Clark Kaericher l Vice President, Government Affairs l 217-522-5512 x 296
|
|
|
|
The Infrastructure Council is an initiative of the
Illinois Chamber that brings together Chamber members with a focus on increasing
infrastructure investments in a strategic and thoughtful way to boost the overall business climate in Illinois. Our focus is on the public and private systems that are essential to Illinois businesses.
|
|
It’s State Fair Week here in beautiful Springfield. With politicians in town, fundraisers to attend and the Cubs playing terrible baseball, things feel mostly normal. Have you had your fill of funnel cakes and corn dogs yet?
Interested in the Latest on Electric Vehicles?
The Chamber is partnering with the Consulate of the Netherlands in Chicago to have a discussion about opportunities for companies in Illinois’ electric vehicle industry. Joining me will be Chamber President Todd Maisch, Intersect Illinois, Tony Reinhart from Ford Motor Company and executives from EVBox and Elaad. The event takes place on September 7th at 9 am CST. You can register here.
Bills Recently Signed Into Law
HB 399, High Speed Rail Commission was signed into law. This bill creates the High-Speed Railway Commission Act. Prescribes the membership of the Commission. Provides that the Commission shall create a statewide plan for a high-speed rail line and feeder network connecting St. Louis, Missouri and Chicago, Illinois that includes current existing Amtrak and Metra services, connects the cities of Rockford, Moline, Peoria, and Decatur, and uses inter-city bus service to coordinate with the rail line. Provides that the Commission shall conduct a ridership study and shall make findings and recommendations concerning a governance structure, the frequency of service, and implementation of the plan. Provides that the Commission shall report to the General Assembly and the Governor no later than December 31 of each year.
HB 414, Water & Sewer Assistance was signed into law. This bill creates the Water and Sewer Financial Assistance Act. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is authorized to institute the water and sewer assistance program. Provides that each water or sewer provider shall assess each of its customer accounts a monthly Water and Sewer Assistance Charge to be deposited into the Water and Sewer Low-Income Assistance Fund. Creates the Water and Sewer Low-Income Assistance Fund. Provides that specified water or sewer utilities shall be allowed to offer a financial assistance program designed for bill payment assistance for low-income customers in accordance with the Water and Sewer Financial Assistance Act. Provides that the costs of a financial assistance program offered by a water or sewer utility shall be reimbursed from the Water and Sewer Low-Income Assistance Fund. The Chamber supports this bill.
SB 692, Coal Tar Sealant Disclosure was signed into law. This bill provides that on or before May 1, 2023 (rather than January 1, 2022): (1) the Department of Public Health and the State Board of Education shall post on their websites guidance on screening for coal tar-based sealant product or high polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon sealant product, requirements for a request for proposals, and requirements for disclosure; and (2) the Department shall adopt rules for the procedures and standards to be used in assessing acceptable levels of high polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon content of a pavement seal applied to any State agency property. Provides that provisions regarding coal tar-based sealant disclosure for State property do not apply to pavement engineering projects requiring the use of a coal tar-based sealant or high polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon sealant product for pavement engineering-related use on a highway structure conducted by or under the authority of the Department of Transportation.
SB 1089, Construction Debris was signed into law. This bill provides that an owner or operator of a general construction or demolition debris recovery facility shall ensure that no less than 40% of the total general construction or demolition debris is received at the facility (rather than shall, at a minimum, recycle 40% of the total general construction or demolition debris) on a rolling 12-month average basis. Provides an exemption from causing or allowing the deposit of any general construction or demolition debris that is received at a general construction or demolition debris recovery facility if the clean construction or demolition debris is used as fill or road construction material at the clean construction or demolition debris fill operation if the clean construction or demolition debris is separated and managed separately from other general construction or demolition debris and otherwise meets the requirements applicable to clean construction or demolition debris at a clean construction or demolition debris fill operation(rather than if the general construction or demolition debris (i) meets the definition of clean construction or demolition debris in specified provisions and (ii) has been returned to the economic mainstream in the form of a raw material or product). Provides that an exemption from a subtitle D management fee shall not apply to general construction or demolition debris recovery facilities.
SB 1232, Aeronautics was signed into law. This bill provides that the Division of Aeronautics of the Department of Transportation shall not render financial assistance in connection with the planning, construction, reconstruction, extension, development, or improvement of hangars or other airport buildings, or in connection with the subsequent operation or maintenance of such air navigation facilities unless such facilities are publicly used, publicly owned, and of public benefit. Provides that "of public benefit" includes aircraft hangars, fixed-based operator buildings, and aircraft maintenance buildings at nonprimary airports included within the State Airport Plan. Includes construction costs as costs eligible for financial assistance by the Division of Aeronautics of the Department of Transportation. Provides that the prohibition on a municipality or political subdivision from directly accepting, receiving, or disbursing any funds granted by the United States under the Airport and Airway Improvement Act of 1982 shall not prohibit any municipality or any political subdivision owning a primary commercial service airport serving at least 10,000 annual enplanements from accepting, receiving, or disbursing funds directly from the federal government. Provides that any federal money awarded to airports in the State under specified federal laws that includes project applications approved by the Department where the Department is designated the as agent to accept, receive, and disburse such funds shall also include a State match to the local share of the application for all costs eligible.
SB 1767, Prevailing Wage Public Search was signed into law. This bill provides that beginning January 1, 2022, the Department of Labor shall make accessible to the public on its website by the 16th day of each month following the month the work was performed the following information from certified payrolls submitted under this Act: each worker's classification or classifications, skill level, such as apprentice or journeyman, gross wages paid in each pay period, number of hours worked each day, starting and ending times of work each day, hourly wage rate, hourly overtime wage rate, and hourly fringe benefit rate. Provides that the database shall be searchable by contractor name, project name, county in which the work is performed, and contracting public body.
GoRail Group Letter
This week I signed onto a GoRail letter to Transportation Secretary Buttigieg to ensure that as federal policy makers implement a transportation bill that they keep in mind the importance of a healthy freight rail system. Freight demand is expected to rise 40% by 2045. The Chamber was pleased the letter was cosigned by eight members of the Illinois General Assembly, including Speaker Welch.
You can read the letter here.
Illinois Rail Needs Assessment
While we are on the subject of rail, our friends at WSP have requested our help in completing their rail needs survey. Feedback received through the ILRNA study will support the future Illinois State Rail Plan addressing the needs of the state’s freight, intercity passenger, and commuter rail systems.
As an important rail-related stakeholder, we would like your input on areas of concern, needs, and potential projects for Illinois’ rail system. To ensure your responses are documented, please fill out the MetroQuest survey at MetroQuestSurvey.com/9o75. The interactive survey can be taken at your convenience and will only take a few minutes to complete.
Construction Job Tax Credit Rules Proposed
The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity proposed 4 new rulemakings:
DCEO proposed amendments to the Enterprise Zone and High Impact Business Program rules to implement provisions of the Blue Collar Jobs Act authorized by P.A. 101-0009, Article 20 (20 ILCS 655/5.5). The proposed rules provide the Department with the ability to administer construction job tax credits under the Enterprise Zone and High Impact Business Programs, as provided for by the Act.
DCEO proposed amendments to the River Edge Redevelopment Zone Program to implement provisions of the Blue Collar Jobs Act authorized by P.A. 101-0009, Article 65 (65 ILCS 115). The proposed rules provide the Department with the ability to administer construction jobs tax credits under the River Edge Redevelopment Program, as provided for by the Act.
DCEO proposed amendments to the EDGE program rules to implement provisions of the Blue Collar Jobs Act authorized by P.A. 101-9, Article 35 (35 ILCS 10). The proposed rules provide the Department with the ability to administer construction jobs tax credits utilizing the New Construction EDGE agreement, as provided for by the Act.
Illinois Chamber COVID-19 Reopening Survey
The Illinois Chamber has compiled a series of questions for members of the Illinois business community. This questionnaire is a consideration of your current COVID-19 policies in the workplace. Please take a moment to share your thoughts. All answers will help shape pro-business policy in Springfield.
Save the Date: Illinois Chamber to Host Annual Meeting
On Thursday, September 30th the Illinois Chamber will host its Annual Meeting at the Palmer House in Chicago. The event will take place between 11am-1:30 pm and feature keynote speaker Holly Sullivan, Vice President of Worldwide Economic Development for Amazon. The theme for this year's event is Global Growth Opportunities. Register today!
Articles of Interest
Until next time,
Clark
|
|
Not a member and want to learn more about the Illinois Chamber - click here to contact Lanae Clarke
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
