ISACo News and Views Newsletter for August 5, 2019

August 5, 2019

ISACo News and Views

This Illinois State Association of Counties (ISACo) weekly News and Views newsletter includes an update on bills enacted into law by the Governor, reports on the new federal budget and debt ceiling law, provides an update about the federal America's Transportation Infrastructure Act (ATIA), reminds county officials about the 2019 White House County Day 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's Bills of Interest to Counties Approved by the General Assembly - 2019 report is available via this link. (Updated)

Please visit our website (www.isacoil.org) for additional resources and information.

Governor Bill Actions

Last week, Governor J.B. Pritzker signed several bills into law. Some of these new laws affect or are of interest to counties. The new laws are listed below.

HB 834 (P.A. 101-0177) - Equal Pay Act

The new law ( available via this link ) amends the Equal Pay Act of 2003 to provide that the exceptions to the equal pay requirement based on sex also apply to the equal pay requirement for African-American employees. Provides that an employer may prohibit a human resources employee, supervisor, or other employee whose job responsibilities require or allow access to other employees' wage or salary information from disclosing that information without prior written consent from the employee whose information is sought or requested. The bill takes affect on September 29.

HB 2233 (P.A. 101-0184) - Special Interrogatories

The new law ( available via this link ) makes the use of special interrogatories optional rather than mandatory in civil court proceedings and changes the effect of inconsistent special interrogatories. Effective immediately and impacting trials commencing on or after January 1, 2020.

HB 2591 ( P.A. 101-0187 ) - Law Enforcement Officer Training

The new law ( available via this link ) extends the time a law enforcement officer has to pass his or her training requirements, amends the criteria to grant police powers to investigators from the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board (ILETSB) and adjusts the eligibility criteria for certification and decertification of law enforcement officers. Effective January 1, 2020.

HB 3501 (P.A. 101-0169) - Property Assessed Clean Energy Act

The new law ( available via this link ) incorporates certain public health (e.g., lead pipe removal financing) and natural disaster (e.g., resiliency improvement financing) protections to the Property Assessed Clean Energy Act. Makes technical changes to the PACE Act to standardize it with comparable Illinois special assessment laws. Effective immediately.

SB 72 (P.A. 101-0188) - Cook County Board President Vacancy

The new law ( available via this link ) provides for an election for the position of President of Cook County Board if more than 28 months remain in the unexpired term. Effective immediately.

SB 728 (P.A. 101-0196) - DUI Prevention Grant Distributions

The new law ( available via this link ) establishes a DUI Prevention and Education Commission to advise and guide the distribution of grants from the Department of Transportation for DUI related programs and purposes. Effective January 1, 2020.

SB 1114 (P.A. 101-0200) - Waste Removal-Imminent Hazzard

The new law ( available via this link ) allows a county to take immediate action in removing garbage and organic materials in an active state of decomposition if either poses an imminent hazard to public health and safety. Effective January 1, 2020.

SB 1496 (P.A. 101-0172) - Construction Zone Driving Violations

The new law ( available via this link ) increases penalties for violations in construction zones of between $100 and $1,000 for a driver who disobeys traffic-control devices within designated highway construction zone or maintenance zone and increases the penalty cap for a person who violates the rules on entering a construction or maintenance zone when workers are present from $10,000 to $25,000. Effective January 1, 2020.

SB 1862 (P.A. 101-0173) - Scott's Law Expansion

The new law ( available via this link ) extends Scott's Law protections to include a stationary authorized vehicle with oscillating lights, first responders, IDOT workers, law enforcement officers and any individual authorized to be on the highway within the scope of their employment or job duties.

It also increases the minimum fine to $250 for a first violation of Scott's Law and to $750 for a second or subsequent violation as well as adds $250 assessment fee for any violation of Scott's Law which will be deposited into a new dedicated fund to produce driver education materials, called the Scott's Law Fund.

Criminal penalties will increase to a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail, if violation results in damage to another vehicle or a Class 4 felony, punishable by up to one to three years in prison, if violation results in an injury or death of another person. Under the new law, an aggravating factor will be added to reckless homicide charges if Scott's Law was violated. Effective January 1, 2020.

SB 1965 (P.A. 101-0176) - Health Care Worker Background Check Act

The new law ( available via this link ) amends the Health Care Worker Background Check Act to create a timelier and efficient health care waiver application process, expand the list of eligible organizations that can initiate a fingerprint-based background check and those than can request waivers to include workforce intermediaries and pro bono legal service organizations and allows people with disqualifying conditions to obtain waivers before receiving a job offer. Effective immediately.

Two-Year Federal Budget and Debt Ceiling Deal Signed into Law

As reported by the National Association of Counties (NACo):

On August 2, 2019, President Trump signed a two-year federal budget and debt ceiling bill into law. The legislation, previously approved by Congress, establishes topline spending figures for Fiscal Years (FY) 2020 and 2021, lifts strict budget caps and suspends the debt ceiling through July 2021. Additional budget work remains, as Congress must still vote to approve 12 annual appropriation bills establishing specific spending levels for federal programs in FY 2020.

Click on this link to learn more about the budget agreement.

U.S. Senate Committee Approves Federal Surface Transportation Legislation

As reported by the National Association of Counties (NACo):

On Tuesday, July 30, the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee unanimously approved surface transportation reauthorization legislation for fiscal years (FY) 2021 through 2025. The full Senate will take up the legislation later this year.

The America’s Transportation Infrastructure Act (ATIA) is a five-year reauthorization that authorizes $287 billion in funding from the Highway Trust Fund for the nation’s surface transportation programs over five years, representing a roughly 27 percent increase over the levels authorized in the previous authorization, the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act of 2015, that is set to expire in September 2020.

Counties own and operate 45 percent of public roads and almost 40 percent of the National Bridge Inventory, making this legislation and the funding it provides critical for local communities.

Click on this link for a summary of the provisions within the ATIA legislation and a comparison to the FAST Act of 2015.

White House County Day

Newly-elected Illinois county officials are invited to attend a White House County Day scheduled for Tuesday, August 20, 2019, in Washington, DC. The event will offer opportunities to interact with, and receive briefings from, White House officials on federal issues important to counties.

ISACo staff will be participating in the event and available to assist Illinois attendees. If you are interesting in attending the event and desire additional information, please contact Executive Director Joe McCoy at jmccoy@isacoil.org or at 217/679-3368.

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.