This Illinois State Association of Counties (ISACo) weekly
News and Views
e-newsletter links to ISACo's
2019 State Mandates Report
, announces the effective date for a new law prohibiting employers from inquiring about job applicant wage history, provides information about an October 19, 2019, deadline for obtaining federal public assistance funds available to aid local governments impacted by the 2019 flooding, provides updates on the advancement of a federal transportation funding bill and a short-term continuing resolution to fund government operations, conveys information about available federal funding for substance use disorder treatment, announces a new cannabis czar who will oversee Illinois' recreational cannabis program, includes an opportunity to attend a water and wastewater collaboration summit, welcomes Comcast as a new corporate partner and invites counties to join ISACo.
2019 Spring Session Resources
ISACo's summary of the major legislative issues addressed during the 2019 Spring legislative session is
available via this link.
|
|
ISACo Publishes State Mandates Report
Each year, the Illinois General Assembly considers a significant number of bills that would impose new and unfunded state mandates on counties and other local governments. Most of these proposed state mandates are defeated, but several are signed into law as Public Acts.
ISACo has published the first-ever report identifying new state mandates affecting counties passed during a current legislative session.
This report is
available via this link.
ISACo generally opposes all unfunded state mandates that, when added to other state mandates over time, increase costs to counties and their taxpayers. These cumulative requirements imposed by the state compel counties to increase taxes, reduce services or both.
|
|
New Law Prohibits Employers from Inquiring About Wage History
Per Public Act 101-0177, Illinois employers and employment agencies are prohibited from asking about job applicants’ past wage and compensation histories or using such information to screen candidates for a position. The new became effective on September 29, 2019.
A press release from the Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) that includes a "Frequently Asked Questions" section is
available via this link.
|
|
IEMA Announces Disaster Funding Deadline
The Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) is working with county emergency managers throughout the state to ensure local governments impacted by the historic spring floods have the necessary documents and paperwork in order to meet the October 19, 2019, filing deadline for federal public assistance funding.
To apply for assistance, each organization must complete and submit a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Form 90-49, Request for Public Assistance form to IEMA within 30 days of the date of the Presidential declaration. The deadline for this application is October 19. Applicants will also be required to complete and submit a Public Assistance Grant Agreement, Public Assistance Risk Assessment, and FFATA Certification forms to IEMA before grant payments can be made.
|
|
Federal Transportation Appropriations Bill Advances
NACo Update:
The U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations unanimously approved its FY2020 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (T-HUD) appropriations bill, setting annual spending for the nation’s transportation infrastructure and transit systems. Department of Transportation (DOT) appropriations are dedicated to federal programs covering aviation, highways and highway safety, public transit, rail, maritime safety, pipelines and other related activities.
The T-HUD bill is one of twelve appropriations bills Congress must pass before FY2019 ends on September 30, 2019, in order to avoid a government shutdown. To date, the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations has passed five appropriations bills.
|
|
Congress Moves Short-Term Funding Resolution Forward
NACo Update:
The U.S. House approved a continuing resolution (CR) (H.R. 4378) to fund the federal government through November 21, 2019. The stopgap funding measure would ensure the continued operation of government programs as lawmakers in both chambers negotiate spending legislation for the next fiscal year. President Trump has indicated he would sign the bill should it be approved by both chambers.
|
|
Illinois Receives Federal Funding for Substance Abuse Disorder Treatment
Illinois will receive a $4.5 million grant from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to examine and improve substance use disorder treatment strategies for Medicaid members.
Illinois is one of fifteen states to receive funding, which will launch an 18-month assessment with stakeholders to ultimately better respond to the behavioral health needs of Medicaid members, including for substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and recovery support.
A press release from the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (DHFS) with additional information is
available via this link.
|
|
Senator Hutchinson Joining Pritzker Administration to Oversee Recreational Cannabis Program
It has been announced that State Senator Toi Hutchinson (D-Olympia Fields) will resign from her state senate seat to take a position in the Pritzker Administration and oversee Illinois' recreational cannabis program.
Senator Hutchinson was a legislative sponsor and key player behind the new law legalizing recreational cannabis.
In her new role, Senator Hutchinson will be involved in the activities of the following state agencies: Agriculture, Public Health, Revenue, Commerce and Economic Opportunity and Financial and Professional Regulation.
Senator Hutchinson has served in the Illinois Senate for 10 years. ISACo wishes her well in her new role. It remains uncertain when she will officially join the Pritzker Administration.
|
|
Water and Wastewater Collaboration Summit
The Rural Community Assistance Partnership and Great Lakes Community Action Partnership are holding a Regional Collaboration Summit in Springfield, IL on October 9-10.
The Summit will engage stakeholders that include elected and appointed government officials, state and federal agency staff and others that play a role in water and wastewater utility management.
A variety of speakers will examine the benefits of regionalization and shared services, impediments and barriers to its implementation and potential incentives and programs offered.
|
|
Corporate Partner Spotlight
ISACo is pleased to announce that Comcast has become an ISACo corporate partner.
Comcast Corporation is a global media and technology company with three primary businesses: Comcast Cable, NBCUniversal, and Sky. Comcast Cable is one of the United States’ largest video, high-speed internet, and phone providers to residential customers under the Xfinity brand, and also provides these services to businesses. It also provides wireless and security and automation services to residential customers under the Xfinity brand. NBCUniversal is global and operates news, entertainment and sports cable networks, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, television production operations, television station groups, Universal Pictures, and Universal Parks and Resorts. Sky is one of Europe’s leading media and entertainment companies, connecting customers to a broad range of video content through its pay television services. It also provides communications services, including residential high-speed internet, phone, and wireless services. Sky operates the Sky News broadcast network and sports and entertainment networks, produces original content and has exclusive content rights.
With more than 6,000 local employees, Comcast’s Greater Chicago Region (
https://chicago.comcast.com
) serves customers in central and northern Illinois, including the Chicago area, northwest Indiana and southwest Michigan.
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
