This Illinois State Association of Counties (ISACo) weekly
News and Views
e-newsletter includes ISACo's "Bills Approved by Both Chambers" report, reports on the enactment of the State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2021 state budget and other legislation, provides information about an Illinois Supreme Court ruling pertaining to elected county officials and Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) participation, reports on a lawsuit against drug manufacturers involving the State of Illinois, conveys information about the upcoming National Association of Counties (NACo) Town Hall and Annual Business Meeting, recognizes DuPage County for receipt of a national achievement award, advertises an upcoming NACo webinar opportunity, asks county officials to follow us on social media, spotlights ISACo corporate partner Christopher B. Burke Engineering and invites counties to join ISACo.
COUNTIES COUNT!
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ISACo Releases "Bills Approved by Both Chambers" Report
ISACo announces the release of our 2020 "Bills Approved by Both Chambers" report.
The report is a compilation of bills that affect or are of interest to counties approved by the House and Senate and sent to the Governor to be signed or vetoed. This year's report is significantly shorter than our previous reports due to the abbreviated legislative session caused by COVID-19.
The report includes summaries of approved legislation, but these summaries are not intended to substitute for a review of the full text of each bill. ISACo recommends that these bills be reviewed by county staff members to determine how each might impact the county.
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Governor Pritzker Signs SFY 2021 Budget and Other Bills into Law
On Wednesday, June 10, 2020, Governor JB Pritzker signed the $42.9 billion State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2021 budget into law.
In a press release announcing the enactment of the budget, Governor Pritzker stated the following:
“Since taking office, my administration has prioritized effective and efficient government as we’ve worked to undo years of financial mismanagement while rebuilding our hollowed out state government,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the enormous role government plays in keeping communities safe and providing the tools people need to build better lives. While the pandemic has had a devastating impact on our state revenues, investing in our people will allow the state to rebound and recover from this pandemic as we safely re-open. I will continue to advocate for a national program to support state and local governments to make up the difference in the revenues that fund vital services like hospitals and salaries for teachers and first responders.”
For more information about how the budget impacts counties, please review our 2020 Spring Legislative Session Summary
available via this link.
The following bills were signed into law on Friday, June 12:
HB 64 (
linked here
) reappropriates the Rebuild Illinois capital plan and other capital appropriations. Effective July 1, 2020. Various effective dates.
HB 2174 (
linked here
) extends the sunsets of various Acts from 2020 to 2021. Effective immediately.
SB 2135 (P.A. 101-640 -
linked here
) creates the Government Emergency Administration Act, an omnibus bill to address governmental operational challenges during a pandemic.
This bill includes an ISACo-supported provision amending the Open Meetings Act (OMA) to allow public bodies to meet remotely under certain emergency circumstances.
Effective immediately.
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Illinois Supreme Court Rules on IMRF Participation for Elected County Officials
On June 4, 2020, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled that a law enacted in 2016 making continued participation in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) by an elected county official contingent on specific actions taken by a county board and individual board members violated the pension "impairment clause" of the Illinois Constitution.
In
Williamson County Board of Commissioners, v. Board of Trustees of the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund
(2020 -
ruling linked here
), the court considered whether requirements imposed as a result of P.A. 99-900 (2016 -
linked here
) impaired constitutionally protected pension benefits.
At issue were statutory provisions that continued participation in IMRF required: (1) certification within 90 days of a general election that county board members must work a specified number of hours to meet the hourly standard for participation in IMRF; and (2) submission of monthly time sheets by individual county board members indicating they met the hourly standard.
The Court found that, since the plaintiffs satisfied the terms of IMRF participation at the time they became members, failure to meet the requirements subsequently imposed within P.A. 99-900 could not impair their continued participation.
The Illinois Supreme Court decision affirmed an earlier circuit court ruling.
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Illinois Joins Lawsuit Against Drug Manufacturers
On Wednesday, June 10, 2020, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and a coalition of 49 attorneys general filed a lawsuit against Taro, Perrigo, and Fougera (now Sandoz) Pharmaceuticals and 24 other large generic drug manufacturers alleging a widespread conspiracy to artificially inflate and manipulate prices, reduce competition and unreasonably restrain trade for more than 80 different topical generic drugs.
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NACo Town Hall and Annual Business Meeting Registration
As a result of COVID-19, the National Association of Counties (NACo) will hold a virtual membership town hall on Monday, July 13, 2020, and a virtual Annual Business meeting on Monday, July 20, 2020. These events are being held in lieu of the NACo Annual Conference.
All NACo members are invited to attend the virtual membership town hall meeting on Monday July 13 at 3 p.m. (CST) that will include the 2nd Vice Presidential candidates forum, an overview of proposed bylaws amendments, a status report on voting delegate credentials totals and a federal policy update.
The virtual NACo Annual Business Meeting will be held on Monday, July 20 at 1 p.m. (CST). The meeting will include the election for 2nd Vice President and other officers, consideration of bylaws amendments and other association business. Participation is completely free for all NACo members.
The 2020 NACo Annual Business Meeting and membership town hall are free events for all NACo members. If you had previously registered for the 2020 NACo Annual Conference and Exposition, no further action is required on your part. You will be automatically registered for both the Annual Business Meeting and membership town hall.
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DuPage County Recognized for Employment Training Program
ISACo congratulates DuPage County for being recognized with a NACo Achievement Award. The awards honor innovative, effective county government programs that strengthen services for residents.
NACo recognized the Recovery and Manufacturing-A Path Up (RAMP-Up) program in the Community and Economic Development Category. The RAMP-Up program provides manufacturing certification training to individuals in recovery from opioid use and substance abuse, allowing them to obtain meaningful employment, while also providing local employers with a distinct talent pool. The program began with a public-private partnership started by DuPage County’s Workforce Development Division (workNet DuPage) and the Heroin-Opioid Prevention and Education (HOPE) Taskforce.
“One of the greatest challenges facing our community is the opioid crisis, and we are constantly searching for new ways to reduce the impact of the opioid epidemic on our county,” said County Board Chairman Dan Cronin. “The RAMP-Up Program represents a transformative opportunity offering real change and a measurable impact on the people and communities involved. We are grateful to our innovative workNet DuPage team who brought this creative solution forward and to their colleagues in the Public Defender’s Office, the State’s Attorney’s Office and in the probation system who identified and supported program candidates.”
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Upcoming NACo Webinar
The National Association of Counties (NACo) has scheduled the following webinar with content related to COVID-19:
Child Care Funding and the CARES Act
(Wednesday, June 17, 2020 from 1 pm – 2 pm)
During the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, families’ access to safe and affordable child care is dwindling in these unprecedented times. In response to this pandemic, counties are exploring ways to maintain the current supply of child care and sustain child care businesses upon reopening. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act or the “CARES Act” provides federal relief supporting state and local efforts in securing child care during this critical time, especially for essential staff and first responders serving on the frontline. Learn more about federal resources for child care during COVID-19 and what your county can do to maximize these services and ensure safe, healthy learning environments for young children.
Click here for to register.
On a related note...
On Wednesday, June 10, 2020, Governor Pritzker announced a $270 million Child Care Restoration grant program. This program will support Illinois' network of childcare providers as they continue to provide care to children across the state through the COVID-19 pandemic. The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, in partnership with the Illinois Department of Human Services, is charged with developing the grant program for licensed childcare providers. The Child Care Restoration Grants will be administered by the Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies. More information is
available via this link.
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Follow ISACo on Social Media
A great way to stay current on issues affecting or of interest to counties is by following ISACo on social media. Please follow our Facebook page and Twitter feed and join the conversation!
@Isacoil
@IsacoTweets
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Corporate Partner Spotlight
This week's corporate partner spotlight highlights ISACo's partnership with Christoper B. Burke Engineering.
Started in 1986, Christopher B. Burke Engineering, LTD. is a full-service consulting engineering and surveying firm specializing in civil, transportation/highway, municipal, traffic, construction, water resources, environmental, structural and mechanical engineering. The company provides not only design services, but also planning, preliminary engineering, permitting and construction observation. Christopher B. Burke Engineering, LTD. successfully completed the design, permitting and construction of numerous major transportation projects, flood control reservoirs, pump stations, embankments, water mains and water systems, storm sewers and large open channels.
Click on this link
to learn more about the benefits and opportunities available through ISACo's Corporate Partner Program.
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The Key to ISACo's Success is YOU!
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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.
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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.
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