ISACo News and Views Newsletter for January 25, 2019

January 18, 2019

ISACo News and Views

This Illinois State Association of Counties (ISACo) weekly News and Views newsletter highlights introduced legislation, includes a report about new laws of interest to counties, includes an update on Pritzker Administration state agency director appointments and staff hires, reminds county officials to register for NACo's March Legislative Conference and invites counties to join ISACo.

Legislative Spotlight

ISACo maintains an updated list of legislation of interest to counties. This list is organized by category and available within the legislative section of our website (linked here) .

In addition to this service, ISACo will frequently highlight bills of interest in the "Legislative Spotlight" section of our weekly newsletter. This week's "Legislative Spotlight" highlights the following bills:

House Bill 191 (Representative Ford, D-Chicago)

HB 191 (available via this link) would amend the Officers and Employees Article of the Counties Code to provide that a sheriff shall maintain a walk-through metal detector at each point of entry into a courthouse. A courthouse shall ensure that all members of the public, other than employees of the county or individuals who display proper credentials, who enter the courthouse at a point of entry are subjected to screening by a walk-through metal detector. HB 191 is presently in the House Rules Committee awaiting assignment to a substantive committee. ISACO is opposed to the unfunded mandate within the bill.

House Bill 158 (Representative DeLuca, D-Chicago Heights)

HB 158 (available via this link) would incrementally increase the county and municipal share of state income tax revenue distributed through the Local Government Distributive Fund (LGDF) until the share reaches a full 10% of total income taxes collected by February 1, 2023. HB 158 is presently in the House Rules Committee awaiting assignment to a substantive committee. ISACo supports the restoration of LGDF revenue to a full 10% share of total income taxes collected by the state.

House Bill 307 (Representative McSweeney, R-Barrington Hills)

HB 307 (available via this link) would create the Citizens Empowerment Act to allow electors to petition for a referendum at the next general election to dissolve a unit of local government. The bill provides for the transfer of all real and personal property and any other assets, together with all personnel, contractual obligations and liabilities of the dissolving unit of local government to the receiving unit of local government. HB 307 is presently in the House Rules Committee awaiting assignment to a substantive committee.

Senate Bill 30 (Senator Bush, D-Grayslake)

SB 30 (available via this link) would create the Workplace Transparency Act to provide that employers shall not require an employee or prospective employee to sign a nondisclosure agreement that contains any provision that has the purpose or effect of: limiting the disclosure of sexual misconduct, retaliation, or unlawful discrimination; suppressing information relevant to an investigation into a claim of sexual misconduct, retaliation, or unlawful discrimination; impairing the ability of any person to report a claim of sexual misconduct, retaliation or unlawful discrimination; or waiving a substantive or procedural right or remedy of any person relating to a claim of sexual misconduct, retaliation or unlawful discrimination. SB 30 is presently awaiting a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Senate Bill 62 (Senator Castro, D-Elgin)

SB 62 (available via this link) amends the Recorder Division of the Counties Code to modify how a county recorder determines if a lien is an expired lien under a county's demand and referral program. The bill proposes that a lien is expired if a suit to enforce the lien has not been commenced or a counterclaim has not been filed by the lienholder within two years after the completion date of the contract as specified in the recorded mechanics lien. The two-year period shall be increased under circumstances specified within the bill. SB 62 is presently awaiting a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

New Laws of Interest to Counties

Several new laws were enacted in 2018 about which counties need to be aware now that the calendar has turned to 2019. ISACo has published a report identifying these new laws. The report is available by clicking on this link.

Governor Pritzker Filling Key Administration Posts

Governor J.B. Pritzker has been actively appointing agency directors and staff to his administration. The appointments and hires to date are as follows:

State Agency Directors (Pending Senate Approval)

John Sullivan, director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA)
Janel L. Forde, director of the Illinois Department of Central Management Services (CMS)
Erin Guthrie, director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO)
Alicia Tate-Nadeau, director of the homeland security and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA)
John Kim, director of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA)
Theresa Eagleson, director of the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS)
Jim Bennett, director of the Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR)
Heidi Mueller, director of the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (IDJJ)
Michael Kleinik, director of the Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL)
David Harris, director of the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR)
Alexis Sturm, director of the Governor's Office of Management and Budget (GOMB)
Matt Perez, Illinois Fire Marshal

Governor's Office Staff Hires

Anne Caprara, chief of staff
Sol Flores, deputy governor
Dan Hynes, deputy governor
Christian Mitchell, deputy governor
Jesse Ruiz, deputy governor
Nikki Budzinski, senior adviser
Ann Spillane, general counsel
Emily Bittner, deputy chief of staff for communications
Jordan Abudayyeh, press secretary
Sean Rapelyea, deputy chief of staff for external affairs
Tiffany Newbern-Johnson, deputy chief of staff for legislative affairs

Have you registered to attend the National Association of Counties (NACo) Legislative Conference to be held in Washington, DC from March 2-6?

The conference brings together nearly 2,000 elected and appointed county officials to focus on federal policy issues that impact counties and their residents. Attendees have the opportunity to engage in second-to-none policy and educational sessions, interact with federal officials and participate in congressional briefings and meetings.

ISACo will have a presence at the conference and we hope you will join us in Washington, DC!

Information about the conference, including how to register, is available via this link.

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.