This Illinois State Association of Counties (ISACo) weekly News and Views e-newsletter provides updated guidance concerning reporting requirements for federal COVID-19 funds, announces a state-regulated utility disconnection moratorium extension, conveys information about grant opportunities for community wastewater collection and treatment facilities, provides an update about General Assembly activities, shares information about an executive order extending previous COVID-19 related executive orders, references an upcoming NACo webinar opportunity, spotlights ISACo corporate partner AT&T and invites counties to join ISACo.
ISACo welcomes Grundy County as our newest member!
COUNTIES COUNT!
|
|
Treasury Releases Updated CRF Guidance, Contains Modifications that Counties Requested
On September 21, 2020, the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) released an updated FAQ document that contains positive modifications to the reporting requirements for the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF).
The requirements outlined in OIG’s original August 28, 2020, guidance were more extensive than what was required under the U.S. Treasury’s guidance released on August 10, 2020, which focused on flexibility for local governments in order to ease administrative burdens. Counties expressed concern that these late additions to CRF reporting requirements may prevent counties from receiving reimbursements for payroll expenses incurred during the pandemic, severely impacting budget forecasts.
The modified OIG reporting requirements will help counties with payroll expenses for public safety, public health and human services employees addressing the impacts of COVID-19.
|
|
State Regulated Utility Moratorium Extended through Winter 2021 for Eligible Customers
On Monday September 21, 2020, the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) announced the moratorium on disconnections has voluntarily been extended by several state regulated utilities through winter 2021 for eligible low-income residential customers, and those who self-report to utilities that they are experiencing financial or COVID-19 hardship. Previously, several of the utilities had voluntarily agreed to extend the moratorium on shutoffs for residential customers until September 30, 2020.
At the request of the ICC, the following utilities have committed to extending the moratorium on utility disconnections for low-income (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program qualified) residential customers and those financially impacted by COVID-19 until March 31, 2021: Ameren Illinois, Aqua Illinois, Illinois American Water, Commonwealth Edison, Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas and Utility Services of Illinois.
MidAmerican will voluntarily extend the moratorium on disconnections for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program qualified residential customers through March 31, 2021 and is further considering additional options to help their customers during this unprecedented time. Additionally, Nicor Gas and Liberty Utilities have agreed to extend the moratorium on disconnections for all residential customers until March 31, 2021.
|
|
Pritzker Administration Announces $20 Million in Rebuild Illinois Funding for Unsewered Communities
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) Director John Kim has announced two grant opportunities with $20 million in funding available to assist communities with inadequate or nonexistent wastewater collection and treatment facilities.
IEPA is making $100 million available through Governor JB Pritzker’s bipartisan Rebuild Illinois Capital Plan over the next five years for construction grants for wastewater collection and/or treatment facilities. IEPA is also making $1 million available for the next four years for planning grants to assist small and disadvantaged communities in developing a project plan that identifies a solution to wastewater collection and treatment needs. Notices of Funding Opportunities have been posted for both programs.
Applicants are required to pre-qualify through the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act Grantee Portal. This portal is available via this link.
|
|
101st General Assembly Activities
Tuesday, September 29, 2020
The Illinois Senate Criminal Law Committee will hold a joint hearing with the Senate Special Committee on Public Safety at 1 pm on Tuesday, September 29, 2020, to discuss violence reduction and sentencing reform. The Committees will specifically focus on removing the economic basis for driver’s license suspensions, reclassifying misdemeanor offenses to civil offenses, drug penalty reform and elderly parole. The hearing will be conducted remotely via Zoom and members of the public may submit electronic testimony or electronic witness slips via the General Assembly website (available via this link) in advance of the hearing.
The House Special Investigating Committee will hold a hearing on September 29, 2020, at 2pm in Room 114 of the Capitol Building. Alternate public viewing will be offered at the Michael A. Bilandic Building, Room C-600, in Chicago.
Wednesday, September 30, 2020
The Senate Education Committee will hold a joint hearing with the Senate Higher Education Committee at noon on Wednesday, September 30, 2020. The hearing will be conducted remotely via Zoom and legislators will discuss kindergarten through twelfth-grade COVID-19 response and equitable funding. The hearing will be conducted remotely via Zoom and members of the public may submit electronic testimony or electronic witness slips via the General Assembly website (available via this link) in advance of the hearing.
Representative Ford (D-Chicago) introduced HB 5841 (available via this link) which creates a process to license police officers in the State of Illinois. The bill also provides for the election of the Chicago Police Chief with a process for recall and removal. The bill also requires counties and municipalities to create an elected community accountability board that acts as the civilian accountability entity to the sheriff's department and police department. The bill will begin in the House Rules Committee.
Senate Republicans Announce Ethics Package
Illinois Senate Republicans unveiled a new ethics package for consideration. The package focuses on enhancing investigative authority within existing laws and ensuring that legislators are serving the public’s interest. The legislation is not yet available on the General Assembly website.
Investigative Enhancements:
- SB 4012 - Allows the Attorney General to impanel a statewide grand jury to investigate, indict and prosecute bribery and misconduct by members of the General Assembly.
- SB 4013 - Provides states attorneys with wiretap authority.
- SB 4014 - Grants the Legislative Inspector General the ability to investigate members of the General Assembly without first receiving approval from the Legislative Ethics Commission, and changes the composition of the Legislative Ethics Commission to all public members rather than legislators.
Anti-Corruption Measures:
- SB 4015 - Bans legislators from lobbying other branches of state government or units of local government for compensation.
- SB 4016 - Creates a revolving door legislator-to-lobbyist prohibition for one year after leaving office, or until the end of the current term, whichever is longer.
- SB 4017 - Prohibits a legislator from leaving office and continuing to use their campaign fund to support lobbying activities. Also prevents an appointee to a board or commission that is confirmed by the Senate from fundraising for or donating from their campaign committee while serving as an appointed public official.
-
SB 4018 - Updates the Statement of Economic Interests to enhance the disclosure of potential conflicts of interest.
|
|
Governor Pritzker Extends Several Executive Orders
Governor JB Pritzker signed Executive Order (EO) 2020-55 on September 18, 2020. The EO reissues many COVID-19 related executive orders through October 17, 2020.
|
|
Upcoming NACo Webinar
The National Association of Counties (NACo) has announced the following upcoming webinar:
Five Years of Stepping Up to Reduce Mental Illness in Jails
(Wednesday, September 30, 2020, from 1pm – 2:30pm CST)
Since its launch, more than 500 counties across 43 states have joined the Stepping Up initiative and made incredible progress toward reducing the prevalence of people with mental illness in jails. To build on this momentum, the Stepping Up partners are preparing to unveil the next step of the initiative.
Join NACo for a special virtual event on September 30, 2020, to commemorate five years of Stepping Up and hear more about the future of the initiative.
|
|
Corporate Partner Spotlight
This week's corporate partner spotlight highlights ISACo's partnership with AT&T.
AT&T Inc. is a modern media company whose mission is to inspire human progress through the power of communication and entertainment.
The company brings together premium video content, a large base of direct-to-consumer relationships, high-speed networks optimized for video and advertising technology to lead the next revolution in technology, media and telecommunications.
AT&T has recorded 35 consecutive years of quarterly dividend growth and is a Fortune 10 company.
Click on this link to learn more about the benefits and opportunities available through ISACo's Corporate Partner Program
|
|
The Key to ISACo's Success is YOU! |
Is your county a member of ISACo? If not, why not?
ISACo is a statewide association whose mission is to empower county officials to provide excellent service to their residents.
ISACo member counties are comprised of forward-thinking public servants who recognize that the challenges confronting county governments require new and innovative ideas, collaborative solutions and collective advocacy at the state and federal levels of government.
Members of the association will benefit from education and training opportunities, peer-to-peer networking, shared resources and robust representation before policymakers at various levels of government. ISACo creates and connects county officials to these opportunities and successfully equips them to make counties ideal places to live, work and play.
If your county is interested in discussing membership in ISACo, please contact Executive Director Joe McCoy at (217) 679-3368 or jmccoy@isacoil.org. Thank you for your consideration.
|
|
 |
News and Views is a service provided by ISACo for county officials and staff. Please feel welcome to share with interested parties. You can contact ISACo Executive Director Joe McCoy at jmccoy@isacoil.org or (217) 679-3368 if we can be of service. Thank you for your support of ISACo.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
