Springfield, IL – A bill that would penalize Illinois corporations that ship their call centers out of state or overseas was passed by House Democrats on April 19 and now will move to the Senate.
The Call Center Worker and Consumer Protection Act requires companies that want to relocate call center jobs out of the state to provide 120 days notice to the State Treasurer’s office and to pay penalties of up to $10,000.
The Treasurer’s office would compile and post online the names of employers that relocate call centers. The employers would also have to repay state grants, loans and tax benefits.
“We need to make sure that our companies here in Illinois – especially those receiving taxpayer-funded tax credits and incentive packages – are hiring people in our community and not quietly shipping them overseas,” said Representative Katie Stuart (D-Edwardsville), a sponsor of the bill.
“Legislation supporting and rewarding companies that invest in Illinois and Illinois workers, while cracking down on the corporations that take advantage of state tax breaks only to move jobs out of state, are steps we can take to make sure that we are supporting the local economy and local workers,” she added.
PARTY LINE VOTE
The bill passed the House 61-49 on a party line vote. The other southern Illinois Democratic representatives also supported it, including Jay Hoffman of Swansea, LaToya Greenwood of East St. Louis, Monica Bristow of Godfrey, Jerry Costello II of Red Bud and Natalie Phelps Finnie of Elizabethtown.
Among those opposing it were Republicans Avery Bourne of Litchfield and Charlie Meier of Washington County.
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