Entry Deadline is July 15 for the Awards that Honor Volunteer Efforts to Improve Illinois Communities

SPRINGFIELD - Governor Pat Quinn today marked National Volunteer Week by encouraging communities to submit entries for the 31st Annual Governor's Hometown Awards, a program that recognizes volunteer efforts to improve Illinois communities. The awards are part of Governor Quinn's commitment to honor volunteer service and community improvement across the state. The application deadline is July 15, and communities of any size may submit nominations.

"Local volunteers and organizations are improving communities across Illinois and enhancing the quality of life for everyday people," Governor Quinn said. "The Hometown Awards recognize people who are helping us build a better Illinois for current and future generations."

Applications for Hometown Awards may be submitted by local governments, schools, youth groups, community organizations, chambers of commerce, community action agencies, job training organizations, or other local entities. Awards are given based on population in six project categories: Services and mentorship, beautification and sustainability, parks and recreation, memorials and monuments, history and historic preservation, and general projects.

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) oversees the award program.  Details and application forms are available at www.ildceo.net/HometownAwards. All Governor's Hometown Awards winners will be recognized at a reception at the Governor's Mansion this fall.

"Previous award winners have included an urban farm and apiary on a hospital parking lot rooftop, a memorial honoring women in military service, completion of a public skate park using private funds, and a reading mentorship program, just to name a few," DCEO Acting Director Adam Pollet said. "We encourage communities to submit Hometown Awards applications to help us recognize the people who are making Illinois a better place to live and work."

A team of impartial volunteer judges will evaluate the applications. The judges will select the category winners and also nominate one project from each population division to receive the coveted Governor's Cup, a traveling silver trophy which signifies the project deemed most representative of the spirit of Illinois volunteerism. The 2012 Governor's Cup recipient was East St. Louis for transforming an abandoned and overgrown parking lot into a community teaching garden that provides fresh produce to low-income citizens.

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(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry Branstad today signed the following bills into law:

House File 112: an Act relating to the forfeiture of bail in a criminal case.

House File 197: an Act relating to certification of adult day services programs and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.

House File 210: an Act relating to the practices and procedures of the State Public Defender.

House File 212: an Act relating to conducting condemnation proceedings.

House File 223: an Act concerning issuance of a license or users permit for specified activities regarding explosives.

House File 311: an Act relating to water quality.

House File 312: an Act providing for certification requirements by persons involved in the management of manure, and including provisions for contingent implementation.

House File 361: an Act providing for the issuance of special hunting licenses to certain nonresident disabled veterans and disabled members of the armed forces serving on active federal service.

House File 394: an Act establishing a lifetime fur harvester license for residents who are sixty-five years of age or older.

House File 395: an Act relating to the alteration of the community of a motor vehicle franchisee.

House File 457: an Act providing for the leasing of agricultural land by the Department of Natural Resources to beginning farmers.

House File 472: an Act relating to school district funding by establishing a supplementary weighting program for shared operational functions of school districts and area education agencies.

House File 484: an Act relating to boiler inspections and including effective date provisions.

House File 522: an Act relating to the prevention and control of aquatic invasive species in the state and providing penalties.

House File 530: an Act relating to the Governor's Office of Drug Control Policy and certain advisory councils.

House File 541: an Act relating to dam reconstruction standards.

NOTE: View the transmittal letter sent by Gov. Branstad regarding HF541, an acting allowing assistance with reconstruction of the dam at Lake Delhi.

House File 575: an Act relating to the technical administration of state financial and regulatory matters, including administration of income taxes, sales and use taxes, currency exchange licenses, and the wireless surcharge for enhanced 911 emergency telephone systems, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.

Senate File 114: an Act relating to the filing of a certificate of deposit by the owner of a motor vehicle as proof of financial responsibility.

Senate File 142: an Act providing that certain activities relating to business opportunity promotions are unlawful practices punishable as consumer fraud and making a penalty applicable.

Senate File 182: an Act relating to credit for reinsurance, including transition, applicability, and effective date provisions.

Senate File 189: an Act relating to a risk management framework for insurers and insurance groups and including penalty and applicability provisions.

Senate File 282: an Act relating to procedural requirements in in rem forfeiture proceedings.

Senate File 288: an Act relating to the placement of a juvenile on youthful offender status and the prosecution of a juvenile in juvenile or district court, and access to child abuse records by a juvenile court intake officer.

Senate File 298: an Act relating to the definition of the term "sex act" in the criminal code, lascivious acts with a child, and providing penalties.

Senate File 316: an Act relating to farm tenancies of less than forty acres by providing procedures for termination.

Senate File 318: an Act relating to the administration of the judicial branch including provisions pertaining to shorthand reporters and the practice of law, and making appropriations.

Senate File 332: an Act related to the administration of the National Guard Educational Assistance Program.

Senate File 340: an Act relating to the length of on-duty periods and required rest periods for drivers of rail crew transport vehicles, and providing penalties.

Senate File 343: an Act authorizing tribal governments to establish a force of reserve peace officers.

Senate File 355: an Act relating to the regulation of vehicles of excessive size and weight, establishing fees, and providing penalties.

Senate File 362: an Act relating to the use of the term relative in child in need of assistance and termination of parental rights proceedings.

Senate File 380: an Act authorizing charitable auctions for alcoholic spirits.

Senate File 384: an Act relating to removing or attempting to remove a communication or control device from the possession of a peace officer or correctional officer, interference with official acts, and providing penalties.

Senate File 388: an Act relating to sponsor projects under the water resource restoration sponsor program.

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New Law Increases Senior Homestead Exemption, General Homestead Exemption

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today signed legislation that will reduce property tax bills for seniors across Illinois. Senate Bill 1894 raises the senior homestead exemption from $4,000 to $5,000 - potentially saving seniors up to more than $200 annually. This new exemption for seniors takes effect for Cook County this year.

"The new law will reduce property tax bills for seniors across Illinois," Governor Quinn said. "This boost in savings will relieve some of the financial burden faced by seniors and working families, and help ensure no one struggles to stay in their home."

Sponsored by Senator Toi Hutchinson (D-Olympia Fields) and Representative John Bradley (D-Marion), SB 1894 increases the Senior Homestead Exemption - property tax breaks for Illinois residents age 65 and older - from $4,000 to $5,000. Seniors in the city of Chicago will have the increase applied to their taxable year 2012 taxes, due in 2013. All other counties will benefit from the increase beginning next year.

In addition, this bill raises the general homestead exemption for Cook County starting next year. Originally phased-in over three years, Cook County's Alternative General Homestead Exemption was designed to limit yearly increases and assessments on residential property. Cook County currently has a seven percent exemption cap, while the rest of the state maintains a flat exemption rate of $6,000. The new law moves Cook County to a flat exemption rate of $7,000 beginning taxable year 2012.

City of Chicago homeowners will be the first to benefit from the increased exemption as the seven percent cap expires in the city this year. Chicago's maximum reduction under the cap would have decreased from $8,000 to $6,000, but SB 1894 bumps up the maximum to $7,000. Northern Cook County will begin benefitting from the increase in 2014 when the cap expires in that region, and Southern Cook County will begin benefitting in 2015.

"Property owners throughout Cook County have seen their taxes increase year after year," Sen. Hutchinson said. "This will go a long way for many families who continue to struggle to make ends meet."

"This is good public policy that will help take some of the sting away as the 7 percent provision expires," Assessor Berrios said. "Due to the quick action of the state legislature and the governor, the additional exemption savings will be seen on second-installment bills Cook County homeowners will receive this summer."

The law is effective immediately.

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Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Committee of the Whole - 8:00 am
Board Room, 1st Floor, Administrative Center

1. Roll Call: Earnhardt, Hancock, Minard, Sunderbruch, Cusack

Presentation

2. Discussion with the following Authorized Agencies (Room 638)
8:30 Scott County Kids, Early Childhood - Diane Martens
9:00 Scott County Kids, Decategorization- Molli NIckerson
9:30 Generations- Christa Merritt
10:00 Iowa at Work- Paula Arends
10:30 Riverbend Transit- Randy Zobrist

Human Resources

3. Approval of personnel actions. (Item 3)

Health & Community Services

4. Approval of application for substance abuse funding for FY14. (Item 4)

Finance & Intergovernmental

5. Approval of application for FY14 ODCP Grant. (Item 5)

6. Approval of Proclamation of Scott County Corrections Appreciation Week- April
29-May 3, 2013. (Item 6)

7. Other items of interest.

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Special Committee of the Whole - 7:00 pm
Scott County Library

1. Roll Call: Earnhardt, Hancock, Minard, Sunderbruch, Cusack

2. Discussion with Scott County Library Board.

3. Other items of interest.

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Regular Board Meeting - 5:30 pm
Board Room, 1st Floor, Administrative Center