. Limits total credits to $15,000,000 in any one State fiscal year. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Emerging Technology Grant Fund. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit for qualified investors who make an investment in an emerging technology enterprise in the State. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity must certify the amount of the credit and sets forth the procedures for the application and certification of the credit. Sets forth provisions for the revocation and recapture of the tax credit. Contains other provisions. Effective immediately.

ITP Testifies in IL House Computer Technology Committee

The Illinois House of Representatives’ Computer Technology Committee held a subject matter hearing on July 24, 2008 to explore the current state and future needs for improved digital government. Click here to read testimony offered by ITP Executive Director Aviva Gibbs.

ITP Supports Treasurer’s Investment in Venture Capital to Grow Tech (SB 786)

The Illinois Technology Partnership supports Senate Bill 786 which would authorize the State Treasurer to allocate more investment funds to help bolster technology business in Illinois. We believe that this bill speaks directly to the importance of boosting the Illinois’ tech community with necessary capital and encouraging more businesses to “open shop” in our State.

From the Bill Summary:

Amends the Technology Development Act. Authorizes the State Treasurer to segregate up to 2% of the Treasurer’s investment portfolio in the Technology Development Account IIa. Authorizes investments from the account to provide venture capital to help attract, assist, and retain quality technology businesses in Illinois. Contains provisions concerning soliciting proposals from entities to manage and be the General Partner of Technology Development Account IIb, consisting of investments from the private sector that must invest, at the direction of the Treasurer, in tandem with TDA IIa. Sets restrictions and conditions. Effective immediately.

More details on the legislation can be found here.

We applaud the bill sponsors for their efforts, as well as State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias and his office for leadership on this important initiative.

SB786 passed unanimously through the Senate earlier this year. The bill is currently awaiting consideration in the House Rules Committee.