GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
------------Report
|
|
February 25th, 2022
This Week in Illinois
|
|
Session Update
Both the House and Senate returned to Springfield on Tuesday for another busy week of session. Floor Action in the Senate was more extensive this week as today, February 25th, is the 3rd reading deadline for Senate bills. The Senate adjourned on Friday afternoon while the House came into session briefly on Friday morning. The House returns on Tuesday, March 1st for four days of scheduled action. The Senate will return on March 8th.
The deadline for 3rd reading of Senate bills was today, February 25th. The House third reading deadline is next Friday, March 4th.
View the Senate Committee schedule for next week here. View the House committee schedule here. Rail report subscribers will continue to get daily updates.
Some Good News: Revised FY22 Revenue Forecast
Earlier this week, the House Revenue Committee held a subject matter hearing on the Preliminary FY 2023 Revenue forecasts and the Revised FY 2022 Revenue Forecast. Presentations were provided by the Illinois Department of Revenue and the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability.
Of note, the CGFA showed more than $4 billion in increased revenue than what was expected at the enactment of the FY22 budget last May.
View the IDOR presentation here. View the CGFA presentation here.
Bills of Interest with Floor Action:
HB 1780, Drug Takeback passed out of the House by a vote of 96-13-0. This bill provides that each covered manufacturer must, beginning January 1, 2024 (rather than no later than July 1, 2022) or 6 months after becoming a covered manufacturer, individually or collectively implement (rather than participate in) an approved drug take-back program. Requires a drug take-back program to provide for the collection, transportation, and disposal of covered drugs. Provides that specified requirements shall be undertaken by a drug take-back program or a covered manufacturer (rather than a manufacturer program operator). Requires the Agency to review all proposals in conjunction with one another to ensure the proposals are coordinated to achieve authorized collection site coverage. Requires each covered manufacturer and manufacturer program operator to register with the Agency and submit the registration fee by January 1, 2023 (rather than April 1, 2022), and by January 1 (rather than April 1) of each year thereafter.
HB 4388, Alzheimer Training passed out of the House by a vote of 98-11-2. This bill provides that, for license renewals occurring on or after January 1, 2023, Emergency Medical Services personnel must complete at least one one-hour course of training on the diagnosis, treatment, and care of individuals with Alzheimer's disease or other dementias per license renewal period. Contains training requirements. Provides that completion of the course may count toward meeting minimum credit hours required for relicensure requirements. Provides that specified training may count toward the continuing education required under the amendatory provisions. Provides that the Department of Public Health may adopt rules for the implementation of the amendatory provisions.
HB 4734, Catalytic Converters passed out of the House by a vote of 108-0-0. This bill prohibits a scrap processor or automotive parts recycler from purchasing or receiving a catalytic converter, except from a commercial seller or from the owner of the vehicle from which the catalytic converter was removed. Establishes record keeping requirements for the purchase or receipt of a catalytic converter. Prohibits a scrap processor or automotive parts recycler from acquiring a catalytic converter that has been removed from a vehicle and sold independently of such a vehicle.
HB 4993, Local Chamber of Commerce Grant passed out of the House by a vote of 104-1-2. This bill requires the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to establish a grant program for local chambers of commerce. Provides that the Department shall allocate $5,000,000 as grants to eligible chambers of commerce in amounts equivalent to 2 months of lost revenue, or 1/6th of the annual lost revenue, between 2019 and 2020 from funds appropriated under the American Rescue Plan Act. Provides that eligible chambers of commerce must have less than 1,500 paid members.
HB 5254, INS Coverage passed out of the House by a vote of 108-0-0. This bill provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or a managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2024 (rather than the effective date of the amendatory Act) shall provide coverage for medically necessary hormone therapy treatment to treat menopause that has been induced by a hysterectomy.
HB 5287, Cryptocurrency passed out of the House by a vote of 84-15-3. This bill provides that, the Department of Revenue may adopt rules for payment by cryptocurrency of any amount due under any Act administered by the Department only when the Department is not required to pay a discount fee or charge to convert the cryptocurrency to United States dollars.
HB 5538, Prevailing Wage passed out of the House by a vote of 79-23-4. This bill amends the Prevailing Wage Act. Provides that the provisions of the Act apply to the construction or demolition of public works performed by an employee of a public body engaged in the construction or demolition of public works on behalf of another public body.
HB 5575, License Information Taskforce passed out of the House by a vote of 102-6-0. This bill creates the Comprehensive Licensing Information to Minimize Barriers Task Force Act. Creates the Comprehensive Licensing Information to Minimize Barriers Task Force within the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Adds provisions governing task force membership, duties, powers, and compensation. Provides that the task force shall meet monthly. Provides that the task force shall submit a report to the General Assembly, the Office of Management and Budget, the Department, and the public in the form of a final report by December 1, 2023. Provides that the final report shall identify low-income and middle-income licensed occupations in the State and aggregate the information from those occupations under their respective regulatory boards overseen by the Department.
SB 1099, Consumer Legal Funding passed out of the Senate by a vote of 35-15-0. This bill creates the Consumer Legal Funding Act. This type of legislation has caused problems for both the business community and borrowers in other states. The Chamber remains vigilatant on any piece of legislation that threatens to further erode our legal climate. President & CEO Todd Maisch testified on behalf of the Chamber in opposition to this bill.
SB 2173, Apprenticeship passed out of the Senate by a vote of 51-0-0. This bill provides that an apprentice who is hired by the taxpayer through the United States Department of Defense SkillBridge internship program is considered a qualifying apprentice for the purpose of the apprenticeship education expense credit.
SB 2963, Group Life Insurance passed out of the Senate by a vote of 53-0-0. This bill provides that if active employment is a condition of a policy of group life insurance, in order to be delivered in the State the policy must contain provisions that state that continued coverage for specified active employees will remain in effect until the earliest of specified dates, and specified obligations of the replacing carrier may be limited to the amount for which the employee was covered under the prior carrier's group life insurance policy and may be reduced by any amounts payable under the prior carrier's group life insurance policy. Effective immediately.
SB 3073, CCR passed out of the Senate by a vote of 35-15-0. This bill provides that owners and operators of CCR surface impoundments at electric generating plants that are bordering Lake Michigan shall close the CCR surface impoundment by removal by off-site disposal, pursuant to specified provisions and requirements. In additional provisions, requires an owner or operator to remove from his or her site, for off-site disposal, all CCR generated by a facility and remediate all soil and groundwater impacted by CCR, in accordance with specified requirements.
SB 2977, Hospitals passed out of the Senate by a vote of 52-0-0. This bill provides that no patient, administrator, agent, or employee (rather than administrator, agent, or employee) of a hospital or a member of its medical staff may abuse a patient in the hospital. Provides that "abuse" in the provisions means any physical or mental injury or sexual abuse intentionally inflicted by, among other specified persons, a patient.
SB 2981, Design Build passed out of the Senate by a vote of 51-0-0. This bill creates the Innovations for Transportation Infrastructure Act. Contains a statement of legislative policy. Adds provisions governing: authorization of project delivery methods; preconditions to commencement of procurement; procurement; evaluation and selection of proposals; project records; confidentiality; public disclosure; design-build contracts; construction manager/general contractor contracts; funding and financing; minority, disadvantaged, and women-owned businesses; labor agreements; acquisition of property; federal requirements; powers of the Department of Transportation and the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority; and rulemaking gives Illinois a design-build construction option. The Chamber supports this bill.
SB 3065, Credit Extension passed out of the Senate by a vote of a 39-7-0. This bill provides that the credit for coal and aggregate exploration, mining, off-highway hauling, processing, maintenance, and reclamation equipment sunsets on July 1, 2028 (currently July 1, 2023).
SB 3120, Family Bereavement Act passed out of the Senate by a vote of 38-11-0. This bill provides that all employees shall be entitled to use a maximum of 2 weeks (10 work days) of unpaid bereavement leave to be absent from work due to (i) a miscarriage; (ii) an unsuccessful round of intrauterine insemination or of an assisted reproductive technology procedure; (iii) a failed adoption match or an adoption that is not finalized because it is contested by another party; (iv) a failed surrogacy agreement; (v) a diagnosis that negatively impacts pregnancy or fertility; or (vi) a stillbirth. Provides that the employer may not require that the employee identify which category of event the leave pertains to as a condition of exercising rights under the Act.
SB 3146, One Day of Rest Penalties passed out of the Senate by a vote of 34-15-0. This bill provides that an employee who works in excess of 7 1/2 continuous hours shall be entitled to an additional 20-minute meal period for every additional 4 1/2 continuous hours worked. Provides that every employer covered by the Act shall post and keep posted, in one or more conspicuous places on the premises of the employer where notices to employees are customarily posted, a notice, to be provided by the Director of Labor, summarizing the requirements of the Act and information pertaining to the filing of a complaint. Provides that the Director of Labor shall provide copies of summaries and rules to employers upon request without charge. Provides that an employer with employees who do not regularly report to a physical workplace, and instead work remotely or travel for work, shall also provide the notice by email to its employees or on a website. n provisions concerning civil penalties, provides that any employer who violates specified provisions of the Act shall be subject to a civil penalty. Provides that for an employer with fewer than 25 employees, the civil penalty shall not exceed $250 per offense, payable to the Department of Labor, and damages of up to $250 per offense, payable to the employee or employees affected. Provides that for an employer with 25 or more employees, the civil penalty shall not exceed $500 per offense, payable to the Department, and damages of up to $500 per offense, payable to the employee or employees affected. Provides that an offense under the Act shall be determined on an individual basis for each employee whose rights are violated.
SB 3467, Park Districts/Public Utilities passed out of the Senate by a vote of 42-9-0. This bill creates the Park District and Public Utility Liability Act. Provides that provisions in, or in connection with, a land lease agreement between an electric public utility and a park district that require a lessee park district to indemnify or hold harmless the lessor public utility against liability for damages arising out of bodily injury to persons or damage to property proximately caused by or resulting from the negligence of the lessor is against public policy, void, and unenforceable. Provides that nothing in the Act shall prevent or prohibit a contract, promise, or agreement for a lessor to indemnify or hold harmless any lessee against liability for damages resulting from the sole negligence of the lessor.
SB 3609, Vehicle Registration Discount passed out of the Senate by a vote of 53-0-0. This bill provides that the registration fee for cars and small trucks shall be reduced by $25 if the vehicle is manufactured in this State and the application for registration is made no more than one year after the month in which the vehicle was manufactured.
SB 3613, Hydrogen Energy Task Force passed out of the Senate by a vote of 54-0-0. This bill creates the Hydrogen Economy Act. Creates the Hydrogen Economy Task Force. Provides for membership of the Task Force. Provides that members of the Task Force shall serve without compensation. Provides for meetings of the Task Force. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall provide administrative support to the Task Force. Provides for duties of the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall report to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 1 of each year on its activities, findings, and recommendations.
SB 3625, Design Build Procurement Act Extension passed out of the Senate by a vote of 36-16-0. This bill amends the Design-Build Procurement Act. Extends the repeal of the Act from July 1, 2022 to July 1, 2027. Opposition to the bill was due to earlier patronage allegations at the Capital Development Board.
SB 3633, Demolition passed out of the Senate by a vote of 54-0-0. This bill provides that counties and municipalities must maintain documentation submitted from a contractor (rather than just maintain documentation) on the disposal of specified demolition debris, clean or general, or uncontaminated soil.
SB 3790, Energy Recycling passed out of the Senate by a vote of 52-0-0. This bill creates the Renewable Energy Component Recycling Task Force Act. Creates the Renewable Energy Component Recycling Task Force to investigate options for recycling and other end of life management methods for renewable energy generation components and energy storage devices in accordance with State and federal requirements, to identify preferred methods to safely and responsibly manage end of life renewable energy generating components and energy storage devices, including the reuse or refurbishment, and other specified duties.
SB 3819, INS Coverage passed out of the Senate by a vote of 53-0-0. This bill provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or a managed care plan amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2024 (rather than after the effective date of the amendatory Act) shall provide coverage for community-based pediatric palliative care and hospice care and that the care shall be delivered to any qualifying child with a serious illness by a trained interdisciplinary team that allows a child to receive community-based pediatric palliative and hospice care while continuing to pursue curative treatment and disease-directed therapies for the qualifying illness.
SB 3903, Utilities passed out of the Senate by a vote of 54-0-0. In provisions concerning the certification of alternative retail suppliers, this bill provides that the Illinois Commerce Commission shall consider the applicant's commitment of resources to the management of sales and marketing staff, through affirmative managerial policies, independent audits, technology, hands-on field monitoring, and training. In provisions concerning the obligations of alternative retail electric suppliers, provides that an alternative retail electric supplier shall maintain sufficient managerial resources and abilities to provide the service for which it has a certificate of service authority. Provides that an alternative retail electric supplier shall file with the Commission a notification of any material change to the information supplied in a certification application within 30 days after the material change.
SB 3917, Microchips passed out of the Senate by a vote of 55-0-0. This bill creates the Manufacturing Illinois Chips for Real Opportunity (MICRO) Act. Creates the Manufacturing Illinois Chips for Real Opportunity (MICRO) Program to be administered by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Creates various tax incentives for manufacturers of semiconductors, microchips, or semiconductor or microchip component parts, subject to an agreement with the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
SB 3939, Cybersecurity passed out of the Senate by a vote of 55-0-0. This bill requires a local government official or employee to be chosen to act as the primary point of contact for local cybersecurity issues. Amends the Illinois Information Security Improvement Act. Requires the Secretary of Innovation and Technology to establish a cybersecurity liaison program to advise and assist units of local government (rather than units of local government and school districts) concerning specified cybersecurity issues. Provides for cybersecurity training for employees of counties, municipalities, and school districts. Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Provides that State agencies are prohibited from purchasing any products that, due to cybersecurity risks, are prohibited for purchase by federal agencies pursuant to a United States Department of Homeland Security Binding Operational Directive.
Bills of Interest with Committee Action this Week:
SB 3796, Toll Highway Authority passed out the Senate Executive Committee by a vote of 14-0-0. This bill removes language authorizing the chairman to exercise general supervision over all powers, duties, obligations and functions of the Toll Highway Authority. Provides that the directors shall appoint agents or employees as they consider necessary or desirable. Provides that such agents or employees, other than technical or engineering employees, shall be subject to the Personnel Code. Provides that the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint from the State at large an Executive Director to the Toll Highway Authority to serve as the chief executive officer of the Board of Directors. Provides that the Board shall employ and fix the compensation of the Executive Director. Provides that the Executive Director to the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority shall serve as the chief executive officer of the Authority (instead of the Board of Directors).
View the Chamber's full 102nd GA Key Bills List here.
|
|
Weekly GAP Call
The Chamber will host a Government Affairs Professionals (GAP) call on Monday, February 28th at 3:00 pm. We will provide you the latest updates on what legislation we are watching this Spring. Call in information is provided below.
Microsoft Teams meeting
Join on your computer or mobile app
Or call in (audio only)
Phone Conference ID: 463 563 254#
In Case You Missed It...Chamber Day Keynote Speakers Announced: Welch, Durkin
The Illinois Chamber is pleased to announce that Illinois Speaker of the House Emanuel "Chris" Welch will be addressing attendees at Chamber Day 2022 next Wednesday, March 2nd. Speaker Welch will be joined at Chamber Day by his counterpart, House Republican Leader Jim Durkin. Both House Leaders will provide their valued insight into the 2022 Legislative Session.
The Illinois Chamber is excited to bring the voices of these keynote speakers and much more to local chambers and guests from across the state at Chamber Day 2022.
|
|
Chamber Day 2022 Registration
On March 2nd, 2022 the Illinois Chamber will host our fifth annual Chamber Day. The event will take place in-person in Springfield at the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel, A Double Tree by Hilton.
When: Wednesday, March 2, 2022 from 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM CST
Contact Information: Callie Brenden
Illinois Chamber of Commerce
217-361-6493
View the registration link for more information here.
Call to Action: Researching Interest in Illinois Chamber's MEP 401(K) Plan
A multiple employer plan is a qualified retirement savings plan that is sponsored by one lead company. Although it is a single plan from the perspective of the federal government, each company that adopts the plan is able to specify its own plan provisions.
As a result, you get the best of both worlds. You can offer a 401(k) to your employees that meet your company’s unique objectives, because you are not the plan sponsor, you won’t have the hassle and responsibility of sponsoring your own plan.
Please take a moment to answer a few questions here.
|
|
If you have questions about the Government Affairs Report, contact Clark Kaericher at ckaericher@ilchamber.org. Do not reply to this email.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
