WASHINGTON – Continuing his work to help make sure law students who take out taxpayer-backed student loans are in a position to pay back the loans, Sen. Chuck Grassley is continuing to ask the American Bar Association (ABA) about the quality of its accreditation of the nation's law schools.

"The organization's inadequate response to my letter raised additional questions that merit drilling down further," Grassley said.  "For example, the taxpayers are on the hook for any defaulted student loans.  The American Bar Association seems confident that students will be able to pay back their loans, yet also acknowledges uncertain job prospects for lawyers.  It's important to examine this further and try to reconcile these statements."  

Grassley wrote to the ABA on July 11, citing a news report that the organization was out of compliance with 17 regulations that the federal Department of Education requires accreditation agencies to meet.  An advisory committee found issues of noncompliance including failing to consider student-loan default rates in assessing programs; having no set policy for handling student complaints; and not having a standard for job placement by its member institutions.  The ABA responded on July 20.  Finding the response inadequate, Grassley sent a second letter this week.

The federal government estimates that it will make 24.3 million loans totaling $116.4 billion to students and their parents for higher education, including graduate studies, this year alone.  The outlook for legal careers is uncertain, raising concerns about whether law school loan default rates will increase.

"Law school accreditation is like a Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval," Grassley said.  "The accreditation implies that the accrediting agency did its homework on behalf of the students who will indebt themselves to attend and on behalf of the taxpayers who made their loans possible.  As Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and as an advocate for taxpayers, I'm asking the American Bar Association to account for its work."

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CHICAGO – August 8, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today took action on the following bills:  

Bill No.: SB 98  
An Act Concerning: Elections  
Defines “federally-operated” veterans’ homes and requires that they be voting locations.  
Action: Signed  
Effective Date: Jan. 1     

 Bill No.: SB 1263  
An Act Concerning: State Government  
Amends the Deposit of State Moneys Act to allow the Treasurer more flexibility in managing the state’s investment portfolio.  
Action: Signed  
Effective Date: Immediately     

Bill No.: SB 1856  
An Act Concerning: Transportation  
Amends the Illinois Highway Code to require the Illinois Department of Transportation to conduct public hearings to discuss the viability and feasibility of each protected corridor every 10 years.  
Action: Signed  
Effective Date: Immediately     

Bill No.: HB 1427  
An Act Concerning: Employment  
Increases the population required to be in a municipality for firefighters to be exempt under certain provisions of the Workers' Compensation Act from 200,000 to 500,000.  
Action: Signed                            
Effective Date: Immediately     

Bill No.: HB 1527  
An Act Concerning:  State Government  
Provides that the Department of Revenue may enter into a reciprocal offset agreement with the federal government.  
Action: Signed                    
Effective Date: Jan. 1  

Bill No.: HB 1560  
An Act Concerning: Civil Law  
Provides that unclaimed wages, payroll and salary in any form, held or owing by a banking or financial organization, is presumed abandoned after one year, instead of five years.  
Action: Signed                            
Effective Date: Immediately     

Bill No.: HB 2874  
An Act Concerning: Local Government  
Provides that no later than 120 days after the effective date, the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) must develop and make available a universal fare instrument for riders age 65 and older that may be used interchangeably on all RTA-funded public transportation.  
Action: Signed                            
Effective Date: Jan. 1     

Bill No.: HB 3253  
An Act Concerning: Public Employee Benefits  
Prohibits a sheriff's law enforcement employee who begins service in that capacity after the effective date from being able to convert up to 10 years of service in any other capacity into service as a sheriff's law enforcement employee. 
Action: Signed                        
Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: HB 3332
An Act Concerning: Public Employee Benefits
Allows a member of the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund to transfer up to 10 years of service credit they have earned in a police pension fund to the IMRF within 60 days.
Action: Signed                               
Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: HB  3377 
An Act Concerning: Finance
Emphasizes that grants made from the Charitable Trust Stabilization Fund should be directed towards entities with less than $1 million.
Action: Signed                        
Effective Date: Immediately

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New Laws Give State Additional Tools to Grow Green Economy

CHICAGO – August 7, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today announced the signing of two bills into law that advance clean wind energy in Illinois. The new laws create a council to study offshore wind energy projects in Lake Michigan and clear the way for more wind energy projects throughout Illinois.

“These bills give the state additional tools to further enhance Illinois’ growing renewable energy industry,” Governor Quinn said. “A thriving green energy sector will further strengthen Illinois’ economy, create jobs and boost our economic recovery.”

House Bill 1558, sponsored by Rep. Robyn Gabel (D-Evanston) and Sen. Jeff Schoenberg (D-Evanston), creates the Lake Michigan Offshore Wind Energy Advisory Council within the Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). The council will review the potential for wind energy projects in the waters of Lake Michigan. It will be chaired by the director of the IDNR and will be made up of representatives from state agencies and organizations that include environmental, tourism, education and energy entities.

"Offshore wind power provides our communities an incredible opportunity for clean and efficient energy, and helps our state achieve its energy independence goals,” Gabel said. “With this unique opportunity, however, comes new challenges, and it is important that we undertake this process to set the right guidelines from the start. I would like to thank Governor Quinn for signing this into law."

After examining wildlife impact, protected habitats and recreational uses of Lake Michigan, the council will identify locations that would be appropriate for offshore wind development. The council will present its recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly by June 30, 2012. The law goes into effect immediately.

Governor Quinn also signed House Bill 1487, sponsored by Rep. Chad Hays (R-Catlin) and Sen. Mike Frerichs (D-Champaign). The new law creates the Renewable Energy Production District Act, which allows county boards to establish renewable energy districts or wind farm districts. Under the new law, such a district would receive approval through a voter referendum.

House Bill 1487 goes in effect immediately.

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New Law Will Give Victims of Sex Trafficking a Chance to Appeal Prostitution Convictions

CHICAGO – August 6, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today announced a new law that will help victims of sex trafficking who have been charged with prostitution by giving them the opportunity to clear their names. The new law gives victims of sex trafficking a chance to remove their convictions through a court of law.

“Sex trafficking is a truly reprehensible crime that preys on the most vulnerable. Victims deserve a chance to clear their records and rebuild their lives,” Governor Quinn said.

Illinois has taken major steps to address human trafficking by passing the 2006 anti-trafficking law and 2010 Safe Children Act, which helps support victims who were forced into the sex trade and have criminal records as a direct result of being trafficked.

Sponsored by Sen. Toi Hutchinson (D-Chicago Heights) and Rep. Karen Yarbrough (D-Maywood), Senate Bill 1036 allows defendants who are victims of human trafficking at the time of their prostitution convictions to file a motion to vacate the conviction if the defendant’s participation in the offense was the result of being a victim.

Prostitution convictions limit victims’ abilities to access housing, employment education, immigration status and parental rights. The bill also creates a new filing timeline for victims of sex trafficking because they often endure years of abuse at the hands of traffickers and customers before they are able to seek help.

“The most important thing about Senate Bill 1037 is that it makes sure that the judicial system has a mechanism to ensure that a person who has been the victim of a crime is not automatically considered a criminal,” Sen. Hutchinson said. “It is good public policy to protect women and children who have been taken advantage of in this most heinous way. They can take the necessary steps to rebuild their lives and become functional members of society after suffering trauma of that magnitude.”

“Victims of human trafficking are often forced into prostitution and other crimes against their own will, and too many of them are being prosecuted as criminals,” Rep. Yarbrough said. “When we have evidence that involuntary human trafficking was the cause of the crime, even though the victim may not have had the ability or representation to prove it during trial, we must do the right thing and reverse their conviction so they can move on with repairing their lives.”

The bill takes effect Jan. 1 and was supported by a variety of institutions, leaders and anti-crime organizations including the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless; Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault; Sargent Shriver Center on Poverty Law; Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation (CAASE); Lutheran Social Services of Illinois; Rape Victim Advocates; Girls Education and Mentoring Services (GEMS); Cook Co. Sheriff Tom Dart and DePaul University College of Law.

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