D’Amico Backs Legislation to Stop the Outsourcing of Call Centers

CHICAGO – State Rep. John D’Amico, D-Chicago, is backing legislation to keep state dollars in Illinois if call centers decide to relocate to another state or country.

“The outsourcing of jobs across our state is hurting our economic climate and hurting our families,” D’Amico said. “We must do everything we can to protect local jobs and to make sure tax dollars do not go to companies who refuse to do their part and invest in our communities.”

The D’Amico-backed House Bill 4081 requires call centers to notify the state at least 120 days before relocating to another state or country and to repay state incentives they received. Taxpayer-funded economic incentives include grants, loans, tax credits, tax exemptions and other economic benefits offered by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and other state agencies. It also prohibits the awarding of any state grants or loans to the call centers for a period of five years. It further provides that any call center contracted for state work must be located in Illinois.

“If a company receives a tax break from the state and then chooses to relocate after reaping those benefits, they should have to repay those dollars to our state so they may be used to help our residents,” D’Amico said. “I hope this legislation will encourage companies to maintain their operations here and help grow the local economy for the betterment of our communities.”