The expected impact of SB2282 is to promote job growth in the engineering sector within Illinois by incentivizing companies to employ local graduates. This could potentially lead to a more skilled labor force within the state, addressing shortages in engineering positions and bolstering economic development. By leveraging the state tax code to provide these credits, the bill seeks to retain young engineering talent that might otherwise seek opportunities elsewhere due to a lack of incentive for local employment.
Summary
SB2282, introduced by Senator Ram Villivalam, amends the Illinois Income Tax Act to create a Retaining Illinois Students of Engineering (RISE) credit. This bill is aimed at encouraging businesses to hire engineers by offering tax credits for the compensation paid to qualified employees. A 'qualified employee' is defined as someone who has graduated from an accredited engineering program within the last five years and is employed as an engineer by the taxpayer. The bill provides a 10% tax credit for employees graduating from Illinois institutions and a 5% credit for those from out-of-state institutions.
Contention
While the bill is positioned favorably by proponents who see it as a means to strengthen the local economy and labor market, some concerns may arise regarding the fiscal implications. Critics could argue that the offset to state tax revenues may create budgetary challenges, particularly if the credit is leveraged significantly by businesses. Additionally, there could be debates concerning which educational institutions qualify and whether the focus on engineering jobs might inadvertently neglect other vocational training or employment sectors that need support.