CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today took action on the following bill:

Bill No.: SB 724

An Act Concerning: Liquor

Permits the issuance of a liquor license to certain elected officials in towns or villages with fewer than 55,000 people if conditions are met to prevent conflicts of interest.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediate

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Fills Key Positions at Three Universities, Illinois Arts Council, State Museum Board and Illinois Department of Public Health

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today made a number of key appointments to the state's boards and commissions. In addition to three university boards, the governor filled positions on the Illinois Arts Council, State Museum Board and the Illinois Department of Public Health. Today's announcement continues the governor's commitment to making Illinois government more accountable, transparent and effective.

"These accomplished individuals will serve the people of Illinois well on our state boards and commissions," Governor Quinn said. "With their commitment to public service, I am confident they will do great things for our state."

As a result of Governor Quinn's efforts to make the executive appointment process more accessible and transparent, residents who are interested in serving on boards and commissions can now apply online.

The governor's appointments are as follows:

Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees:

Dr. Shirley J. Portwood, of Godfrey, is a retired professor of history who taught at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville from 1980 until 2010. She earned a Ph.D. in history from Washington University-St. Louis in 1982, after completing bachelor's and master's degrees in history from SIU-Edwardsville. She has served as a member of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency Board of Trustees since Governor Quinn appointed her in March of 2010, and was recently appointed to the Illinois Amistad Commission. Dr. Portwood also has organized a scholarly symposium examining the history of African Americans in Illinois. Her two brothers and daughter are also SIU alumni.

Major General (ret.) Randal Thomas, of Springfield, served as the 36th Adjutant General of Illinois -- the highest National Guard post in the state. General Thomas is a graduate of Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, where he earned a bachelor's degree in English in 1973 and a Master of Science degree in Education in 1980. He also has a master's degree from the U.S. Army War College. General Thomas received his commission as an Infantry Officer in 1967, served in the Army Special Forces from 1966-1969, and was awarded a Purple Heart and Bronze Star for valor for his 1968-1969 combat service in Vietnam. Prior to his appointment as Adjutant General, General Thomas worked for 30 years as an English teacher, librarian and media director in Hillsboro, Illinois. General Thomas also served on the Illinois Executive Ethics Commission for three years. He is a lifetime member of the SIUE Alumni Association and a member of the 2011 SIUE Alumni Hall of Fame. 

Eastern Illinois University Board of Trustees:  

Jan Spivey Gilchrist, of Olympia Fiends, has a B.S. in art education from Eastern Illinois University, an M.A. in painting from the University of Northern Iowa, an M.F.A. in writing for children from Vermont College, and a doctoral degree in English from Madison University. Gilchrist was inducted into the International Hall of Fame for Writers of African Descent in October of 2000. She was also inducted into the Society of Illustrators in 2001.  

Northeastern Illinois University Board of Trustees:

Dr. Darlene Ruscitti, of Bloomingdale, holds a Doctor of Education Policy Studies and Administration degree from Loyola University, and a M.A and B.A. from Northeastern Illinois University. Dr. Ruscitti currently works for the DuPage Regional Office of Education and has served in the education profession for more than 30 years.

Illinois Arts Council:

Gary Matts, of Darien, has a B.S. in music from Roosevelt University and has served on the Board of the Chicago Federation of Musicians, Local 10-208, since 1992 and most recently as president since 2004. A professional musician, Matts also serves as a trustee of the Chicago Federation of Musicians Employers Welfare Fund and the American Federation of Musicians and Employers Pension Fund.

Richard Daniels, of Evergreen Park, holds a B.A. in music composition from DePaul University and is the musical director for The City Lights Orchestra in Chicago. Daniels is the current chairman of the board at Chicago's Mercy Home for Boys & Girls, chair for the dean's advisory board at the DePaul University School of Music, and he is a delegate to the Chicago Federation of Labor. Daniels is also the senior board member at the Chicago Federation of Musicians.

State Museum Board:

Leo Welch, of O'Fallon, was a biology teacher at ROVA High School in Oneida prior to becoming a professor of biology at Southwestern Illinois College, where he currently serves as professor emeritus. Welch has been a member of numerous professional societies, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Institute for Biological Sciences, the Illinois State Academy of Sciences and the St. Louis Academy of Sciences. Welch received the 1991 Excellence in Teaching Award from Emerson Electric for outstanding achievement for higher education in the metropolitan St. Louis area. Welch, who obtained his bachelor's and master's degrees from EIU, went on to receive an Ed.S. degree from Southern Illinois University.

Illinois Department of Public Health:

Dr. David Gill, of Bloomington, received his bachelor's and medical degrees from the University of Illinois and has served as a family practice doctor and emergency room physician for more than 20 years. Most recently an emergency room doctor at Advocate BroMenn Medical Center in Normal, Gill has been named Assistant Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Earlier this year, following an extensive review, Governor Quinn issued an executive order eliminating dozens of dormant or redundant state boards and commissions. Following the governor's action, Illinois now has 317 boards and commissions. Of those, 24 are compensated: eight of which are full-time, paid positions while the remaining 16 are part-time or per diem. The remaining 293 boards are unpaid, volunteer boards. Board salaries are set by Illinois statute.

For more information on all of the state's boards and commissions, or to apply to serve on a board, please visit Appointments.Illinois.gov.

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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.

(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.