2013 Legislative Report

Transcription

1 2013 Legislative Report Bills CCH Supported: HOUSING Bill Number (HB 1588), Legislative Fix for Rental Housing Support Program - Makes small change in how real estate recording fees are collected that will protect program from pending litigation Sponsor: Rep. Currie and Sen. Martinez Partners: Chicago Low-Income Housing Trust Fund, Housing Action IL, Shriver Center, Business & Professional People for the Public Interest (BPI) Status: Passed both Houses and signed into law on 3/22/2013. Public Act Bill Number (SB 56) Protect Tenants Affected by Foreclosure - Makes current federal protections for tenants in foreclosure the law in IL and ensures that tenants are not rendered unnecessarily homeless or treated unfairly Sponsors: Sen. Collins and Rep. Cassidy, Heartland Alliance, Housing Action IL Status: Passed both Houses and signed into law on 8/21/2013. Public Act CIVIL RIGHTS Bill Number (SB 1210), Homeless Bill of Rights Protects people who are homeless from discrimination by stating that the right to maintain gainful employment, to access public services and spaces, to access emergency medical care, and the right to vote cannot be denied solely because someone is homeless or lists a shelter as their address. Sponsor: Sen. Silverstein and Rep. Welch Partners: Housing Action IL, Heartland Alliance, Shriver Center, Community Renewal Society, Protestants for the Common Good, The Chicago Alliance to End Homelessness, South Side Office of Concern, Supportive Housing Providers Association, Corporation for Supportive Housing, Open Communities, Project IRENE Status: Passed both Houses and signed into law on 8/22/2013. Public Act

2 ECONOMIC JUSTICE Bill Number (SJRCA 40 and HJRCA 33), Constitutional Amendment, Graduated Income Tax - Amends Revenue Article of the IL constitution to allow that income taxes maybe at either a graduated or non-graduated rate (currently constitution only allows for a flat income tax). Sponsor: Sen. Harmon and Rep. Jakobsson Partners: Grassroots Collaborative, Citizen Action IL, Shriver Center, Chicago Alliance to End Homelessness, SEIU, Chicago Teacher s Union, many more. Status: Resolutions are pending in both houses. Bill Number (HB 2262), TANF Asset bill - Disregards assets held by the family when determining eligibility for TANF Sponsor: Rep. Gabel and Sen. Hunter, Heartland Alliance, Woodstock Institute Status: Passed both Houses and signed into law on 7/29/2013. Public Act Bill Number (SB 68), Raise the Minimum Wage - Raises minimum wage by 50 cents plus inflation each year until it reaches 1968 minimum wage level adjusted for inflation, then a cost of living adjustment every year thereafter Sponsor: Sen. Lightford Partners: Action Now, Women Employed, Protestants for the Common Good, SEIU, CTU, many more. Bill Number (HB 374), Debt Restructuring - Authorizes the state to issue general obligation bonds with a low interest rate for sale to the public. The money generated will be used to pay State s past due bills. Sponsor: Rep. Madigan Partners: Illinois Partners for Human Services, Shriver Center, Citizen Action IL, Heartland Alliance, Responsible Budget Committee, many more. Bill Number (SB 1159), Close Corporate Loopholes - Eliminates complex loopholes that would bring in $445 million annually that could be used to pay money owed to Medicare providers, schools and others to which the state owes money. Sponsor: Sen. Hutchinson, Citizen Action IL, Heartland Alliance, Responsible Budget Committee, many more. Status: Re-referred to Assignments Committee on 3/22/2013. Did not pass.

3 Bill Number (SB 1190) Medical Leave for Grandparents - Gives up to 12 weeks unpaid leave for grandparents adopting children. Sponsor: Sen. Hutchinson Partners: Aging Justice Institute EDUCATION Bill Number (HB 2213), Ensuring Success in School Act - Provides supports for students who have been victims of sexual or domestic violence, as well as pregnant and/or parenting teens to stay in school Sponsor: Rep. Ford and Sen. Lightford Status: Referred to Assignments Committee on 5/10/2013. Did not pass. Bill Number (HB 2793), Elected School Board Bill - Provides for the election of members of the Chicago Board of Education instead of appointment Sponsor: Rep. Sims Partners: CODE, KOCO, Parents for Teachers Status: Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 postponed on 5/29/2013. Did not pass. Bill Number (SB 1571), School Closing Moratorium. Sponsor: Sen. Delgado Partners: CRIMINAL JUSTICE Bill Number (SB 1872), Elimination of Felony Prostitution - Amends the sentencing provision in the criminal code to allow for misdemeanor only and would delete the felony enhancement. Sponsor: Sen. Mulroe and Rep. Zalewski Partners: CAASE, Polaris Project, Protestants for the Common Good, Project IRENE, ICASA, CLAIM, Cook County Public Defender s Office, Cook County Commissioner Bridget Gainer Status: Passed both Houses and signed into law on 8/23/2013. Public Act

4 Bill Number (HB 3061), Expansion of Record-Sealing - Inclusion of other non-violent felony convictions (excluding sex offenses, DUI, etc) Sponsor: Rep. Ford and Sen. Raoul, Cabrini Green Legal Aid, Community Renewal Society, Heartland Alliance Status: Passed both Houses and signed into law on 8/2/2013. Public Act Bill Number (SB 1659) Tax Credit for Hiring Ex-Offenders Sponsor: Sen. Van Pelt and Rep. Turner Partners: Status: Passed both Houses and signed into law on 8/5/2013. Public Act Bill Number (HB 2470) Streamline Expunge Process Sponsor: Rep. Turner and Sen. Lightford Partners: Office of the Attorney General, Shriver Center Status: Passed both Houses and signed into law on 8/5/2013. Public Act Bill Number (HB 2640) Trafficking Victim Compensation for Tattoo Removal Sponsor: Rep. Burke and Sen. Delgado Partners: CAASE Status: Passed both Houses and signed into law on 8/16/2013. Public Act Bill Number (HB 2378) Expunge Misdemeanors After Five Years Sponsor: Rep. Mayfield Bill Number (HB 2846) Best Candidate for the Job Act Sponsor: Rep. Golar Bill Number (HB 3005) Employment Limit Criminal Background Check Sponsor: Rep. Mayfield Status: Lost House floor vote on 4/19/2013. Did not pass.

5 HUMAN SERVICES Bill Number (SB 26) Medicaid Financing for the Uninsured under the Affordable Care Act - Authorizes Illinois to take advantage of the ACA to provide Medicaid to about 342,000 lowincome Illinois citizens who are currently uninsured. Because of the ACA, Illinois can offer Medicaid to this population at no expense to the state for the first three years, and in later years the state will never pay more than 10% of the cost of this coverage (with federal funds covering the remaining 90%). Sponsors: Sen. Steans and Rep. Feigenholtz, Heartland Alliance, many more Status: Passed both houses and signed into law on 7/22/2013. Public Act Bills CCH Opposed Bill Number (HB 1337) Reduction in school transportation - Currently, school boards are required to provide free transportation to students residing at a distance of 1 ½ miles from school. HB 1337 increases that distance to 2 miles. Sponsor: Rep. Sosnowski Partners in opposition: Chicago Teachers Union, IL Federation of Teachers Status: Re-referred to Rules Committee on 3/22/13. Did not pass Bill Number (HB 1532) Emergency Eviction for Offensive Use of Property Sponsor: Rep. DeLuca Partners in opposition: Shriver Center Status: Re-referred to Rules Committee on 4/19/2013. Did not pass