IL HB5422

Establishes the Illinois Creative Workforce Development Program within the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to provide skills training, business development, financial literacy, and career transition support for freelance and gig workers in arts, design, music, film, theater, digital media, and related creative fields.

Creates a pilot program to test portable, worker-controlled benefits including health insurance pathways, retirement savings, pooled paid leave, and workers' compensation access without reclassifying independent workers as employees; the pilot expires 5 years after the Act's effective date.

Requires minimum compensation guidelines, written contracts with clear terms, and timely payment standards for all publicly funded creative work, with compliance certification required as a condition of receiving State awards.

Mandates targeted outreach to underrepresented communities and geographic balance across Chicago, suburban, downstate, and rural regions, with data collection disaggregated by race, ethnicity, gender, disability status, and geography.

Creates the Creative Workforce Fund in the State treasury to support program activities including training, grants, pilot benefits, and administration, funded through appropriations, transfers, and public or private contributions.