New Law Will Benefit Minority-Owned, Female Businesses; Ensure Fairness in Minority and Female Employment on Public Works Projects

CHICAGO - July 27, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today signed legislation to help ensure a fair state contract bidding process for minority- and women-owned businesses, and to advance minority and female employment in Illinois' workforce.

"This important new law will help ensure fairness, transparency and equal opportunities for minority- and women-owned businesses in Illinois," Governor Quinn said. "Today's action underscores my commitment to maintaining a diverse, skilled and effective labor force."

House Bill 2987 creates the Project Labor Agreement (PLA) Act, which requires state agencies under the Governor to consider the use of PLAs on public works construction projects. A PLA establishes the terms and conditions of employment for a construction project, ensuring a level bidding field for minority- and women-owned businesses and helping increase minority and female employment on public job sites. The new law codifies an Executive Order issued by the Governor in 2010.

The law requires the state department, agency, authority or board responsible for awarding the project to negotiate the PLA with labor organizations engaged in the construction industry. If the parties cannot agree to the terms of the project labor agreement, the Governor appoints a designee to assist the parties in reaching an agreement.  

Sponsored by Rep. Patrick J. Verschoore (D-Rock Island) and Sen. Toi Hutchinson (D-Chicago Heights), the law includes provisions for binding procedures for resolving jurisdictional labor disputes and grievances; guarantees against strikes; ensuring a reliable source of skilled and experienced labor; setting goals for apprenticeship hours for minorities and females as well as total number of hours to be performed  by underrepresented minorities and females; and binding all contractors and subcontractors on the public works project through the inclusion of appropriate bid specifications.

The law also requires that an entity with a PLA in connection with a public works project to file a quarterly report with the Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) that includes workforce participation by minorities and females. The IDOL will submit an annual report to the General Assembly and the Governor that details the number of minorities and females employees under all public labor agreements within the state. The new law takes effect immediately.

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New Laws Will Boost Emerging Technologies and Create Illinois Jobs in Technology-Based Fields

CHICAGO - July 25, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today signed legislation to support the development of the technology industry in Illinois and create jobs. Senate Bill 107 strengthens Illinois' position to attract technology-based businesses by boosting the state's investment in them. The new law was one of the Governor's priorities during the spring legislative session, and it represents a major component of his aggressive agenda to support emerging technologies in Illinois, creating the jobs of today and tomorrow.

"Creating jobs throughout Illinois is one of my top priorities, and targeted investments in the technology industry will create jobs today while strengthening our role in the global economy of tomorrow," Governor Quinn said. "This important new law allows us to invest in the companies that invest in Illinois, creating high-paying jobs for our skilled workforce." 

Senate Bill 107, sponsored by Sen. Dan Kotowski (D-Park Ridge) and Rep. Daniel Biss (D-Evanston), allows the state to build upon the success of its Technology Development Account (TDA I). The TDA I allowed the state to invest up to 1 percent of its investment portfolio in venture capital firms that invest in technology-based businesses - those providing computer, IT, laboratory or experimental services and products - that are interested in locating or expanding in Illinois.

The new law allows the state to invest up to 2 percent of its portfolio in venture capital firms. This allows to state to invest an estimated $150 million into venture capital funds, generating an estimated $300 million of venture capital investment into Illinois companies. Companies may use the funding for activities such as research and development, marketing new products and workforce expansion.

"The highest priority in Illinois is putting people back to work," Sen. Kotowski said. "Senate Bill 107 will help create a healthy business climate that ensures economic vitality and spurs job growth. Encouraging the development of innovative Illinois?based businesses will truly benefit our state. I have been pushing for this legislation for the last three years because I believe these businesses can lead to a stronger Illinois economy."

"I am proud to be the Chief House Sponsor of Senate Bill 107," Rep. Biss said. "It is not often that we have the opportunity to pass legislation which simultaneously earns money for the taxpayers and creates good high wage jobs. But this legislation does just that by creating an excellent investment opportunity for the state, while filling a critical venture capital gap that will allow Illinois entrepreneurs to start successful high-tech businesses."

According to the Illinois Venture Capital Association, the state's investments into Illinois venture capital firms under the original TDA I, starting in 2002, allowed those firms to invest $115 million in 37 Illinois companies. That in turn attracted more than $450 million in additional private investment. Companies that received TDA I investments created approximately 1,200 direct jobs and around 2,700 indirect jobs in Illinois.

Governor Quinn today also signed legislation that builds upon his commitment to supporting Illinois' technology-focused entrepreneurs. House Bill 1876, sponsored by House Minority Leader Tom Cross (R-Oswego) and Sen. Linda Holmes (D-Aurora) creates the Higher Education Technology Entrepreneur Center Act. The law enables the board of trustees at the state's public universities and community colleges to start a technology entrepreneur center. The centers must provide students with the resources to allow them to develop innovative concepts into goods or services they can market. The new law builds on a successful program that was established at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

"It is so important to encourage entrepreneurs and innovation in our state," Rep. Cross said. "We have to constantly be working on legislation that will help our residents explore, cultivate and invent ideas that will grow new businesses and jobs in Illinois."

Both new laws go into effect immediately.

Today's bill signing ceremony took place at Chicago TechWeek 2011, a week-long conference and trade show that celebrates the technology, web and interactive communities. The event gathers 2,000 entrepreneurs, business leaders and innovators from across the nation to connect with the latest web and mobile technologies.

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Group Will Develop Strategies to Improve the Health of Illinois Residents

CHICAGO - July 21, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today announced 25 appointments to the State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP) Implementation Coordination Council. Today's action is the latest in a series of appointments the Governor is making as he continues to fulfill his commitment to improving the health of all Illinois residents. The interdisciplinary council is tasked with developing implementation strategies for the state's SHIP. The SHIP council will work collaboratively with the Governor's Health Care Reform Implementation Council to promote statewide improvements in public health.

Effective immediately, Governor Quinn named Joseph Antolin, Patricia Canessa, Jenifer Cartland, Greg Chance, Edwin Chandrasekar, Margaret Gadon, Cathy Grossi, Martin Hatlie, Roger Holloway, Kevin Hutchinson, Ahlam Jbara, Robert Kieckhefer, Tammy Lemke, Janine Lewis, Hong Liu, David McCurdy, Maureen McHugh, James Nelson, Sharon Post, Jose Sanchez, Clarita Santos, Patricia Schou, Terry Solomon, Janna Stansell and Christina R. Welter to the SHIP Implementation Coordination Council.

"This council brings together a diverse group of health care professionals that are leaders in their respective fields," said Governor Quinn. "We want a comprehensive approach to make sure the people of Illinois are healthy, and that means bringing everyone to the table. I look forward to the council's work, and the results they will help us achieve in public health."

The SHIP is a framework to address public health issues through an interdisciplinary approach that utilizes the strengths of the entire public health system. Under law, the state of Illinois must complete a SHIP every four years with the goal of creating a system that ensures optimal physical, mental and social well-being for all people in Illinois through a high-functioning public health system. The most recent SHIP was updated in August 2010 to reflect federal health care reform and other state health policies.

In July 2010, the Governor signed into law legislation creating a Governor-appointed council to implement the SHIP, which was one of the one of the recommendations of the SHIP planning team. The group will provide further definition of priorities and action steps, engage stakeholders to enact SHIP objectives, and promote the plan as a common agenda across the public health system.

The SHIP calls for the state to improve access to comprehensive health-related services, enhance data and information technology in the health care sectors, address the social factors affecting health and health disparities, manage and improve the public health system, and ensure sufficient workforce in the health care and public health fields. The SHIP is prevention-focused and centered on the following priority health concerns: alcohol/tobacco, use of illicit drugs/misuse of legal drugs, mental health, environment, obesity (including nutrition and physical activity), oral health, patient safety and quality, unintentional injury and violence.

In addition to the appointed council members, representatives of 12 state agencies and the chair of the State Board of Health, Dr. Javette Orgain, will participate in the SHIP Implementation Coordination Council.  These agencies all play a critical role in the implementation of the SHIP recommendations and will be working with the council to ensure that the goals of the SHIP are achieved. The council co-chairs will be appointed by the Governor.

Information regarding the new council members is attached.

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New Law Updates Legal Protections for Citizens Helping in Emergencies

CHICAGO - July 18, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today signed legislation to help protect good Samaritans who provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to a person having a heart attack or suffering cardiac arrest. Governor Quinn signed House Bill 1549, which amends the Good Samaritan Act in order to provide liability protection to individuals who are trained in CPR in accordance with either American Red Cross or American Heart Association standards.

More than 300,000 people suffer sudden cardiac arrest in the U.S. every year. According to the American Heart Association, less than 8 percent of people who suffer cardiac arrest outside the hospital survive. CPR provided immediately after sudden cardiac arrest by a trained bystander can double or triple a victim's chance of survival.

"Citizens who have been trained in CPR should not be reluctant to use their training to help another person in an emergency," said Governor Quinn. "CPR saves lives, and we want those who are able, to step up and help their fellow citizens in a crisis without fear of a lawsuit. This law protects good Samaritans and will protect lives." 

Previously, legal protections covered 'certified' rescuers; the updated law amends language so that all 'trained' rescuers are protected from lawsuits. Public confusion about who would be protected from civil liability under the Good Samaritan Act decreased the number of people willing to provide CPR to someone in emergency situations.

Updated training methods from the American Red Cross and American Heart Association focus on hands-only CPR, in which chest compressions are delivered to a victim of sudden cardiac arrest. Hands-only CPR has been shown to be as effective as traditional CPR, and is easier to master and perform than mouth-to-mouth ventilation.

House Bill 1549, sponsored by Rep. Jil Tracy (R-Quincy) and Sen. A.J. Wilhelmi (D-Joilet), was an initiative of the American Red Cross and supported by the American Heart Association. The law takes effect immediately.

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