(30 ILCS 730/1) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 8201)
Sec. 1. This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Illinois Coal Technology Development Assistance Act".
(Source: P.A. 83-1024.)
(30 ILCS 730/2) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 8202)
Sec. 2. As used in this Act:
(a) "coal" or "coal resources" means Illinois coal or coal products extracted from the ground or reclaimed from the waste material produced by coal extraction operations;
(b) "coal demonstration and commercialization" means projects for the construction and operation of facilities to prove the scientific and engineering validity or the commercial application of a coal extraction, preparation, combustion, gasification, liquefaction or other synthetic process, environmental control, or transportation method;
(c) "coal research" means scientific investigations conducted for the purpose of increasing the utilization of coal resources and includes investigations in the areas of extraction, preparation, characterization, combustion, gasification, liquefaction and other synthetic processes, environmental control, marketing, transportation, procurement of sites, and environmental impacts;
(d) "Fund" means the Coal Technology Development Assistance Fund;
(e) "Board" means the Illinois Coal Development Board or its successor;
(f) "Department" means the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity;
(g) "public awareness and education" means programs of education, curriculum development, public service announcements, informational advertising and informing the news media on issues related to the use of Illinois coal, the coal industry and related developments. Public awareness and education shall be directed toward school age residents of the State, the citizens of the State and other interested parties.
(Source: P.A. 94-793, eff. 5-19-06.)
(30 ILCS 730/3) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 8203)
Sec. 3. Transfers to Coal Technology Development Assistance Fund.
(a) As soon as may be practicable after the first day of each month, the Department of Revenue shall certify to the Treasurer an amount equal to 1/64 of the revenue realized from the tax imposed by the Electricity Excise Tax Law, Section 2 of the Public Utilities Revenue Act, Section 2 of the Messages Tax Act, and Section 2 of the Gas Revenue Tax Act, during the preceding month. Upon receipt of the certification, the Treasurer shall transfer the amount shown on such certification from the General Revenue Fund to the Coal Technology Development Assistance Fund, which is hereby created as a special fund in the State treasury, except that no transfer shall be made in any month in which the Fund has reached the following balance:
(b) During fiscal years 2019 through 2022 only, the Treasurer shall make no transfers from the General Revenue Fund to the Coal Technology Development Assistance Fund.
(Source: P.A. 101-10, eff. 6-5-19; 101-636, eff. 6-10-20; 102-16, eff. 6-17-21.)
(30 ILCS 730/4) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 8204)
Sec. 4. Expenditures from Coal Technology Development Assistance Fund.
(a) The contents of the Coal Technology Development Assistance Fund may be expended, subject to appropriation by the General Assembly, in such amounts and at such times as the Department, with the advice and recommendation of the Board, may deem necessary or desirable for the purposes of this Act.
(b) The Department shall develop a written plan containing measurable 3-year and 10-year goals and objectives in regard to the funding of coal research and coal demonstration and commercialization projects, and programs designed to preserve and enhance markets for Illinois coal. In developing these goals and objectives, the Department shall consider and determine the appropriate balance for the achievement of near-term and long-term goals and objectives and of ensuring the timely commercial application of cost-effective technologies or energy and chemical production processes or systems utilizing coal. The Department shall develop the initial goals and objectives no later than December 1, 1993, and develop revised goals and objectives no later than July 1 annually thereafter.
(c) (Blank).
(d) Subject to appropriation, the Department of Natural Resources may use moneys in the Coal Technology Development Assistance Fund to administer its responsibilities under the Surface Coal Mining Land Conservation and Reclamation Act.
(Source: P.A. 99-523, eff. 6-30-16.)
(30 ILCS 730/5) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 8205)
Sec. 5. The Department shall have the following powers and duties:
(a) To solicit, accept and approve or disapprove applications for financial support of coal research projects and coal demonstration and commercialization projects.
(b) To enter into contracts with business, industrial, university, governmental or other qualified individuals or organizations to carry out programs to increase public awareness and education concerning Illinois coal, to implement coal research and coal demonstration and commercialization projects, and to carry out programs designed to preserve and enhance markets for Illinois coal.
(c) To make a reasonable attempt, before initiating any projects under this Act, to avoid duplication of support for previous or ongoing activities, or projects that would be more appropriately funded under the Illinois Coal and Energy Development Bond Act.
(d) To seek, accept and expend gifts or grants in any form, from any public agency or any other source, for the purposes of this Act.
(e) To adopt, amend and repeal rules, regulations and guidelines to implement and administer this Act.
(Source: P.A. 89-499, eff. 6-28-96.)
(30 ILCS 730/6) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 8206)
Sec. 6. Coal demonstration and commercialization project. No expenditure from the Fund may be made for any coal demonstration and commercialization project until it has been approved by the Department with the advice and recommendation of the Board.
All coal research projects shall be submitted to the Department, with the advice and recommendation of the Illinois Coal Development Board, for approval as provided in Section 8 of the Energy Conservation and Coal Development Act.
(Source: P.A. 90-348, eff. 1-1-98.)