Takes aim at sexual assault, stalking, domestic violence

CHICAGO - August 18, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today signed three new laws designed to provide greater protections to Illinois women from sexual assault and domestic violence. Earlier this week, the governor signed a new law to protect women from stalking. Today's action is the latest by Governor Quinn to support crime victims and boost protections of women.

"Violence against women has occurred in small towns, urban neighborhoods and college campuses," Governor Quinn said. "These new laws will help us hold the predators accountable as well as prevent behavior which can lead to sexual assaults."

Governor Quinn signed House Bill 1645, sponsored by Sen. Toi Hutchinson (D-Chicago Heights) and Rep. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago), to create the Sexual Assault Services and Prevention Fund. An initiative of Lt. Governor Sheila Simon and the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault (ICASA), the law is designed to support sexual assault prevention efforts and aid the recovery of victims. According to Illinois State Police Uniform Crime Reports, about 15 rapes occur each day but experts agree that only one-third of all rapes are reported. In 2010, 18,349 survivors of sexual assault or sexual abuse were served by the hotlines of ICASA.

Under the new law, grants would be made to provide community-based assistance to victims of sexual assault and for activities to prevent sexual assault from happening. Administered by the Illinois Department of Human Services, the fund will be supported through the new Live Adult Entertainment Facility Surcharge. Club operators will be required to pay a flat surcharge on their gross receipts or impose a $3 surcharge on each patron upon admission. The law takes effect Jan. 1, 2013.

"I thank Governor Quinn for standing up for rape victims and crisis centers across the state," Lt. Governor Simon said. "This new revenue stream will help offset cuts that threatened critical services. When a sexual assault victim goes to a police station or a survivor calls a hotline, we need trained staff ready to respond. This bill helps to keep lights on and doors open, jobs filled and responders trained."

"This law is a victory for rape victims and the dedicated rape crisis centers who work 24 hours a day, 365 days a year in communities across the state to provide services to survivors of sexual assault." said Polly Poskin, ICASA Executive Director. "They will benefit from this innovative and important funding stream. We applaud Governor Quinn for signing this groundbreaking bill." Poskin noted that Chicago will be hosting the National Sexual Assault Conference from August 22-24.

"Gas taxes go for road-building; gambling fees fund addiction services. This is based on the same principle," said Sen. Hutchinson. "Let's work towards a society that understands that violence against women is totally unacceptable. Finding a way to fund these services is critical."

Governor Quinn also signed House Bill 5689 to create the Eradicate Domestic Violence Task Force, sponsored by Rep. Camille Lilly (D-Chicago) and Sen. Don Harmon (D-Oak Park). An initiative of Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court Dorothy Brown, the law paves the way for development of a statewide voluntary prevention course for high school students based on the Step Back program.

Step Back was developed by Sarah's Inn, a not-for-profit that set up a pilot program at Oak Park and River Forest High School. It consists of a daily, 9 week, 45 minute session course designed to increase awareness of domestic violence, sexual assault, date rape, bullying and suicide.

Under the new law, the Task Force will be comprised of 27 experts and advocates who will and report to the General Assembly by April 1, 2013. The law is effective immediately.

"I am thrilled the governor signed this bill," Clerk Brown said. "Eradicating domestic violence is dear to my heart: I was a victim of domestic violence as a teen. If we can show our youth alternatives to violence and teach them self-esteem, we can help them understand that no one should be a victim." The statewide program will be administered and staffed by Clerk of the Court employees.

"The innovative Step Back initiative is already changing behavior - one student at a time - at my alma mater, Oak Park and River Forest High School," Rep. Lilly said. "These teens are getting lessons to last a lifetime."

"We applaud these actions to make violence prevention a priority," said Regina Botterill, Executive Director of Sarah's Inn, a 30-year old agency that helps battered women in Chicago's Austin neighborhood and 22 suburban towns. "Sarah's Inn and all involved with the Step Back program at Oak Park and River Forest High School are honored to be part of the process."

In addition, Governor Quinn signed House Bill 5264 to allow prosecutors to use prior domestic violence offenses as evidence in first- and second-degree murder cases involving domestic violence. Sponsored by Rep. Art Turner (D-Chicago) and Sen. Pamela Althoff (R-Crystal Lake), the bill passed unanimously in both chambers and was supported by Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez. It is effective immediately.

Earlier this week, Governor Quinn signed House Bill 5922, sponsored by Rep William Cunningham (D-Chicago) and Sen. Dan Kotowski (D-Park Ridge), to expedite the process of serving "no-contact" notices to stalkers. Law enforcement authorities and process servers will now be able to use a shorter form to stop stalkers in their tracks. It also allows law enforcement officials to detain a respondent for a reasonable time to prepare and serve a short form "no-contact" order. Proposed by Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart, the bill - which passed unanimously in both chambers - amends the Illinois Stalking No Contact Order Act and Civil No Contact Order Act.

HB 5922 takes effect Jan. 1, 2013.

SPRINGFIELD - August 17, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today took action on the following bills:

 

Bill No.: HB 587

An Act Concerning: Local Government

Provides that a park district may increase the property tax levy, but does not allow park districts to increase taxes.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 3806

An Act Concerning: Minors

Changes the definition of "chronic truant" in the Juvenile Court Act to mirror the definition in the School Code.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 3859

An Act Concerning: Local Government

Requires counties and municipalities that agree to share or rebate a retailers' occupation tax to file reports with Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR), and requires IDOR to post these reports on its website.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 4078

An Act Concerning: Transportation

Allows the Illinois Toll Highway Authority to construct railroad tracks along the tollway system after receiving the governor's written approval.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 4190

An Act Concerning: State Government

Amends the Illinois False Claims Act to provide that, unless opposed by the state, the court should dismiss false claim actions if the allegations or transaction were publicly disclosed and specified conditions are met.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 4479

An Act Concerning: Regulation

Recognizing new, nationally-recognized certification language regarding pre-engineered installers to the Fire Equipment Distributor and Employee Regulation Act of 2011, and increases licensing fees; allows Office of the State Fire Marshall to impose fines for violations of the act; extends the repeal of the act to Jan. 1, 2023; and eliminates the Fire Equipment Distributor and Employee Advisory Board.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 4563

An Act Concerning: State Government

Permits facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities or developmental disabilities (ID/DD) to reduce the number of beds without approval of the Health Facilities and Services Review Board.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 4606

An Act Concerning: Regulation

Requires daycare facilities to test for radon.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No.: HB 4673

An Act Concerning: Firearms

Allows a local law enforcement officer to retain his/her FOID card, if he/she has been a patient in a mental health institution within the past five years, provided the officer has not been involuntarily admitted or an inpatient for longer than 30 days.

Action: Amendatorily Vetoed

 

Bill No.: HB 4749

An Act Concerning: Local Government

Allows courts to appoint special prosecutors from the Office of the Attorney General, the States' Attorney Appellate Defender or other local states' attorney's offices before appointing a private attorney to act as a special prosecutor in the case of the state's attorney's absence.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No.: HB 4862

An Act Concerning: Transportation

Clarifies that only low speed vehicles manufactured after Jan. 1, 2010 are required to obtain title certificates.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 4863

An Act Concerning: Transportation

Subjects a vehicle to seizure and forfeiture if the offender's license was revoked following certain violations of a local ordinance, the Criminal Code, or laws of another state.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No.: HB 4937

An Act Concerning: Criminal Law

States that a local, municipal or county law enforcement agency entitled to receive a portion of forfeiture proceeds may share proceeds through an intergovernmental agreement with a municipality that has a population in excess of 20,000 if specified conditions are met.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No.: HB 4962

An Act Concerning: Local Government

Requires that if a county board opts to have their members elected by districts, then each district must be substantially equal in population. The law also makes a technical change regarding fees.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 5050

An Act Concerning: Public Health

Allows post-surgical recovery care centers to discharge patients less than 24 hours after treatment, if appropriate, and permits blood products to be administered in such centers.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No.: HB 5062

An Act Concerning: Civil Law

Eliminates requirement that minors who are under the age of 14 and who are or will be represented by a guardian ad litem be personally served with process in adoption cases.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No.: HB 5109

An Act Concerning: Insurance

Changes the makeup of a board of trustees for a dental service plan corporation.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No.: HB 5121

An Act Concerning: Corrections

Prohibits inmates of the Department of Corrections who are serving time for attempting to commit terrorism from receiving more than 4.5 days of good conduct credit for each month of his or her sentence.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No.: HB 5145

An Act Concerning: State Government

Permits up to 2 percent of the Abandoned Mined Lands funding to be spent on non-coal reclamation projects and deletes times limits on the obligation of such expenditures.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 5180

An Act Concerning: Transportation

Requires the Illinois Department of Transportation to develop a policy to inform the public of construction projects that result in lane reductions or street closures for a period longer than five consecutive business days.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No.: HB 5189

An Act Concerning: State Government

Allows the state comptroller to disburse employee payroll payments or expense reimbursements to a secure check account.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: 30 days after becoming law

 

Bill No.: HB 5207

An Act Concerning: Elections

Removes reference to constitutional amendments in a section regarding petitions being

added to election ballots if 95 percent of the signatures have been found valid.

Action: Amendatorily Vetoed

 

Bill No.: HB 5221

An Act Concerning: Civil Law

Strengthens compliance requirements for employers pertaining to income withholding orders for child support payments.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 5235

An Act Concerning: Criminal Law

Amends the current child pornography statute to add violations and respective penalties.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No.: HB 5236

An Act Concerning: Local Government

Reduces the size of the Jackson-Union Counties Regional Port District Board from 23 members to seven, and eliminates all members currently appointed by local mayors.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 5250

An Act Concerning: Criminal Law

Restructures penalties for the manufacturing, delivery of, or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver, any substance containing hydrocodone, dihydrocodeinone, dihydrocodeine, oxycodone, or any of the salts, isomers and salts of isomers, or analog of those substances.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No.: HB 5265

An Act Concerning: Criminal Law

Revises child abduction statute to add as a violation luring or attempting to lure a child under the age of seventeen while the child is traveling to or from a primary or secondary school.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No.: HB 5314

An Act Concerning: Civil Law

Allows a lessor to use electronic mail to notify a lessee of damage to property before withholding any part of the security deposit.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No.: HB 5319

An Act Concerning: Local Government

Allows sanitary districts to sell or distribute treated wastewater to any public or private entity.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 5353

An Act Concerning: Wildlife

Extends the rabbit hunting season by one month.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 5359

An Act Concerning: Regulation

Makes several technical changes to the Real Estate License Act.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 5441

An Act Concerning: Criminal Law

Amends the powers and duties of the State Appellate Defender.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 5478

An Act Concerning: Insurance

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code to add records exempted under Section 7 of the Freedom of Information Act to the list of records that the Department of Insurance is not required to disclose for public inspection.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 5480

An Act Concerning: Government

Allows organizations desiring to be designated as a qualified organization for the purposes of receiving voluntary payroll deductions to submit electronic designations on forms approved by the State Comptroller; lowers the number of employees that must submit designations.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No.: HB 5548

An Act Concerning: Regulation

Amends the Hospital Licensing Act to enable a staff member to retain a personal attorney in the event that the hospital renders an adverse decision regarding the staff member's employment status or clinical privileges.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 5586

An Act Concerning: Civil Law

Entitles a resident of a mental health facility operated via a contract with the Department of Human Services (DHS), who has been transferred to another facility due to closures, to the same rights provided to residents of a DHS-operated mental health facility.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 5606

An Act Concerning: Corrections

Makes it illegal to possess any product containing a methamphetamine precursor without a prescription if the individual has been convicted of a crime under the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 5635

An Act Concerning: Local Government

Includes coroners in the training provided by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board (ILETSB), and makes coroners eligible to receive waivers from the training requirements.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No.: HB 5682

An Act Concerning: Criminal Law

Requires professionals who carry weapons to have proper safety training and provides exemptions if professionals have certain levels of training.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No.: HB 5685

An Act Concerning: State Government

Allows the Department of Natural Resources to remove from and deny further entry to any nature preserve any person or persons engaging in illegal or disorderly conduct, and imposes fees for reinstatement of suspended licenses.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 5749

An Act Concerning: Criminal Law

Allows the Office of the State's Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor to assist State's Attorneys in post-conviction proceedings; allows the director of the Office of the State's Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor to contract out for investigators.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 5752

An Act Concerning: Regulation

Makes technical changes to the Illinois Dental Practice Act.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 5880

An Act Concerning: Regulation

Makes several changes to the Emergency Medical Services Systems Act, which will benefit Illinois' rural communities.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No.: HB 5893

An Act Concerning: State Government

Enables the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to encourage convention centers to provide free space to farmers' markets in the event of bad weather.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No.: HB 5899

An Act Concerning: Local Government

Allows counties to enter into intergovernmental agreements with forest preserve districts within the county that would exempt the forest preserve district from county zoning ordinances.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 5922

An Act Concerning: Civil Law

Provides that a law enforcement official may serve a respondent with a short form notification of a civil no contact order or a stalking no contact order, and makes changes to the process for serving no contact orders.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No.: SB 555

An Act Concerning: Local Government

Amends the Emergency Telephone System Act to allow Emergency Telephone Systems Boards to utilize computer-aided dispatch and hosted supplemental 9-1-1 technologies.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: SB 1351

An Act Concerning: State Government

Updates the Disabled Persons Rehabilitation Act.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: SB 2559

An Act Concerning: Criminal Law

Creates a pilot study to determine the effect of amending the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 on forensic bed capacity at state-operated mental health centers.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: SB 2945

An Act Concerning: Health

Allows employers of for-profit, cancer-based medical or hospital treatment centers to not hire, or to discharge, discipline and alter the pay, benefits and working conditions of any employee who uses tobacco products.

Action: Vetoed


Bill No.: SB 3202

An Act Concerning: Regulation

Amends  provisions regarding regulation of community association managers and caps the amount of fees that can be charged. Provides that all information collected by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation with respect to community association managers is confidential.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: SB 3252

An Act Concerning: Education

Clarifies the maximum tax rates when creating unit districts under the School Code.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No.: SB 3336

An Act Concerning: Transportation

Allows in-line skaters to skate on roadways and bike lanes.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No.: SB 3337

An Act Concerning: Children

Removes obsolete statutory language regarding a series of status reports that were successfully issued to the General Assembly in 1994, 1995 and 1996 by the Department of Children and Family Services.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: SB 3367

An Act Concerning: Education

Requires the State Board of Education (ISBE) and the Secretary of State to adopt course content standards for driver's education in district-run courses and commercial driving schools; makes changes to the school waiver requirements for public hearings, and makes more stringent vehicle inspection requirements.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No.: SB 3433

An Act Concerning: Criminal Law

Provides that sealed criminal records may be disseminated by the Illinois State Police only to arresting authorities, State's Attorneys and courts, and only in the case of a later arrest for the same or similar offense, or for sentencing for any subsequent felony.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No.: SB 3533

An Act Concerning: Wildlife

Broadens the definition of a gun case in the Wildlife Code to include any case, firearm carrying box, shipping box or other specified container.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: SB 3538

An Act Concerning: Regulation

Allows optometrists to keep records at an off-site storage facility; allows the state to take non-disciplinary action for violations; and provides that fines are to be deposited into the Optometric Licensing and Disciplinary Board Fund.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No.: SB 3549

An Act Concerning: Child Support

Permits the court to require a person who is self-employed and is found guilty of failure to comply with a child support order to provide the court with monthly financial statements, to seek employment and to periodically advise the court of those efforts, or to report to the Department of Employment Security for job search services.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No.: SB 3552

An Act Concerning: Civil Law

Includes payments to trusts to the list of debtor's property exempt from judgment, attachment or distress for rent.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: SB 3635

An Act Concerning: Education

Allows a community college to accept a gift or grant that requires the use of a particular contractor if specified conditions are met.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: SB 3677

An Act Concerning: Human Rights

Establishes procedures relating to a petition for enforcement, or a petition to modify or set aside a subpoena issued by the Attorney General, and establishes the circuit courts' jurisdiction over these petitions.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1


Bill No.: SB 3724

An Act Concerning: State Government

Provides Capital Development Board (CDB) with additional time to review and adopt the latest edition of the International Energy Conservation Code.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: SB 3764

An Act Concerning: Business

Amends Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: July 1

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Springfield, IL... On Friday the Governor called a Special Session for lawmakers to consider pension reform to save the State's growing pension crisis, however, no true reform was enacted.

State Representative Rich Morthland (R-Cordova) was disappointed with the legislation presented and voted against Senate Bill 3168 Amendment #3 because it lacked the needed reform.

"Today's Special Session was nothing more than a political theatre," said Morthland. "It was disappointing that no meaningful pension reform was presented to us. Illinois needs a comprehensive package and not to merely put a one-quarter of one-percent dent in an $83 billion problem. You can't fix big problems with bad bills. I strongly oppose the Governor's plan to shift the cost of our pension problem to downstate and suburban taxpayers. Nothing was accomplished today because the Governor has spent more time talking to the media than he has working with the leaders and lawmakers to come up with a fair and comprehensive solution."

In addition to pension reform, the Illinois House of Representatives voted in favor 100-6 to expel indicted State Representative Derrick Smith (D-Chicago) from the Illinois House. Rep. Smith was arrested March 13, following an undercover investigation by the FBI; Smith now faces federal bribery charges for allegedly accepting a $7,000 cash bribe.

Rep. Rich Morthland voted in favor of expelling indicted State Representatives Derrick Smith.

"After the culmination of a several-months long internal House investigation by two bi-partisan committees, it is clear former-Representative Smith severely violated his oath of office and abused his position and the public trust." said Morthland. "Smith's actions have given our state yet another black-eye. It is unfortunate that we find ourselves in this place. I take no pride or joy in expelling another member of the House."

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Rides train with business leaders to promote Iowa jobs and partnerships

Fairfax, IA - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) today boarded a Union Pacific Train in Fairfax headed to Marshalltown to promote and support enhancements to Iowa's infrastructure. Braley was joined by representatives from Union Pacific and Cargill to discuss the importance infrastructure plays in Iowa's economy.

"Investing in infrastructure is one of the best ways to get Iowa's economy back on track," Braley said. "Iowa businesses rely on strong infrastructure to make sure that goods and services are delivered as promised, whether it's across town or across the country.

 

"By working with businesses in our communities, we are able to create strong partnerships that not only create good jobs for Iowans, but make more substantial improvements to our infrastructure than we ever could working alone."

Braley has been an effective leader in contributing to enhancements in infrastructure. Braley secured the funding to rebuild Waterloo and Cedar Rapids rail bridges after the devastating 2008 floods. These projects were completed through a public-private partnership, which highlights how government and business can successfully work together on projects that impact entire communities, like improving railways, roads, and airports, among others.

Cargill and Union Pacific each have a significant presence in Iowa. Cargill employs 4,095 at 29 locations across Iowa, including Cedar Rapids, that produce and market food products across the world, and depends on strong infrastructure. Union Pacific Corporation is an American rail transportation company covering 23 states across the western two-thirds of the United States.

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CHICAGO - August 16, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today took action on the following bills:

 

Bill No.: HB 3969

An Act Concerning: Public Employee Benefits

Changes the entity responsible for paying the difference in annuity attributable to a former General Assembly Retirement System (GARS) participant's higher final average salary if the employee works for a reciprocal employer for less than two years after ending participation in GARS; allows individuals who became GARS participants prior to Aug. 22, 1994 to make themselves subject to the final average salary limitations that took effect for new GARS participants on that date.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.:  HB 4996

An Act Concerning: Public Employee Benefits

Creates a return to work policy for State University Retirement System (SURS) affected annuitants and requires employers to make contributions to SURS for the retirement annuities of affected annuitants.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 5337

An Act Concerning: State Government

Amends the State Comptroller Act by requiring itemized vouchers under $5 to be processed electronically.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: SB 180

An Act Concerning: Government

Includes circuit court clerks among entities that can apply to the comptroller for the offset of claims.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: SB 679

An Act Concerning: Regulation

Allows individuals previously diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders to remain eligible for insurance coverage even if diagnostic criteria are changed in the future.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No.: SB 3629

An Act Concerning: Public Employee Benefits

Amends the Illinois Pension Code to align the fiscal year of the Chicago Park District pension fund with the fiscal year of the Chicago Park District.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

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Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack announced today that five Iowa counties will receive a total of more than $124,000 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP)  Counties receiving the grants include Appanoose, Des Moines, Johnson, Scott, and Wapello.  This funding will help Iowa's social service agencies feed and shelter those who are hungry and homeless.  EFSP funds are used to supplement food, shelter, rent, mortgage, and utility assistance programs for people with non-disaster related emergencies.

"Far too many Iowans are trying to get back on their feet, and many still find themselves in need during these difficult times," said Loebsack.  "It is important to assist those who are struggling, and this funding will better equip our local social service agencies to do so."

Details of the funding are below:

  • Appanoose County       $4,236
  • Des Moines County      $14,232
  • Johnson County            $33,106
  • Scott County                $59,087
  • Wapello County           $13,520
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SPRINGFIELD - August 15, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today took action on the following bills:

 

Bill No.: HB 4022

An Act Concerning: Transportation

Includes Class II rail carriers in the requirement that a counseling or trauma program be filed with the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) and be updated every three years.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 5212

An Act Concerning: Wages

Requires public bodies or other entities to Illinois Department of Labor revises the prevailing hourly wage rate applicable to the contract.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No.: SB 3279

An Act Concerning: Regulation

Adds additional protections for consumers and licensed roofing contractors by making changes to the roofing licensing and permitting process.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: SB 3792

An Act Concerning: Civil Law

Extends the timeframe for obtaining a mechanics lien under the Mechanics Lien Act in connection with any type of property other than residential property.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

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(DES MOINES) -  The Office of Gov. Terry E. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today announced a meeting of the Iowa Public Information Board on Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2012 at 1 p.m.

Members of the media are encouraged to visit the Iowa Public Information Board webpage: https://governor.iowa.gov/news/iowa-public-information-board/ for future information, agendas, meeting notices, and minutes of the board.

The meeting is open to the public and media.

Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2012

 

1 p.m. Iowa Public Information Board Meeting

Governor's Office - Large Conference Room

State Capitol

Des Moines, IA

 

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Moline, IL ... Rep. Rich Morthland (R-Cordova) and Rep. Jim Sacia (R-Freeport) delivered a letter yesterday to Governor Quinn and his staff requesting he work to give the Thomson Correctional Center from the state of Illinois to the Federal Bureau of Prisons in exchange for their commitment to pay off the remaining mortgage of $61 million and open the facility.

"There is great potential by putting this prison to use, and instead it sits idle." Morthland said. "Thomson Correctional Center has been unoccupied and unused for twelve years now and the sale has been on the table for more than 2 ½ years. This is unacceptable."

Estimates suggest that putting this prison facility to use will create an additional 1,100 direct and indirect new jobs, and will inject more than $200 million per year into the economy of Carroll County, Whiteside County, and surrounding counties.

"I appreciate the Governor and other legislators ongoing efforts to complete the sale and transfer of Thomson," said Morthland. "While this step is bold, Representative Sacia and I believe it is necessary."

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SPRINGFIELD - August 14, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today took action on the following bills:

 

Bill No.: HB 1577

An Act Concerning: Insurance

Amends provisions of the Illinois Insurance Code pertaining to company action level events and surplus line insurers.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 3826

An Act Concerning: Service Dogs

Changes the name of the Guide Dog Access Act to the Service Animal Access Act, and expands and makes changes to the definition and use of a service animal in public facilities.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: SB 3727

An Act Concerning: Health Regulation

Expands the authority of the Department of Public Health (DPH) in order to increase the quality and safety of swimming facilities.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

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