QUINN ANNOUNCES AGENCY, STAFF CHANGES
Shortly after Governor Quinn fired former State Representative and Blagojevich appointee, Kurt Granberg, from his job as Director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, he announced the appointment of Marc Miller, who had been senior policy adviser and liaison to the Illinois River Coordinating Council for Quinn as Lt. Governor.
Miller, 39, joined then Lt. Governor Quinn’s staff in June 2004. During that time, he developed and implemented many environmental programs, including the Dam Safety Initiative and the Mud-to-Parks program, which promoted the beneficial reuse of river settlement.
The department’s 16 divisions are responsible for the management of everything from Illinois’ rivers and streams to its mines and minerals. The department also manages and maintains approximately 328 state owned or leased sites encompassing over 450,000 acres that are visited by more than 43 million people each year.
Governor Quinn also announced Jerome Stermer as his choice for Chief of Staff. Stermer has been president of Voices for Illinois Children since 1987. This organization is a leading child advocacy group that promotes public investment in children’s education, health care and early development. Stermer has also held positions in state government including assistant to the director at the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and executive director of the Legislative Advisory Committee on Public Aid. |
COMMITTEE ACTION THIS WEEK
Prevailing Wage for Enterprise Zones & TIF Districts
CICI and many in the business community opposed this bill in the Senate Labor Committee this week but to no avail. This measure, SB 43 (Clayborne, D-E. St. Louis), proposes to extend the Prevailing Wage Act to all projects in an enterprise zone or a TIF district, even for projects that are 100% financed from private sources, with the exception for single or multi-family owner/occupied projects. The proposal also makes other administrative changes that would overturn recent court decisions protecting contractors. The bill passed committee on a partisan roll call with 7 Democrats voting “YES” and 4 Republicans voting “NO” and now heads to the Senate floor where we will continue our opposition.
This bill is the same as HB 63 (Fritchey, D-Chicago), which has yet to be heard in the House Executive Committee.
Petrochemical Processing Facilities – Property Assessments
This bill, SB 89 (Dahl, R-Peru), allows for a real property tax assessment settlement agreement in a county with less than 1 million inhabitants that contains a petrochemical processing facility. The legislation is the result an ongoing litigation situation in Grundy County, however, other counties with these types of facilities that enter into these agreements may also take advantage of this should it become law. Current law only allows for such a settlement agreement in a county with less than 1 million inhabitants that contains either a power generating or automotive manufacturing facility. CICI supported this legislation as it advanced out of the Senate Revenue Committee this week with a vote of 8 ”YES” and 2 “NO”. The bill now awaits further action on the Senate Floor. This bill is also the same as HB 506 (Gordon, C., D-Coal City). |
MORE INTRODUCED LEGISLATION
Local Government Penalties - Hazardous Substances
This measure, SB 1344 (Dahl, R-Peru), provides that a municipality may impose a penalty against any person or organization owning or leasing property that releases a hazardous substance or any other contaminate that the unit of local government finds injures the public health and the safety of the community. The penalty may not exceed $50,000 for the violation and an additional $10,000 for each day during which the violation continues.
IEPA’s Cross-Connection Control Rules
The measure, HB 974 (Chapa LaVia, D-Aurora), provides that the cross-connection control rules administered by the IEPA, under title 35 of the Illinois Administrative Code, as well as any Cross-connection Control Program ordinances, tariffs, required conditions for service, plans, or other regulatory programs established under that authority shall continue but must be amended, within 180 days after this bills effective date, to the extent necessary to conform with the requirements of this act. The bill also requires each unit of local government, including each home rule unit (exempts home-rule authority), in which potable water is made available to consumers through a community or non-community public water supply system to adopt an active Cross-connection Control Program consisting of certain elements. The bill also establishes reporting and educational requirements, requires local governments to enforce Cross-connection Control Program violations, and authorizes them to collect charges for certain violations.
Genetically Engineered Food Labels
This bill, HB 985 (Mell, D-Chicago), creates the Genetically Engineered Food Right To Know Act to require that all foods containing genetically engineered material or produced with genetically engineered material must be clearly marked with a label placed in a conspicuous place.
New Source Review
This measure, HB 995 (Holbrook, D-Belleville), requires PCB to adopt Non-attainment New Source Review and Prevention of Significant Deterioration programs, and requires those programs to be no more stringent than the federal program requirements under 40 C.F.R. 51.165 and 51.166.
Truck Fee Increases
This measure, HB 448 (Ford D-Chicago), would double the flat rate tax paid by owners of second division vehicles beginning on January 1, 2010 for each registration year. The legislation exempts recreational vehicles, farm equipment, and Class B vehicles. However, owners of commercial trucks would see a huge increase in the tax ranging from $138 for trucks between 8,000 and 12,000 pounds to an increase of $2,790 for trucks with a weight in excess of 77,000 pounds.
Payroll Tax for Health Care
Identical bills, HB 1081 (Ryg, D-Vernon Hills) and SB 1331 (Koehler, D-Peoria), in both the House and Senate would impose a graduated payroll tax on employers to finance a government-run health care for families earning up to $82,000 annually. The legislation creates a new payroll tax between 1.5 percent and 6 percent of each employer, not to exceed $15,000 per employee. Employers would begin collecting the payroll tax on January 1, 2010 with payments due by July 1. Rates are graduated based on the number of full-time employees.
Green Buildings
This bill, HB 1013 (Boland, D-Moline), creates the Green Buildings Act to requires that state-funded building construction and major renovations of existing state-owned facilities must meet certain energy and environmental standards of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program rating system, the Green Building Initiative's Green Globes rating system, or an equivalent rating system. The bill allows for waivers of the standards by the Capital Development Board (CDB) or other agencies. CDB must also analyze and evaluate these standards after the earlier of 5 years or the completion of 10 projects.
Energy Grant Money
This measure, HB 1042 (May, D-Highland Park), creates the Illinois Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Act so that the Green Governments Coordinating Council shall be the State governmental body responsible for applying for and distributing any and all energy efficiency and conservation grant money pursuant to the federal Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.
Economic Stimulus – No Layoffs
This resolution HR 69 (Ford, D-Chicago), urges the U.S. Congress to pass legislation that prohibits a business entity that receives federal emergency economic assistance funds from laying off employees during the recession. As this is just a resolution, it is non-binding.
Professional Engineers
This bill, SB 1384 (Haine, D-Alton), extends the repeal date of the Professional Engineering Practice Act from January 1, 2010 to January 1, 2020 and also provides that services performed by employees of a business organization engaged in telecommunications are exempt from the Act. The bill further provides additional examples of "professional engineering practice", changes the definition of "technical submissions", and that the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation (DFPR) may grant the title "Professional Engineer, Retired" and, by rule, exempt from continuing education requirements those who are granted the title. Those granted the title "Professional Engineer, Retired" may request restoration to active status under the applicable provisions of the Act.
Professional Geologists/Interns
This proposal, HB 880 (Connelly, R-Naperville), amends the Professional Geologist Licensing Act to provide for the enrollment with the DFPR of Geologist Interns.
Environmental Health Practitioners
This legislation, HB 1119 (Coulson, R-Glenview), amends the Environmental Health Practitioner Licensing Act to require DFPR to issue a license as a licensed environmental health practitioner to any applicant who holds a Registered Environmental Health Specialist/Registered Sanitarian credential in good standing with the National Environmental Health Association.
Liquefied Petroleum Gas
This proposal, SB 1388 (Millner, R-St. Charles), amends the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Regulation Act to provide that no legal action shall be commenced or maintained against any person engaged in the business of selling at retail, supplying, handling, or transporting liquefied petroleum gas in the state if the alleged injury, damage, or loss was caused by: (1) the alteration, modification, or repair of liquefied petroleum gas equipment or a liquefied petroleum gas appliance if done without the knowledge and consent of the liquefied petroleum gas seller, supplier, handler, or transporter; or (2) the use of liquefied petroleum gas equipment or a liquefied petroleum gas appliance in a manner or for a purpose other than that for which the equipment or appliance was intended and that could not reasonably have been expected.
Clean Construction/Demolition Debris
This legislation, HB 1138 (Fortner, R-West Chicago), provides that the term "clean construction or demolition debris" includes debris with contaminants that do not exceed certain levels. The bill also requires the IEPA to develop a special authorization for clean construction or demolition debris fill operations that accept urban soil or other urban construction or demolition debris from the Chicago metropolitan area or the St. Louis Metro-East area. It further requires the agency to grant interim authorization to any such facility, subject only to a demonstration that the acceptance of any such material will not adversely impact existing groundwater. The IEPA and the PCB must also adopt rules concerning these special authorizations. |
MARK YOUR CALENDARS – CICI LEGISLATIVE DAY- MAY 5
Mark your calendars and reserve your rooms. CICI will be holding its Annual Legislative/Regulatory Day in Springfield, Tuesday, May 5, 2009, at the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel, with an evening reception of legislators and key government officials at the Sangamo Club.
This event is a great opportunity to mingle and get to know the key people in state government, like members of the Illinois General Assembly, Constitutional Officers, IEPA officials, the members of the Pollution Control Board, and other key government officials. At the 2008 reception, close to 200 legislators and government officials attended. Come thank those elected officials who are friends of the chemical industry.
The President Abraham Lincoln Hotel has a discounted block of rooms reserved for CICI. Reservations can be made by calling the hotel at 1-866-788-1860. CICI’s block of rooms will be available until Monday, April 13, 2009, so please make your reservations accordingly.
Please note that the Chemical Industry Council of Illinois Legislator is not intended to convey legal advice or set forth all legal requirements applicable to particular circumstances.
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