|
New IDNR Director Appointed
On Monday it was announced that former State Representative Natalie Finnie will serve as Director of the Department of Natural Resources.
Finnie has served as Deputy Director of DNR since August of 2021 where she oversaw the Office of Land Management, Legislative Department, Office of Oil & Gas Management, and Office of Mines and Mineral. Prior to this, she was the State Representative of the 118th District from 2017 to 2019.
Legislative Update - New Bill Introductions
HB 1342, Transit was introduced. This bill provides that the powers of the Chicago Transit Board include the power to pass ordinances or adopt rules and regulations concerning the suspension of riding privileges or confiscation of fare media. Amends the Local Mass Transit District Act and the Regional Transportation Authority Act. Provides that a local mass transit district's board and the Suburban Bus Board may adopt all ordinances and make all rules proper or necessary to regulate the use, operation, and maintenance of its property and facilities, and to carry into effect the powers granted to each board with any necessary fines or penalties, including ordinances, rules, or regulations concerning the suspension of riding privileges or confiscation of fare media, as each board deems proper.
HB 1345, Water Utility was introduced. This bill amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that a public utility that provides both water and wastewater services may request, in a general rate case proceeding, that the Illinois Commerce Commission allocate a portion of the public utility's wastewater service revenue requirement for recovery through water service base rates, allocate a portion of the public utility's water service revenue requirement through wastewater base rates, or combine that public utility's water service and wastewater service revenue requirements. Provides that as part of a proceeding, the public utility shall present evidence to establish, and the Commission shall consider, specified factors. Provides that if the Commission finds that an allocation or combination is in the public interest, the Commission shall enter an order approving such allocation or combination of the public utility's water and wastewater service revenue requirements. Provides that the water service revenue requirement or wastewater service revenue requirement may not be increased by more than 2.5% through an allocation from the water service revenue requirement or wastewater service revenue requirement. Provides for notice to customers. Allows the Commission to adopt rules to implement the amendatory provisions. Repeals the amendatory provisions on December 31, 2026.
HB 1355, Bond Authority was introduced. This bill provides that the authority of a public corporation to levy taxes in connection with the payment of bonds or other evidences of indebtedness ceases upon the maturity date of the bond or other evidence of indebtedness or upon the discharge of the debt, whichever comes first. Effective immediately.
HB 1385, Electric Bus Grants was introduced. This bill appropriates $5,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the State Board of Education for grants of $50,000 each to school districts for the purchase of electric school buses. Effective July 1, 2023.
HB 1403, Autonomous Vehicles was introduced. This bill defines "autonomous vehicle" as a motor vehicle that is equipped with hardware and software that are collectively capable of performing the entire dynamic driving task on a sustained basis within the operational design domain, if any, including achieving a minimal risk condition, without any expected intervention or supervision by a conventional human driver, where applicable. Provides that an autonomous vehicle registered in this State shall continue to meet federal standards and regulations for a motor vehicle. Provides that an operator of an autonomous vehicle shall not use the vehicle to engage in the transport of interstate commerce or the transporting of passengers, or the transporting of goods, unless a human safety operator is physically present in the autonomous vehicle such that he or she has the ability to monitor the vehicle's performance and intervene if necessary, including operating or shutting off the vehicle. Provides that a human safety operator must continue to meet all federal and State qualifications for autonomous and nonautonomous vehicles.
HB 1409, Contracting Goals was introduced. This bill amends the Architectural, Engineering, and Land Surveying Qualifications Based Selection Act. Provides that, in the procurement of architectural, engineering, and land surveying services and in the awarding of contracts for such services under the Act, not less than 30% of the total dollar amount of State contracts shall be established as an aspirational goal to be awarded to firms owned by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities. Provides that of that total amount of all State contracts awarded to firms owned by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities, contracts representing at least 16% shall be awarded to firms owned by minorities, contracts representing at least 10% shall be awarded to women-owned firms, and contracts representing at least 4% shall be awarded to firms owned by persons with disabilities.
HB 1465, Bidding was introduced. This bill amends the Illinois Highway Code. In provisions concerning the performance of functions by the highway commissioner of a road district, provides that, except for professional services, when the cost of construction, materials, supplies, new machinery or equipment exceeds $30,000 (instead of $20,000), the contract for such construction, materials, supplies, machinery or equipment shall be let to the lowest responsible bidder if specified conditions are met.
SB 40, EV Charging was introduced. This bill Creates the Electric Vehicle Charging Act. Provides that the Act applies to new single-family homes and newly constructed or renovated multi-unit residential buildings that have parking spaces and are constructed or renovated after the effective date of the Act. Defines terms. Provides that a new single-family residence or a small multifamily residence shall have at least one electric vehicle capable parking space for each residential unit that has dedicated parking, unless any subsequently adopted building code requires additional electric vehicle capable parking spaces or installed electric vehicle supply equipment. Includes electric vehicle parking space requirements for a new, large multifamily residential building or a large multifamily residential building being renovated by a developer converting the property to an association. Includes electric vehicle parking space requirements for affordable housing and for an existing multi-unit residential building subject to an association that undertakes renovation. Includes electric vehicle charging station policies for unit owners and for renters.
SB 46, Waterway Ports Commission was introduced. This bill creates the Illinois Waterway Ports Commission Act. Provides that the Illinois Waterway Ports Commission is created and shall exercise jurisdiction with respect to the duties and powers delegated to it under the Act within the following port districts and counties: the Seneca Regional Port District, the Ottawa Port District, the Illinois Valley Regional Port District, the Heart of Illinois Regional Port District, and the Havana Port District and Fulton, Mason, Tazewell, Peoria, Woodford, Marshall, Putnam, Bureau, LaSalle, and Grundy counties. Provides that the Commission shall (1) coordinate and synchronize common efforts and initiatives in the Commission area to enhance the reporting and benefits of statistical data; (2) make recommendations to the Governor, the General Assembly, Congress, and federal agencies on regional issues that impact multimodal transportation, economic development, environmental sustainability, and climate resiliency of the Commission area; (3) coordinate and synchronize common efforts and initiatives on the larger Illinois Waterway with the Mid-America Port Commission and the Joliet Regional Port District; (4) coordinate and synchronize federal activities associated with the nonfederal sponsorship of the M-55 Illinois-Gulf Marine Highway; and (5) request and assist in requesting funding for the Commission area and the surrounding areas, as the Commission deems necessary.
SB 82, Employee Classification/Trucks was introduced. This bill amends the Employee Classification Act. Changes the definition of "performing services" to include the movement by truck of property, goods, materials, or equipment, including, but not limited to, construction related materials on the job site to or from the job site. Defines "truck" as any motor vehicle designed, used, or maintained primarily for the transportation of property, goods, materials, or equipment in furtherance of a commercial or industrial enterprise.
SB 124, Cairo Port was introduced. This bill states that the sum of $5,000,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois Department of Transportation for a grant to the Alexander-Cairo Port District for all costs associated with non-bondable development expenses of the Cairo Port.
Rulemaking
There was rulemaking of note for this Council in the January 27th edition of the Illinois Register.
The Secretary of State adopted emergency amendments to Issuance of Licenses (92 IAC 1030; 47 Ill Reg 1531) effective 1/ 13/23 for a maximum of 150 days. Identical proposed amendments appear in this week’s Illinois Register at 47 Ill Reg 1295. The emergency and proposed rulemakings waive additional testing for holders of out of State Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDLs) who wish to obtain Illinois CDLs and whose previous CDLs have been expired for less than 12 months. (Previously, only current valid CDL holders were exempt from testing.)
Out of State CDL holders with passenger or school bus endorsements who are seeking the same endorsements in Illinois are exempt from testing only if their CDL has been expired for 30 days or less. Holders of out of State CDLs and their employers are affected.
IDOT announces February dates for Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program workshops
The Illinois Department of Transportation is hosting free virtual workshops in February as part of its continuing Building Blocks of Success series for Disadvantaged Business Enterprise firms interested in strengthening their skills, growing their business and bidding on state projects. New and existing DBEs, as well as firms interested in becoming certified in the program are invited.
February workshop dates and topics are:
- Feb. 2, 10 a.m. to noon: IDOT EPAS System – Consultant Prequalification
- Feb. 7, 10 a.m. to noon: Bidding on the IDOT Website
- Feb. 9, 10 a.m. to noon: Excel Estimating and Bidding Spreadsheet
- Feb. 21, 10 a.m. to noon: Contractor Sub Agreements
- Feb. 23, 10 a.m. to noon: Job Costing & Work-in-Process
- Feb. 28, 10 a.m. to noon: Contracts
Future topics covered will include avoiding pitfalls, daily documentation, contracts, construction materials requirements, getting paid, steps needed to be certified as a DBE firm and more.
Building Blocks of Success will continue through April. Workshop information, including dates and times, is available through Eventbrite at bit.ly/DBEworkshops. Advance registration is required.
Administered by IDOT, the DBE program provides minorities, women and other eligible small businesses opportunities to participate in highway, transit and airport contracts that are federally and state funded.
Questions can be directed to IDOT’s DBE Resource Center at (312) 939-1100.
Illinois EPA Announces Lead Service Line Inventory Grant Recipients
On Thursday, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency announced Lead Service Line Inventory (LSLI) Grants to 48 communities to assist in meeting the requirements outlined in the Lead Service Line Replacement and Notification Act. The LSLI Grants, ranging from $20,000 - $50,000, will fund the creation of a complete lead service line inventory.
The Lead Service Line Replacement and Notification Act (Public Act 102-0613) requires owners and operators of community water supplies (CWS) in Illinois to submit a complete water service line material inventory for the Illinois EPA’s approval no later than April 15, 2024. The complete inventory must report the composition of all service lines within the CWS’s distribution system.
The LSLI Grant Program utilizes a portion of Illinois EPA Public Water Supply Loan Program (PWSLP) loan support funds generated from loan repayments. Illinois EPA conducted a comprehensive review and scoring of all grant applications received to determine priority. Based on the scoring, Illinois EPA will fund 48 projects for a total of $2,000,000.
View the Recipients here.
| 
