This Illinois State Association of Counties (ISACo) weekly News and Views e-newsletter includes a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) resource from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) concerning the Local CURE Program as well as a draft of the amended emergency rules to be considered by the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR), discusses two measures intended to protect communities and frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, announces a juvenile justice reform plan proposed by the Pritzker Administration, includes information about a new leadership appointment for the Illinois Human Rights Commission, provides information about an upcoming NACo webinar opportunity, spotlights ISACo corporate partner 2im Group and invites counties to join ISACo.
ISACo is pleased to welcome Kankakee County as our newest member!
COUNTIES COUNT!
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Local CURE Program FAQ Resource and Amended Emergency Rules
The Local CURE Program was established within the SFY21 state budget to provide funding for the 97 counties and local governments located within these counties that did not receive direct allocations from the U.S. Treasury Department for use in offsetting costs associated with the COVID-19 emergency response.
As referenced in our August 3, 2020, News and Views e-newsletter, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) hosted a Local CURE Program webinar on July 29, 2020. That webinar has been recorded and is available for viewing via this link.
DCEO has since communicated information about the Local CURE Program derived from questions raised in conjunction with the webinar. This information is available in the form of a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) resource and is available via this link.
JCAR is scheduled to consider the amended emergency rules during its meeting on Tuesday, August 11 at 11:30 a.m. The agenda is available via this link. The most recent discussion draft of the amended emergency rules is available via this link.
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Governor Pritzker Announces Efforts to Protect Illinois Communities and Frontline Workers in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
Building on efforts to protect Illinois' workers and communities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor JB Pritzker announced that the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) will file emergency rules for businesses, schools and child care establishments regarding the use of face coverings and the size of gatherings. The governor also signed SB 471 into law to help protect workers who continue to serve on the frontlines of the fight against COVID-19.
IDPH COVID-19 Emergency Rules
The emergency rules to be filed by Governor Pritzker will provide multiple opportunities for compliance before any penalty is issued, giving local health departments and local law enforcement more leeway to support community public health in a productive manner. While existing, pre-pandemic enforcement laws, like revoking a license, are stringent and severe, these rules are intended to provide flexibility for local communities and a measured process to help keep people safe.
Expanded Workplace Protections
As Illinois' essential workers continue to serve on the frontlines of the fight against COVID-19, Governor Pritzker signed SB 471 (P.A. 101-0651 - linked here) to expand workplace protections.
The new law amends the Public Employee Disability Act (PEDA) to provide that upon the occurrence of circumstances which would hinder the physical recovery from an injury of an eligible employee within the one-year period as required under the Act, the eligible employee shall be entitled to an extension of no longer than 60 days by which he or she shall continue to be paid by the employing public entity on the same basis as he or she was paid before the injury. The employing public entity may require proof of the circumstances hindering an eligible employee's physical recovery before granting the extension.
To directly protect workers in retail, the law adds a penalty for assaulting or battering a retail worker who is conveying public health guidance, such as requiring patrons to wear face-coverings or promoting social distancing.
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Governor Pritzker Announces New Community-Based Approach to Transform Juvenile Justice in Illinois
The Pritzker Administration announced the 21st Century Illinois Transformation Model, a new plan that will transform the state's juvenile justice system over the next four years.
The Model intends to reduce the harm of incarceration by transitioning youth to small, regional residential centers, investing significantly in community wraparound support and intervention services for justice involved youth and increasing financial support for victim services in communities that are disproportionately impacted by violence. More information about the plan is available online via this link.
The Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (IDJJ), in partnership with the Justice, Equity, and Opportunity Initiative (JEO), developed the plan with the goal of achieving meaningful transformation, better youth outcomes and increased community safety.
A press release about this new community-based approach to transform juvenile justice in Illinois is via this link.
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Governor Pritzker Names Tracey B. Fleming Executive Director of the Illinois Human Rights Commission
Governor Pritzker named Tracey B. Fleming as the Executive Director of the Illinois Human Rights Commission (HRC). Fleming joins the HRC following an over 20-year career as a professional advisor and leader with demonstrated, sustained success in civic, government and business sectors. Fleming will assume his new role on August 17, 2020.
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Upcoming NACo Webinar
NACo has announced the following upcoming webinar:
NACo Tech Exchange Presents FirstNet with AT&T - the COVID-19 Experience
(Thursday, August 13, 2020 from 1pm – 2pm CST)
In this webinar, Ryan Burchnell, Director – FirstNet Strategy and Policy will cover how FirstNet – the nationwide wireless broadband communications platform dedicated to America’s public safety community – prepared for the escalating national crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Topics to be covered include applications, technical requirements, network utilization as well as specific use cases of how FirstNet was deployed to hard hit communities and the USS Comfort and USS Mercy.
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Corporate Partner Spotlight
This week's corporate partner spotlight highlights ISACo's partnership with 2im Group.
2im Group, LLC is a multi-disciplined civil engineering and environmental services firm, specializing in water resource management. Their experience includes working with transportation agencies and private sector clients. 2im Group, LLC strives to recognize their clients’ priorities to ensure project success!
The project scopes include: Phase I studies, reports, and investigations; Phase II detailed plans, specifications, and engineer’s cost estimates; and Phase III construction engineering services.
2im Group was established in July 2005 and has a combined personnel experience of over 100 years. Major clients include the Illinois Tollway and Illinois Department of Transportation.
Click on this link to learn more about the benefits and opportunities available through ISACo's Corporate Partner Program.
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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.
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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.
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