February 1, 2019
ISACo News and Views
This Illinois State Association of Counties (ISACo) weekly News and Views newsletter highlights introduced legislation, includes ISACo's Legislative Policy Statements for 2019, reports on a Senate committee hearing concerning a minimum wage increase, lists key dates on the legislative calendar, reminds county officials to register for NACo's March Legislative Conference and invites counties to join ISACo. Please visit our website (www.isacoil.org) for additional resources and information.
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 221 (Representative Reick, R-Woodstock)
H B 221 ( available via this link ) would amend the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 to provide that notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a county with a population of less than 3,000,000 does not have to comply with the changes made by Public Act 100-1 (the Bail Reform Act of 2017) if the county board adopts a resolution for that purpose on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act.

House Bill 884 (Representative Marron, R-Danville)
HB 884 (available via this link) would provide that the Illinois Finance Authority may administer a local infrastructure revolving loan program. The program shall provide zero-interest and low-interest loans to units of local government to be used for specified infrastructure projects. The bill also creates the Local Infrastructure Revolving Loan Fund and provides for the use of the Fund. Provides for a continuing appropriation of moneys from the Fund to the Authority for payment to units of local government for specified purposes.

Senate Bill 40 (Senator Anderson, R-Moline)
SB 40 (available via this link) would amend the Counties Code, Fire Department Promotion Act and the Illinois Municipal Code. The bill proposes to remove restrictions on the availability to receive a veteran's preference promotion if the person has already received a promotion based on veteran's preference. 

Senate Bill 67 (Senator Morrison, D-Deerfield)
SB 67 (available via this link) would a mend the Election Code to provide that a school building may not be used as a polling place if such a use is impossible or inconvenient as determined by a vote of the school board controlling the school building (rather than requiring a school district to make a school available as a polling place if the county board or board of election commissioners chooses a school to be a polling place). Amends the School Code. Provides that every school board may (rather than shall) offer to the appropriate officer or board having responsibility for providing polling places for elections the use of any and all buildings under its jurisdiction for any and all elections to be held, if so requested by such appropriate officer or board.

Senate Bill 90 (Senator McConchie, R-Hawthorne Woods)
SB 90 (available via this link) would amend the Illinois Drainage Code to provide that if one or more municipalities account for at least 50% of a drainage district's territory, the drainage district may be dissolved if each municipality that has territory within the drainage district and the county in which the drainage district lies adopt a resolution or ordinance dissolving the district. The bill provides for transfer of powers and real property of the former drainage district to the municipalities and county. If the former district had levied a tax that is still effective on the date of dissolution, then the county in which the drainage district lies has the authority to continue to collect, receive and expend the proceeds of the tax within the boundaries of the former drainage district and the proceeds shall be expended or disposed of by the county in the same manner as the proceeds may have been expended or disposed by the former drainage district. Provides that the county board shall, by ordinance or resolution, reduce or eliminate the tax levy under specified conditions. Provides that the county shall notify the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency of the dissolution of the district no later than 60 days after the date of dissolution of the district.
ISACo Legislative Policy Statements

The ISACo Board of Directors approved a series of legislative policy statements intended to guide the positions taken by the Association in 2019 on legislation pertinent to counties.

The document (available here) includes ISACo's core policy tenets and the Association's positions on issues concerning county authority, revenue and taxation, labor and personnel benefits and public records and notifications.

It is anticipated that the policy statement document will evolve over time as new issues are included based upon feedback from counties and the endorsement of various positions by the ISACo Board of Directors.
Senate Committee Holds Hearing to Discuss Minimum Wage Increase

On Wednesday, January 30, 2019, the Senate Labor Committee held a subject matter hearing on legislation to increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour. The Committee heard testimony from multiple panels of witnesses comprised of supporters and opponents of a minimum wage increase. The hearing was for informational purposes and no vote was taken.

State Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford (D-Maywood) introduced Senate Bill 1 (available via this link) with the intention of amending the bill at a later date with language increasing the minimum wage. The bill does not presently include substantive language. Bills of this nature are commonly referred to as "shell bills."

Following his election, Governor J.B. Pritzker announced his desire to sign a minimum wage increase into law within his first six months in office. This is an ambitious timetable and it is possible the Senate may vote on a minimum wage proposal as early as the week of February 4-8. However, discussions about a minimum wage increase are likely to be ongoing throughout the spring session as proponents seek to build support in both chambers.
Looking Ahead...

The House and Senate are scheduled to be in session next week from February 5-7.

The deadline to have legislation drafted for initial introduction is today (February 1).

The deadline to introduce House and Senate bills is February 15.

The Governor's Budget Address is February 20.

The deadline to move Senate bills out of Senate committees is March 22. The deadline to move House bills out of House committees is March 29.

The deadline to move House bills out of the House and Senate bills out of the Senate is April 12.

The deadline to move House bills out of Senate committees and Senate bills out of House committees is May 10.

The deadline to move House bills out of the Senate and Senate bills out of the House is May 24.

Both chambers are scheduled to adjourn on May 31.
Register Now for NACo's March Legislative Conference
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's presence at the conference will include the hosting of a breakfast for Illinois attendees. Details will be forthcoming. 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.