Senate Week in Review: April 12-16
SPRINGFIELD — The General Assembly returned to Springfield this week to continue its Spring legislative session and acted on several bills, including a contentious vote on the need for redistricting reform, according to state Sen. Dale Risinger, R-Peoria.
The Senate voted along party lines to advance the Senate Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment (SJRCA) 121 to change the way legislative districts are drawn in the state. The measure was opposed by Senate Republicans who said that the redistricting amendment does nothing to end the practice of legislators drawing their own districts and further entrenches the power of incumbents.
SJRCA 121 would continue to allow legislators to draw their own map. If a redistricting plan fails to be approved by the Legislature and is signed into law by the Governor, then legislators have another opportunity to draw their own districts with the House and Senate each getting the opportunity to draw its own map. If lawmakers still could not agree on how to gerrymander the state, a “Special Master” would be appointed to draw the map. If the Special Master’s map is rejected by a court, legislators would then have yet another opportunity to draw their own districts.
Risinger pointed out that SJRCA 121 was designed to benefit incumbents every step of the way, noting that those drawing the map could consider the residence of incumbents and examine the voting history of potential constituents. SJRCA 121 now proceeds to the House of Representatives for consideration.
Also this week, bipartisan pension reform legislation was signed into law. Senate Bill 1946 (PA 96-0889) will not affect existing public employees. Beginning next year, new employees will be subject to a higher retirement age, limits on cost-of-living adjustments when they retire and an imposed ceiling on the maximum earnings that can be counted toward their pensions. Under the new measure, no additional benefits will accrue for salaries above the current Social Security maximum level of $106,800 (inflation adjusted).
This bill was pushed through the General Assembly in a single day when threats of a major credit downgrade motivated majority Democrats and Gov. Pat Quinn to action. Under Quinn, the budget deficit has increased to at least $13 billion with close to $9 billion in unpaid bills continuing to add up. His mismanagement and failure to advance a solution to the state’s budget problems have contributed to the worst credit rating in Illinois history.
In other news this week, legislation was approved that will enable the Governor to grant up to $50 million in job creation tax credits to small-business owners who hire new workers. Senate Bill 1578 (PA 96-0888) allows employers a credit against their liability for employee withholding. Businesses employing fewer than 50 workers would receive a $2,500 tax credit for each new employee hired between July 1, 2010, and June 30, 2011. Workers must stay in the job for at least one year and earn a minimum of $25,000. Proponents say that the measure could stimulate up to 20,000 new jobs.
Finally, the Senate Elections Committee approved House Bill 5820, which would require the Governor and Lt. Governor to run together as a team in the Primary Election. Critics say the legislation prevents voters from choosing the one person they believe would be the best candidate for either one of the offices. Proponents say that linking the positions would require voters to choose a team of candidates they most believe in, and will promote additional examination of Lt. Governor candidates.
House Bill 5820 was introduced in response to the controversy surrounding the 2010 Democrat primary election victory of Scott Lee Cohen. Cohen’s personal history was subjected to intense scrutiny and criticism following his primary win, and he ultimately dropped out of the race. However, the incident prompted some lawmakers to pursue legislation that seeks to ensure Lt. Governor candidates are more adequately vetted prior to an election. Some people have proposed eliminating the position altogether.
Legislation approved by Senate Committees this week includes:
GPS SB 3716: Creates a task force for studying the best types of GPS devices for trucks.
Construction Contractor HB 4673: Increases the fine for not having the name of the contractor on the side of a construction truck to $500 (was $100 minimum).
Electronic Cars HB 4717: Reduces license plate fees for electrically powered pickup trucks.
Military License Plate HB 4778: Removes fees for military license plates.
Suspended License HB 4982: Allows the Secretary of State to lift the suspension of driving privileges for certain offenses if the violator begins making payments on fines.
Disabled Awareness HB 5095: Provides that a person with a disability has the same right as a nondisabled person to the full use of the streets and public places.
Railroads HB 5712: Provides that approaching railroad track equipment shall be treated the same as approaching trains.
All-terrain Vehicle HB 6094: Allows all-terrain vehicles to be operated on county and township roads for farming operations.
Adoption HB 5428: Allows adult adoptees to access their original birth certificates.
Military Duty HB 3762: Delays foreclosure for those returning from active military duty.
Traffic Violation Fee HB 5285: Provides that any person who is convicted of, or pleads guilty to, a serious traffic violation must pay an additional fee of $35 (rather than $20).
Payable on Death Account HB 5469: Expands the qualifying beneficiaries on a Payable on Death Account to include a corporation, charitable organization or other entity that maintains a lawful existence.
Statute of Limitations HB 6124: Increases the statute of limitations for a civil action for childhood sexual abuse to 20 years from the date the person turns 18, or 20 years from the date the person who was abused discovers that the act of childhood sexual abuse occurred and that the injury was caused by the childhood sexual abuse.
Suicide Prevention HB 4672: Adds school social workers to the list of school personnel who must be trained to identify suicide warning signs and taught intervention and referral techniques, and also adds suicide intervention in-service training as an acceptable form of required continuing education for teachers.
Criminal Records HB 5340: Allows a school board president or superintendent to share any record of convictions obtained via a criminal background check with the State Police and/or the Statewide Sex Offender Database.
Revenue Transfers HB 5515: Allows school districts, through June 30, 2013, to transfer surplus life safety taxes and interest earnings to the Operations and Maintenance Fund for building repair work.
Asthma HB 5836: Removes the requirement that a student’s doctor, physician’s assistant, or advanced-practice RN must approve a student’s self-administration of his/her asthma inhaler.
Farmers Market HB 4756: Creates a farmers market program to increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables and other Link-eligible food products.
Information Safeguards HB 5223: Prohibits any Department on Aging employee from referring information regarding an unlicensed program.
Mental Health Supervision HB 5861: Requires the State Police to be notified when a person who has received mental health services is on an unauthorized leave from the facility.
Breast Cancer Program HB 5891: Seeks to codify the expansion of the Breast and Cervical Cancer program, which was previously expanded by departmental policy to cover all uninsured persons ages 35-64.
Smoke Detector HB 5821: Requires that newly constructed facilities that have smoke detectors permanently wired into the structure’s AC power line must also maintain an alternative backup battery power source.
AEDs HB 5838: No longer requires that a supervisor of an outdoor physical fitness facility be responsible for ensuring that an AED is available during the time that an event or activity at the facility is being conducted.
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome HB 5930: Requires hospitals to provide free information and instructional materials regarding Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
Assisted Living Licensure HB 6006: Authorizes the Department of Public Health to renew the license of some qualifying assisted living or shared housing establishments for an additional two-year period at the request of the licensee.
Open Meetings HB 4708: Requires counties under township organization to notify the public of any special meeting of the board in accordance with the Open Meetings Act.
Fire Protection Trustees HB 4868: Prohibits Fire Protection District Trustees to serve on not-for-profit boards.
Fire Protection Commissioners HB 5283: States that Fire Protection District Commissioners may not have been convicted of a felony and may not owe the district money.
Regional Planning Commissions HB 5540: Defines Regional Planning Commissions as a financial institution so that they can lend money to municipalities for economic development.
Municipal Annexation HB 5671: Requires municipalities to give notice of annexation to counties.
Municipal Aldermen HB 5970: Clarifies that the number of aldermen in municipalities is dependant on the most recent federal decennial census.
County Fines HB 5972: Allows violators of county ordinances to voluntarily pay a fine in accordance with a fee schedule in lieu of a hearing appearance.
Offenders’ Medical Expenses HB 6178: States that arresting authorities are responsible for an offender’s “qualified” (instead of “incurred”) medical expenses.
Medical Schools HB 5411: Allows medical schools to use private entities to complete the criminal history record checks of their enrollees.
Internet Voters Guide HB 4842: Mandates the State Board of Elections to publish an Internet voter’s guide before each general primary election.
Military Voting HB 6077: Allows military voters to vote by e-mail or fax.
Fire Dogs HB 4669: Extends protections for fire department dogs that are used in arson investigations, similar to protections that already exist for police, service, and search and rescue animals.
Soldier Outdoorsmen HB 4721: Allows soldier who are home on emergency leave to hunt and fish without a license.
TV EPA Reporting HB 5907: Requires television manufacturers to report to the Environmental Protection Agency the weight of televisions sold to individuals at retail in Illinois.
AFV Conversion Rebate HB 6047: Provides that a conversion cost rebate may be issued for the cost of converting a conventional vehicle or a hybrid vehicle to an alternate fuel vehicle.
Battery HB 596: Requires a person convicted of aggravated domestic battery to serve 85% of prison time imposed for the offense instead of the current 50%, and makes them ineligible for any meritorious prison good time credit against the sentence.
Bus Driver Disqualification HB 4873: Adds several offenses to the list of existing offenses that disqualify a person for a school bus driver permit or a commercial driver's license.
Railroad Safety HB 4987: Makes it a crime to willfully place upon an active railroad track any object that would adversely affect safe railroad operations.
Parole Violation HB 5150: Requires the issuance of an arrest warrant and notice of violation of parole for any person on parole or mandatory supervised release from prison, when the person has committed a new criminal offense for a forcible felony that is a Class 3 felony or higher.
Sexual Exploitation HB 5321: Includes committing a sexual act or exposing oneself for sexual gratification that is viewed by a child via the Internet or webcam to be sexual exploitation of a child.
Prison Escape Prevention HB 5525: Corrects a penalty oversight in the criminal offense of the unauthorized bringing into or possession of a lock tool or cutting tool in a penal institution by an employee, and for unauthorized delivery of an electronic device to an inmate by a penal institution employee.
Dog Fighting HB 5790: Raises the penalty on dog fighting offenses occurring on property within 100 feet of a school, public park, playground, child care institution, or daycare center.
Crime Victim Notification HB 5791: Allows the Attorney General to establish a crime victim notification system to assist public officials in carrying out notification of victims and witnesses.
9-1-1 HB 6101: Raises the penalty for making a false 9-1-1 call.
COBRA HB 5018: Revises COBRA insurance coverage (temporary insurance coverage when laid off) to align with recent changes in federal law.
DNR Fees HB 6317: Allows DNR to assess a fee of up to $1,000 for the reinstatement of revoked licenses, permits, registrations, and other privileges that it administers in the exercise of its powers and duties under Illinois law.
Youth Grants HB 3631: Creates a competitive youth grant program that will provide 5,000 young people with stipends or wage.
Slavery Remembrance HB 4586: Designates each March 25 as the Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
Corrections HB 4798: Brings the Illinois Correctional Industries back under the control of the Department of Corrections.
Historic Site Protection HB 4961: Outlaws fund sweeps from the historic sites fund and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum operations fund.
Census Data HB 5011: Allows for adjustments to the census data in cases of annexations and disconnections.
CAFR Requirements HB 6267: Requires state agencies to submit the information required for the Comptroller to complete the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report on or before Oct. 31 to assist in the preparation of the next fiscal year’s budget.
OMB Reporting HB 6268: Requires the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget to submit an economic and fiscal policy report to the General Assembly.
Primate Prohibition HB 4801: Prohibits a person keeping a primate as a pet, except at a properly maintained zoological park, federally licensed exhibit, circus, college or university, scientific institution, research laboratory, veterinary hospital, hound running area, or animal refuge in an escape-proof enclosure.
