Although the Illinois state budget for Fiscal Year 2016 still has not been decided, Gov. Bruce Rauner did take action on 24 pieces of legislation last Friday.
The news release from his office, however, provided absolutely no real information about what he had approved. Here is one example of how the “information” provided by the Gov. Rauner’s press office was sent out:
Bill No.: SB 38
An Act Concerning Employment
Action: Signed
Effective: January 1, 2016
The list was not sorted by the body in which the legislation originated, nor by the subject of the law (which can be a little confusing anyway), nor by when it would take effect. Some are effective immediately; some don’t kick in until next New Year’s Day.
People interested in knowing how and when the latest laws affect (or don’t affect) the way they live have to wade through the somewhat forbidding pile of information available through www.ilga.gov – or pester their representatives or senators for an explanation.
Because I was curious, I pursued the information, reorganized it in a manner that seemed sensible – to me, at least -- and compiled the listing below. You can click one the bill number to read the full text of the legislation on line. While I hope you find this helpful, I probably should note that I have no intention of going through this exercise again.
The staff at Illinois Public Radio and other news outlets do a pretty darned good job of keeping an eye on the really “big deal” legislation wending its way through the Illinois General Assembly and onto the governor’s desk.
Ten of the bills Rauner signed last Friday are effective immediately. They are:
Acts Concerning Safety
Bill No. HB 437-- Amends the Environmental Protection Act allowing one-day household composting collection events and establishes requirements for them. Provides that the Agency shall establish a pilot program to permit the operation of no more than 3 permanent drop-off sites for household organic waste collection. Establishes requirements for the permanent drop-off sites.
Bill No. HB 1014 – Affects the definition of “pollution control facility” in landfills owned by counties with populations between 55,000 and 60,000.
Bill No. HB 1455 – Affects the rules for recycling electronic products, including devices with cathode ray tubes.
Bill No. SB 543– Redefines “coal-combustion by-product” as coal-combustion waste under certain circumstances
Bill No. SB 836 – Extends the deadline from 1 to 7 days for qualified professionals to notify the state if they determine a person is developmentally disabled. Allows a person whose Firearm Owners Identification Card has been denied or rescinded due to such a determination to appeal for relief.
An Act Concerning Health
Bill No. HB 132 – Corrects the language of the Food Handling Regulation Enforcement Act section on farmers’ markets
An Act Concerning Children
Bill No. SB 721 – Changes the date by which the Illinois Children's Justice Task Force shall submit a report to the General Assembly, regarding, but not limited to, its recommendations for a statewide multidisciplinary approach to child abuse or neglect investigations, to January 31, 2016 (rather than March 1, 2015).
An Act Concerning Local Government
Bill No. HB 3273 – Dissolves Sanitary Districts in counties of 3 million population or more (read: Cook County) if they have no employees and no indebtedness and assigns sanitary sewer responsibilities to the municipalities within the dissolved district’s borders.
An Act Concerning Regulation
Bill No. SB 749 – Amends the Regulatory Sunset Act to extend the repeal date of the Professional Geologist Licensing Act for 10 years to Jan. 1, 2026. Still scheduled to sunset on Jan. 1, 2016, are the Illinois Athletic Trainers Practice Act; the Illinois Roofing Industry Licensing Act; the Illinois Dental Practice Act; the Collection Agency Act; the Barber, Cosmetology, Esthetics, Hair Braiding, and Nail Technology Act of 1985; the Respiratory Care Practice Act; the Hearing Instrument Consumer Protection Act; and the Illinois Physical Therapy Act.
Fourteen of the bills Rauner signed last Friday have effective dates of January 1, 2016. They are:
An Act Concerning Transportation
Bill No. SB 1603 – Provides a free year of vehicle registration (but not special fees) for returning combat veterans.
An Act Concerning Employment
Bill No. SB 38 -- Amends the Minimum Wage Law to omit overtime compensation provisions for any employee who is a member of a state-recognized bargaining unit has contractually agreed to an alternate shift schedule as allowed by the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938.
An Act Concerning Civil Law
Bill No. SB 735 -- Amends the Mortgage Foreclosure Article of the Code of Civil Procedure to outline circumstances under which the court is not required to appoint a special representative for a deceased mortgagor.
An Act Concerning Agriculture
Bill No. SB 813 -- Amends the County Cooperative Extension Law to change the Rural Transition program of the Cooperative Extension Service of the University of Illinois from mandatory (“shall”) to permitted (“may”). That program would provide various job and training help to people who are being forced out of farming or other rural businesses because of changing rural economic conditions.
An Act Concerning Health
Bill No. SB 1571 -- Amends the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program to clarify that no employer or insurer can be required to reimburse a person for costs associated with the medical use of cannabis.
Acts Concerning Local Government
Bill No. SB 86 -- Amends the Counties Code to allow state’s attorneys to use any legal method to collect overdue fines and penalties, including hiring attorneys and private collection agents, and charging those costs to the offender.
Bill No. SB 87 – Amends the Counties Code to lower the maximum amount in the Capital Improvement, Replacement or Repair Fund from 5% to 3% of the equalized assessed value of the total equalized assessed value of the taxable property.
Bill No. HB299 -- Amends the Counties Code to removes court security officers from the jurisdiction of a Sheriff's Merit Commission unless the officer was hired through the commission's certified applicant process.
Bill No. HB3882 – Deletes an expired subsection of the Park District Code.
Acts Concerning Education
Bill No. SB 706 – Changes the School Code to require detailed background checks for student teachers in non-public elementary and secondary schools; makes changes in the way background checks may be handled regarding school-district employees.
Bill No. SB 1319 – Amends the School Code require certain divisions in school boards, to change certain aspects of reporting about Early Childhood Education Block Grants, and more.
Acts Concerning Regulation
Bill No. SB 718 – Amends the Elevator Safety Act to transfer authority for various licenses relating to elevator safety from the Elevator Safety Review Board to Office of the State Fire Marshal. It also removes the board’s authority to set inspection fees. It also requires that any injury caused by a “malfunctioning conveyance” be reported to the State Fire Marshall within two business days. It also changes the rules on various forms and certifications.
Bill No. SB 748 – Amends the Dental Practice Act to change “dental emergency responder” to “dental responder” and redefine the preparation and knowledge required for that designation.
Bill No. SB 818 – Redefines and clarifies how records can be released under the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act.
Bill No. HB 3369 -- Amends the Residential Mortgage Licensing Act of 1987 to require the Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation to examine the loan delinquency rate of each licensee that engages in brokering and lending activities. It also makes other specifications regarding licenses.