This week's Illinois State Association of Counties (ISACo) News and Views e-newsletter includes links to newly tracked bills, provides an update about ISACo's 2024 Legislative Agenda and County Platform, invites county officials and staff to join an ISACo Policy Committee, makes county officials aware of a “New Arrivals Working Group” created by Illinois House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch, reports on Illinois' workforce development ranking, includes information on the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Grant, reports on a new pre-k program, announces funding available through the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) for programs addressing Sickle Cell Disease, conveys news about additional funding for migrant response efforts, shares Governor JB Pritzker's statement regarding the Illinois Supreme Court ruling on municipal police and fire pension fund consolidation, reports on Illinois' unemployment rate for the month of December, announces that Illinois is receiving federal funds for the replacement and repair of electric vehicle chargers, links to news stories we are reading to stay up to date this week, provides registration information for the 2024 NACo Legislative Conference, shares the most current CD and Treasury rates from IPRIME, announces upcoming National Association of Counties (NACo) and Public Surplus webinar opportunities, highlights ISACo corporate partner UnitedHealthcare and invites counties to join ISACo.

List of Newly Tracked Bills

The following bills have recently been added to ISACo's tracked bill list. If there is no position listed then the bill is still under review by staff. A complete list of ISACo tracked bills is available via this link.

HB 4409 - Crime Reduction-Adult Redeploy (No Position)

HB 4410 - Criminal-Prostitution

HB 4418 - Government Contract Retainage (Oppose)

HB 4420 - Property Tax-Senior Freeze

HB 4421 - Ins Cd-Breast Tomosynthesis (No Position)

HB 4422 - Counties-Wind & Solar Energy

HB 4423 - Police Training-Back the Badge (No Position)

HB 4424 - Property Tax-Historic Residence (No Position)

HB 4428 - Counties-Motor Fuel (Support)

HB 4437 - Property Tax-Flood Hazard (No Position)

HB 4438 - Manufacturing-Energy-Exemption

HB 4440 - Counties Code-Diversity Goals (Support)

HB 4441 – Local and School Contracting Goals (Support)

HB 4444 - Marriage of Ward (No Position)

HB 4445 - Victims Safety-Electronics

HB 4449 - DCFS-Police Assistance

HB 4453 - Firearm Offense-Adult & Juv Sent

HB 4455 - Income Tax-LGDF Transfers (Support)

SB 2646 - Paid Leave for All-Employers (Support)

SB 2649 - Repeal Illinois Trust Act (No Position)

SB 2651 - Counties-Preserve Landmarks (Support)

SB 2653 - Operating Room Safety Act

SB 2654 - Veh Cd-Lien/Fine Exemption

SB 2659 - Ins-Colonoscopy Coverage (No Position)

SB 2665 - OMA-Service Member Attendance (Support)

SB 2666 - Military Funeral Honors Leave

SB 2670 - Community Ment Hlth Bd

SB 2671 - Ins Code-Riding Therapy (No Position)

SB 2672 - Ins Cd-Generic Drug Shortage (No Position)

SB 2673 - Property Tax-Senior Freeze

SB 2674 - Procurement-Veteran Pref (Oppose)

SB 2681 - Crim Cd-Electr Tracking Device (No Position)

SB 2683 - Stalking No Contact-Tracking

SB 2685 - Governmental Ethics-Lobbying (No Position)

SB 2687 - Hate Crime-White Supremacy (No Position)

SB 2691 - Employee Sick Leave-Notice

SB 2695 - Property Tax-Assessment Cap

SB 2697 - Ins Cd-Cancer-Genetic Testing (No Position)

SB 2698 - Wildlife and Drone Safety (Support)

SB 2700 - Property-Tax-Disabled Veteran

SB 2703 - Property Tax-Historic Residence

SB 2705 - PFAS-Product Ban

SB 2706 - EPA-Fleet Electrification

SB 2709 - Property Tax-Veterans

SB 2710 - Property Tax-Senior Freeze

SB 2711 - Property Tax-Tif Info on Bill (No Position)

SB 2719 - Liquor-Commission-Appeals (No Position)

SB 2728 - Elec Cd-Nongovernmental Funds

SB 2729 - Government Contract Retainage (Oppose)

SB 2732 - RFRA-Substantial Burden-Exempt

SB 2734 - Use/Occ Tax-Aviation Fuel

SB 2736 - Property Tax-Notice

SB 2741 - Crim Cd-Deepfake-Minor-Sexual (No Position)

SB 2743 - Water Plan Task Force Act (No Position)

SB 2744 - Ins-Vaccine Administration Fee (No Position)

*An ISACo tracked bill includes bills that directly or tangentially impact county finances and operations, bills that may be of interest to county officials for the performance of their duties and legislation presented "for your information." ISACo positions of "support" or "oppose" are usually reserved for bills that directly or tangentially impact county finances and operations. ISACo also supports member county initiatives that are consistent with ISACo's County Platform. 

ISACo's Legislative Agenda for 2024

On December 14, 2023, ISACo's Board of Directors approved the Association's 2024 Legislative Agenda, also referred to as ISACo's Illinois County Action Program (ICAP). The Board also approved the 2024 County Platform.

To date, ISACo staff has secured sponsorship for the following agenda bills:

HB 4428 - Counties-Motor Fuel (Representative Guzzardi, D-Chicago)

HB 4440 - Counties Code-Diversity Goals (Representative Will Davis, D-East Hazel Crest)

HB 4489 - Bike/Pedestrian Path Funding (Representative Ness, D-Carpentersville)

HB 4512 - Property Tax-Publication (Representative Nichols, D-Chicago)

HB 4513 - Cannabis-Reinvest Program (Representative Nichols, D-Chicago)

We would like to thank the sponsors for their interest in and willingness to carry legislation from our 2024 agenda.

The ICAP includes several proactive proposals that ISACo staff will actively pursue in 2024. These proposals can be viewed by clicking on the image below:

Please click on this link to visit the webpage with information about ISACo's 2024 Legislative Agenda that includes the County Platform, position statements on proactive ISACo legislation and the document that summarizes each ISACo initiative. 

ISACo's 2024 Policy Committee Application Form Now Available

Join an ISACo Policy Committee and help shape the Association's legislative advocacy efforts. Meetings are held virtually and committees will meet four times per year unless committee members desire to meet more frequently. 

We encourage your participation and look forward to your contribution toward the betterment of county government in Illinois. The form is available via this link.

Illinois House Speaker Forms “New Arrivals Working Group”

Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, has convened a “New Arrivals Working Group” to be led by state Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, D-Glenview.

“The recent influx of migrants into our state provides challenges and opportunities that require thoughtful engagement and consensus building,” Speaker Welch said. “We know this issue will be an important part of conversations this session, which is why I’m putting together a diverse team with strong, relevant backgrounds ready to act as needed. Representative Gong-Gershowitz has decades of experience understanding the complex issues related to immigration, and I’m confident she will lead this group with the skill, knowledge and compassion required.”

“I’m honored to work with a group of individuals who are actively engaged on this topic and can provide quality feedback,” Gong-Gershowitz said. “We come from a variety of backgrounds, but we share an understanding that this must be a human-centered approach that respects the real lives that are impacted. I look forward to the work ahead.”

Joining Representative Gong-Gershowitz on the working group are:

- House Majority Leader Robyn Gabel, D-Evanston
- Speaker Pro Tempore Jehan Gordon-Booth, D-Peoria
- Assistant Majority Leader Kam Buckner, D-Chicago
- State Rep. Dagmara “Dee” Avelar, D-Bolingbrook
- State Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado, D-Chicago
- State Rep. Terra Costa Howard, D-Glen Ellyn
- State Rep. Hoan Huynh, D-Chicago
- State Rep. Dave Vella, D-Rockford

Illinois Tops Workforce Development Rankings

For the second consecutive year, Illinois has been named the number one leader for workforce development in the Midwest region. The top ranking highlights the State of Illinois’ commitment to expanding access to innovative workforce programs and making critical investments through legislation and programming to reduce barriers to good-paying jobs in order to create a thriving business ecosystem for jobseekers, employees and employers.

The press release is available via this link. 

Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Grants Available

The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) announces $6.4 million in competitive grant funds will be available for projects designed to help strengthen the state’s food supply chain. The program, Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure program (RFSI), is a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Applications will be accepted beginning January 22, 2024, from food and farm business and other eligible entities, including nonprofits, local government entities, universities, schools and hospitals.

Information on how to apply and the press release is available via this link. 

New Pre-K Spots Created by Smart Start

On January 17, 2024, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) announced the addition of 5,886 new preschool seats in preschool deserts—areas of the state with too few publicly funded preschool seats to serve 80 percent of low-income three and four-year-olds in the area. As part of Governor JB Pritzker's broader Smart Start initiative, ISBE originally aimed to add 5,000 new seats and exceeded the goal by 18 percent, expanding access to early childhood education to more than 5,800 additional children in preschool deserts statewide. ISBE also expanded services to families with babies and toddlers from birth to age three, serving 1,130 additional children. 

The press release is available via this link. 

Applications for Programs to Address Sickle Cell Disease 

The press release and information on how to apply is available via this link. 

Additional Funding to Municipalities to Support Migrants

Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) announced $17 million in additional funding for municipalities to support migrants. This is in response to the more than 38,000 new arrivals sent to Illinois by Texas since 2022. These funds will be utilized to build capacity in municipalities outside of Chicago that are welcoming migrants. The State is continuing to support the City of Chicago with direct funding as well as funding to support the overall migrant response and is launching this latest round of funding to advance the goal of increasing capacity outside of Chicago.

The press release is available via this link.

Governor Pritzker Statement Following Illinois Supreme Court Ruling on Municipal Police and Fire Pension Fund Consolidation 

Governor JB Pritzker released the following statement following the Illinois Supreme Court ruling on municipal police and fire pension fund consolidation:

“The Illinois Supreme Court upholding the constitutionality of this landmark, bi-partisan pension reform law today is confirmation that smart, thoughtful pension reform can be accomplished in Illinois. After 70 years of attempts, my partners in the General Assembly and I were able to accomplish meaningful reform during my first term in office. We ushered in a new era of responsible fiscal management, one aspect of which has been consolidating over 600 local pension systems to increase returns and lower fees, reducing the burden on taxpayers and keeping another campaign promise. Today’s Supreme Court ruling is a victory for Illinois taxpayers, local governments and first responders.”

The press release is available via this link. 

Illinois Payroll Jobs Increase, Unemployment Rate Up in December

On January 19, 2024, The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced that the unemployment rate increased 0.1 percentage point to 4.8 percent, while non-farm payrolls increased 1,200 in December, based on preliminary data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and released by IDES. The November revised unemployment rate was 4.7 percent, unchanged from the preliminary November unemployment rate. The November monthly change in payrolls was revised from the preliminary report, from 6,800 to 4,400 jobs. The December unemployment rate and payroll jobs estimate reflect activity for the week including the 12th.

The press release is available via this link. 

IDOT Awarded $7.1 Million in Federal Funds

On January 19, 2024, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) announced it has been awarded $7.1 million in federal funds to fix electric vehicle chargers available to the public statewide. 

The press release is available via this link. 

What We're Reading

Illinois Supreme Court announces creation of Pretrial Release Appeals Task Force (WAND)

As Online DMV Services Plagued by No-Shows, Secretary of State Launches Changes (Capitol News Illinois)

New Legislative Caucus Looks to Improve One of Illinois' Largest Industries (The Center Square)

Lawmakers Clear Path for Assault Weapon Registration Rules (Capitol News Illinois)

A Third of Parents Still Concerned About Pandemic Learning Loss (Governing)

Registration Open for NACo Legislative Conference

The National Association of Counties (NACo) Legislative Conference will be held from February 10-13, 2024, in Washington, D.C. The conference brings together nearly 2,000 elected and appointed county officials to focus on federal policy issues that impact counties and our residents.

Attendees have the opportunity to engage in second-to-none policy sessions, meet the members of Congress and interact with federal agency officials.

This is a one-of-a-kind advocacy opportunity to strengthen our intergovernmental partnerships for years to come.

Registration information is available via this link.

Current CD and Treasury Rates Provided by IPRIME

The following rates are current as of January 21, 2024. Please click on the image below to review the rates.

Upcoming Public Surplus Webinar Dates

Public Surplus will be offering 20-minute webinar sessions to interested individuals to learn more about Public Surplus and its online auction site. Participants will also be guided on how to register, or re-register to create a new account.

Public Surplus is an online auction platform that offers services to local government agencies.  

ISACo has partnered with Public Surplus to provide large discounts for our county members when it comes to doing online auctions, specifically real estate sales.

Through a partnership with ISACo, Illinois counties are eligible to list items with a reduced buyer's premium, which will encourage competitive bidding on surplus items listed. With Public Surplus, buyers are responsible for all service fees, and it costs counties nothing to use the service.

Public Surplus will also provide a 10 percent rebate to ISACo on each sale so that the Association can continue to offer a high level of service at minimal cost to members.

The webinar will take place on the following dates: 

January 30, 2024, at 11am CST To join, click here. 

February 15, 2024, at 1pm CST (Link Available Later)

February 26, 2024, at 2pm CST (Link Available Later)

Upcoming NACo Webinars

NACo has announced the following upcoming webinar opportunities. ISACo is a proud partner with NACo and encourages counties to participate in NACo membership and activities. 

Transforming Communities: County-Level Solutions for Mental Health and System Challenges

(Monday, January 22, 2024, 1:00pm-2:00pm CST)

Falcon is a behavioral health consulting and management firm that works to provide solutions for counties in the intersection between justice system and community care. Falcon provides expertise to counties to assess their systems of care and transform them to achieve better justice, public health, and safety outcomes.

This presentation will focus on the following topics:

The Sequential Intercept Model to include the continuum of care in the community.

Necessary components of and process through the continuum of care.

Identifying and addressing the areas of vulnerability in your system of care.

Wellness for staff and clients across the continuum of care.

Click on this link to register for the webinar.

PFAS Litigation: What Counties Need to Know

(Tuesday, January 23, 2024, 2:00-3:00pm CST)

Join this webinar, cohosted by NACo and the International Municipal Lawyers Association, to learn about current legal actions local communities are taking against manufacturers of PFAS chemicals.

Click on this link to register for the webinar.

Artificial Intelligence: Is Your Data and Data Governance ready for AI Opportunities

(Wednesday, January 31, 2024, 1:00-2:00pm CST)

Join NACo and the Data Privacy Officer of Utah in an overview of Utah’s collaborative approach with the 29 counties in Utah on Data Privacy. You will hear how the state has provided “privacy health checks” to both large and small counties. Whittney will also cover how they approach notification of data breaches and pending legislation that will affect the handling of data, both with privacy and transparency. Along with several counties, attendees will hear about AI policies and toolkits that they have developed, which can be useful for any county.

Click on this link to register for the webinar.

First-Time Attendee Orientation

(Wednesday, January 31, 2024, 2:00pm-3:00pm CST)

Learn tips and tricks to maximize the value of your first NACo conference.

Click on this link to register for the webinar.

Coal Countries: Transition Strategies from Coal Communities Across the Globe

(Thursday, February 1, 2024, 1:00pm-2:00pm CST)

Coal communities across the world share challenges. Learn transition strategies from local governments in England, India and Canada for how localities are navigating clean energy infrastructure, strengthening their economies and supporting the local workforce. Join NACo’s Building Resilient Economies in Coal Communities (BRECC) National Network for this collaborate webinar with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

Click on this link to register for the webinar.

CORPORATE PARTNER SPOTLIGHT

THERE FOR WHAT MATTERS™

The mission of UnitedHealthcare is to help people live healthier lives and make the health system work better for everyone. UHC dedicates itself to this every day for our members by being there for what matters in moments big and small — from their earliest days, to their working years and through retirement.

Across the United States, UHC offers health benefit plans for all ages, all lifestyles and all kinds of budgets — including member programs for individuals and families, people with health insurance through work, and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries.

They work with more than 1.3 million physicians and care professionals and over 6,700 hospitals and care facilities nationwide. Together, they work to provide more people with access to quality care when and where they need it.

CREATING A BETTER HEALTH CARE EXPERIENCE

UnitedHealthcare believes that when it comes to your health, everything matters. That’s why they are constantly working to improve the health care experience and make it deliver for the needs of everyone.

They know health care can be complicated, so they work to make it simpler — for patients as well as providers. Streamlining processes and providing answers helps make coverage easier to understand and use.

UHC believes everyone deserves quality health coverage they can afford. So they provide coverage options designed to fit all kinds of budgets, and always look for ways to take costs out of the system to improve affordability and access for all.

They focus on serving the individual, offering access to quality care, personalized solutions and support for every step of the way.

Click here to learn more about UnitedHealthcare.

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