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Health & Fitness

Senate Week in Review: Jobs Report Dismal, Sandack Earns Enterprise Award, Toll Hike Approved, New Laws Signed

A weekly report from the Senate Republican Caucus

Please note:  The Week in Review is written by a staff member of the Illinois Senate Republican Caucus and approved by legislators. It is meant to provide constituents with information about legislative action and activities during the week.

According to a recent report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Illinois lost 24,900 jobs in July—more than any other state in the nation. In fact, State Sen. Ron Sandack (R-Downers Grove) said Illinois lost a combined 32,200 jobs in June and July, even more than notoriously bad job states California and Ohio, which both added jobs during those months.

Also during the week, Sen. Sandack was honored by being named the 2011 Enterprise Award Winner, and following a number of hearings held throughout northern Chicago, the Illinois Tollway board approved a plan on August 25 that will nearly double tolls for I-pass users.

Enterprise Award

Sen. Sandack learned at the beginning of this week that he was named the 2011 Enterprise Award Winner by the Downers Grove Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
 
“It is a true honor to be recognized by the members of the Downers Grove Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry,” Sen. Sandack said.  “I have made it no secret how passionate I am about Downers Grove, its surrounding area, and the 21st Senate District.  Serving the last few years in the capacities I have has been a pleasure, and I look forward to continuing that work for years to come.”
 
Each year, members from the Downers Grove Chamber submit nominations for an Enterprise Award winner.  According to Laura Crawford, President and CEO of the Downers Grove Chamber, the Enterprise Award honors and celebrates an individual who is employed by or owns a member business and has significantly impacted the community through personal involvement, while actively providing and protecting economic opportunity for the benefit of all.
 
“We received several nominations for Senator Sandack and I can’t think of anyone more deserving,” she said.  “He is passionate about creating jobs and pro-actively supports business to benefit both residents and businesses in his community.”
 
Sen. Sandack went on to say that he was “genuinely surprised, humbled and honored to hear of this award,” and he was “grateful for this recognition.”

“The Chamber is an outstanding organization comprised of caring and talented people,” he said. 

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More Jobs Lost in Illinois

According to the BLS, the number of employed in Illinois continues to drop, and the state’s unemployment rate has increased to 9.5 percent. Illinois’ unemployment now exceeds the national unemployment rate.

In a statement, the nonpartisan research organization Illinois Policy Institute drew a correlation between the dismal employment numbers and the state’s January tax increase, lack of government spending reforms, and the state’s massive backlog of unpaid bills.
 
“The policies currently in place – higher taxes, more spending, and unreformed liabilities – are clearly not working for those who are struggling to make ends meet,” said Kristina Rasmussen, executive vice president at the Illinois Policy Institute. “A great starting place for lawmakers eager to create an atmosphere of job growth would be to repeal the recent income tax increase, which robs families and businesses of resources they could put to better use.”
 
Sen. Sandack commented, saying “The loss of jobs is disturbing, particularly given that some local employers have announced they are moving to other states. Given the recent tax increase upon taxpayers and businesses, we should expect to see other States actively recruiting employers away from Illinois.”

Efforts to better understand the state’s business environment prompted joint House and Senate hearings to examine the state’s business tax structure and available tax incentives. Hearings have taken place in Chicago, in Rockford, and in the State Capitol in Springfield on Aug. 23. 
 
Echoing testimony from prior hearings, representatives from business and economic development organizations who attended the Aug. 23 hearing indicated that the state’s inconsistent policies are a burden to employers. According to witness testimony, Illinois’ tax policies are applied unpredictably, and the state’s ad hoc approach to tax policy and business development makes it difficult, if not impossible, for businesses to anticipate and plan ahead. This uncertainty makes employers hesitant to take on more employees or consider revenue-generating expansions.
 
A local small business owner, Zach Hoffman, testified before the joint committee. He emphasized the need to streamline the tax code, and to standardize Illinois’ tax incentives and tax rates. Hoffman noted that there is resentment on the part of certain business owners—particularly small businesses—who are critical of the disparity in incentives, which vary from business to business.

“Until we have policies that promote small business and entrepreneurial growth, the Governor has to play defense to keep business in Illinois-- and that usually means big business subsidies which hurt the overall business climate of our State,” Sen. Sandack said. “It is time for a far better and fairer taxing system and for a business friendly environment to help put people back to work."

Toll Increase

In other news, on Aug. 25 the Illinois Tollway Board voted to increase I-Pass rates from 40 cents to 75 cents. The revenues from the hike will finance a $12.1 billion capital construction and improvement program to update and extend the state’s tollway infrastructure. Tollway officials pursued the proposal to reduce congestion and improve safety and efficiency on the state’s tollway.

"The Tollway Authority's near doubling of tolls is troubling to me,” Sen. Sandack said. “Given the recent large tax increase and the general economic conditions challenging us all, I cannot help but feel this large toll increase was ill-timed and perhaps far too excessive.”

Sen. Sandack went on to say that Illinois has motor fuel taxes, sales taxes and tolls which pay for the roads and that perhaps some clarity and consistency is in order as to how Illinois pays for road construction and maintenance.

Prior to approving the plan, 15 public hearings to solicit public feedback were held in Cook and other suburban Chicago counties. According to tollway officials, nearly 2,000 people attended the hearing. Tollway officials also noted that of those attendees, 85.5 percent expressed support for the proposal. Another 9.5 percent were opposed to the plan, with 5 percent remaining neutral.

“While I appreciate the Toll Authority's process of public meetings prior to setting its increase, most people still have no idea that these large increases are coming in January of 2012,” Sen. Sandack noted.

More information can be found at www.illinoistollway.com.

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New Laws Signed

A few pieces of legislation that Sen. Sandack sponsored were signed into law by Governor Quinn this week.  Senate Bill 2040/PA 97-0538 prohibits the unlawful use of sound recordings, except when accompanying a motion picture or other audiovisual work, that were initially recorded before February 15, 1972. Anything after that date is protected by Federal copyright law and preempts state law.  The second measure signed into law, House Bill 1056/PA 97-0552, allows municipalities to adopt or authorize procedures governing public hearings of any board, commission, or committee that conducts public hearings.

Some of the additional legislation signed into law during the week includes:

Adoptions (HB 1699/PA 97-0493):  Expedites the adoption process by allowing the waiver for Final and Irrevocable Designated Surrender to be signed in front of a notary so the birth father isn’t required to appear in court or attend a meeting with the agency’s social worker.

Business Activity Report (SB 2082/PA 97-0541):  Requires the SOS to issue a quarterly report to the Commerce Committee that will include the number of new businesses incorporating in Illinois and the number of businesses renewing registrations in Illinois.

Contract Disclosure (HB 1444/PA 97-0490):  Allows, for purposes of disclosure of financial interests by bidders on state contracts, privately held entities that have more than 100 shareholders and are exempt from Federal 10k reporting, to submit the information that they are required to report under federal regulations and list the names of any person or entity holding any ownership share greater than 5 percent. This bill would allow more companies to provide financial interest statements in this alternate way, as opposed to submitting firm ownership information and conflicts with each and every bid they submit. 

Discrimination Complaints (HB 279/PA 97-0485):  Adds anti-discrimination rights language to the hospital patient's rights statement, which includes the right not to be discriminated against due to race, color, or national origin if such characteristics are not relevant to the patient's medical diagnosis and treatment.  Adds the Illinois Dept. of Human Rights to the list of authorities with which a patient can lodge a discrimination complaint and requires a hospital to provide a patient with information on how to lodge a discrimination complaint. 

Doctor Sex Offenders (HB 220/PA 97-0484):  Provides that licensed health care workers who have been convicted of a sex crime or a forcible felony, will have their license to practice permanently revoked. Also requires health care workers who have been charged with a sex crime to have a chaperone present when working with patients until the criminal proceedings have concluded.

Drug Testing (HB 1241/PA 97-0471):  States that a law enforcement officer who has probable cause to believe a driver is operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs must request that the driver submit to a chemical test to screen for the presence of these substances. It’s anticipated that by eliminating officers’ discretion in these cases, more chemical tests will be administered and, hopefully, people will avoid driving while under the influence.

Financial Exploitation (HB 1689/PA 97-0482):  Creates stricter laws against financial exploitation of an elderly person or person with a disability, by lowering the property value threshold that constitutes a Class 1 or 2 felony for the offense of financial exploitation.  Provides that payment of restitution is not limited to five years for this offense as it is with other crimes.

Insurance Training (SB 1607/PA 97-0527):  Requires individuals who sell insurance policies to have special certification or training in advising seniors who are purchasing life insurance. Also allows an insurance policy to require proof of the insured’s death via a copy of the death certificate. Makes changes relating to the amount of interest that accrues on the proceeds payable from the date of death.

Landlord Lock Change Requirements (HB 1233/PA 97-0470):  Requires a landlord in Cook County to change or re-key locks after a dwelling unit has been vacated and before a new tenant moves in. If a landlord does not change or re-key the lock and a theft occurs at that dwelling unit that is attributable to the landlord's failure to change or re-key the locks, the landlord is liable for any damages from the theft. Some exemptions.

Medicaid Bills (HB 2934/PA 97-0506):  Authorizes the interfund transfer of $900 million to pay Medicaid bills, which enables the State to get claim $75 million in enhanced federal match money that is available through June 30, without the long-term bonding proposed by the Governor.

Military Students (HB 2870/PA 97-0505):  Requires school districts to report to the State Board of Education which students have parents who are on active military duty or expected to be on active military duty within the year. This is supposedly an effort to better track these students and make it easier to transfer their records from school to school within the State, but the bill doesn’t include any requirements concerning the use of this information.

Parole Objection Protection (SB 1471/PA 97-0523):  Prohibits the Prisoner Review Board from releasing information of victims and victims’ families who have filed parole objections in preparation for parole hearing. Attempts to protect victims and their family members from an inmate, or possibly an inmate’s friend or acquaintance, from seeking revenge against people who have filed a parole protest.

Parole Terms (SB 1740/PA 97-0531):  Requires that the terms of a defendant's parole or Mandatory Supervised Release must be written as part of the sentencing order. Also provides that the 90 day reduction in parole or mandatory supervised release term for an inmate receiving a GED while on parole or Mandatory Supervised Release is discretionary with the Prisoner Review Board, instead of automatic. 

Personal Information Protection (HB 3025/PA 97-0483):  Makes various changes regarding notification of a personal information security breach to an Illinois resident and outlines the Attorney General's duties upon receiving notice of a security breach. Also provides guidelines for the disposal of materials containing personal information.

Public-Private Transportation Partnerships (HB 1091/PA 97-0502):  Authorizes transportation agencies, including IDOT and the Toll Highway Authority, to enter into public private partnerships (PPP) with one or more private entities to develop, finance, and operate any part of one or more transportation projects. Outlines restrictions and requirements relating to these public-private agreements.

School Bus Drivers (HB 147/PA 97-0466):  Provides that an employer of a school bus driver who holds a commercial driver's license must notify the SOS within 48 hours of the result of the test if the driver is found to have in their system alcohol, controlled substances, cannabis, or refuses testing. Provides that a non-CDL holder school bus driver must be subject to reasonable suspicion relating to drug and alcohol use, and that testing of non-CDL holders must be in conformance with federal regulations This brings the drug testing standard in alignment with the federal government’s standards.

Stalking (HB 277/PA 97-0468):  Provides that a registered sex offender who commits the offense of stalking the victim or family member of the victim of the sex offense for which they had to register, has committed the offense of aggravated stalking.

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