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2010 Legislation

Friday, May 21st, 2010

Dear Neighbor,

In previous emails I provided an overview of the Care of Students with Diabetes Act and Nursing Home Reform legislation that I led in the Senate. This update provides an overview of some of the other significant bills that were passed by the legislature and other bills that I spearheaded and got passed.

Significant bills:

Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (or McPier, SB28). This bill creates new Trustee oversight authority and names Jim Reilly as the Trustee. The Trustee has the authority to enter into a private management contract to run McCormick Place, enter into a marketing agreement with the Chicago Conventions and Tourism Bureau, recommend whether or not to separate Navy Pier from McCormick Place, and enforce exhibitor rights. A new 7-member interim board is also appointed for 18 months (3 members by Mayor, 3 by Governor, and 1 member selected by the 6 to serve as chair) and has the power to veto any action of the Trustee with a 5/7 vote. A 9-member Board is appointed after 18 months and must hire a CEO. The bill also establishes exhibitor rights to address concerns about costs and increases fees on taxi rides from airports to provide an operating subsidy. The bill also permits McPier to enter into a licensing agreement for naming rights of buildings and facilities. Click here to read the bill.

Telecommunications Deregulation (SB107). Under this legislation, telephone carriers can opt to become “electing providers” and become subject to a new, lower form of regulation. Telephone companies should have savings that can be invested in broadband and other technologies and create additional jobs. The bill protects consumers by establishing “safe harbor” packages for low use customers and freezing their rates. Click here to read the bill.

Legislation that I introduced includes:

Mercury Thermostat Collection (SB3346)
Many thermostats contain mercury, a neurotoxin which poses an environmental and health threat if released into the environment. This bill creates a collection program for out-of-service mercury thermostats. This program would require manufacturers to meet yearly goals for recycling thermostats containing mercury. Click here to read the bill.

Craft Distillery License (SB3348) – This bill revises Illinois liquor licensing rules to allow small craft distillers such as Koval, a small business in Lincoln Square, to sell their spirits directly to the public in an on-site retail store. This will allow craft distillers to offer tours, samples, and sales of their product on-site, increasing local tourism and promoting a locally made product. Click here to read the bill.

ID Cards with Non-Existent Addresses (SB3169) – I worked with the North Side Community Justice Center, a community-based prosecution section of the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office to pass this bill. Gang members in the area had been using false paperwork to get ID cards with non-existent addresses on it (not just the wrong address, an address that did not exist). This bill prohibits holding a state-issued ID card with a non-existent address on it. Click here to read the bill.

Pedestrian Safety (HB43) - This bill would require that drivers stop for pedestrians crossing unregulated crosswalks. Current law only requires a vehicle to yield. This standard is confusing and makes it difficult for law enforcement to penalize those that endanger pedestrians. Click here to read the bill.

Bed Bug Task Force (HB6439) - This bill creates a statewide task force to address the spread of bed bugs in Illinois. Many units in our community have been infected by bed bugs, which are very difficult to eradicate. This task force will look at what strategies and procedures the state should put in place to address the spread of bed bugs. Click here to read the bill.

Please let me know if you have questions about any other legislation. Two of the bills above came directly from a problems people in the district identified and we have been able to address them with these bill. I welcome your thoughts and suggestions.

Best,

Heather A. Steans
State Senator

Posted in Environment, Legislation

Read an update on January legislative activities.

Friday, January 22nd, 2010

January 22, 2010

Dear neighbor,

My time in Springfield in January was spent on three critical issues for our State – tapping more federal dollars to improve our educational system, continuing work on nursing home reform, and stopping Asian carp in Illinois waterways. Updates for each item are below.

Federal Race to the Top Education Funding
Illinois is determined to win up to $500 million dollars from the Obama Administration’s Race to the Top education funding initiative by improving our educational system. Last week, two Bills were signed into law that will support school improvement toward capturing these funds from the federal government. Ultimately, Illinois will receive Race to the Top funding from the federal government because all of our educational reforms have been achieved with broad-based consensus from the State Board of Education, teacher unions, school administrators, and educational reform advocates. Illinois is emerging as a serious school reform state where we work together for the best education for all of our children. Now we need $500 million from the federal government to keep our progress going.

Nursing Home Reform
Here in the 7th District, the federal government initiated termination action against the Somerset Nursing Home after finding 4 Immediate Jeopardy deficiencies, or threats of serious injury or death. For more details see the Tribune article on this issue here. The Governor’s Nursing Home Safety Task Force has also presented its preliminary recommendations for improving the safety and quality of care in nursing homes. To review this report, click here. I will be working with the Task Force members and interest groups to pass legislation needed to support these reform recommendations.

Asian Carp in Illinois Waterways
Yesterday, the Senate Environment Committee convened a hearing on a long-term approach to addressing the Asian Carp in Illinois waterways. Testimony at the hearing made it clear we need much more information on the causes, consequences, and ways to prevent Asian Carp invasion throughout all of Illinois. If you would like to review the testimony from this hearing, please e-mail me and I will send you the link when it comes available.

If you have any questions on these or any other issues, please contact me at 773-769-1717 or by email at heather@heathersteans.com. We do not return to Springfield until February 8th.

Best regards,
Heather A. Steans

Posted in Budget, Education, Environment, Nursing Homes

Update on environmental bills and public safety efforts

Monday, September 14th, 2009

September 14, 2009

Legislative Update

Dear neighbor,

As part of my series of updates on legislation that passed this session, this e-mail provides an update on significant environmental bills that have passed this session and an update on public safety efforts in Uptown.

Energy Efficient Building Codes (HB3987) – Environmental advocates have worked on this bill, introduced by State Representative Julie Hamos, for several years. It finally passed the legislature and was signed by the Governor this year. This new law requires new construction of residential units in the state to meet energy efficiency requirements. Illinois already has an energy efficiency building code for businesses.
Natural Gas Energy Efficiency (SB1918) - This bill requires Illinois natural gas utilities to meet a growing percentage of natural gas demand through cost-effective efficiency programs-from 0.2% of annual demand in 2012 to 1.5% in 2019 and provides additional protections on the natural gas rate and costs for consumers. The Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance predicts that by 2030, the natural gas efficiency provisions of S.B. 1918 will save Illinois ratepayers $10.38 billion in utility bill costs, reduce CO2 pollution by 53.27 million metric tons, and create 78,641 jobs.
Changes to Illinois’ Renewable Energy Standard (SB2150) – This bill amends Illinois renewable energy standard, which passed in 2007. The RES requires Illinois utilities to supply 25% of their power from renewable energy sources by 2025. This bill created a solar carve out, meaning that 6% of the renewable energy standard each year must be met by solar energy.

The following bills that I introduced have been enacted.

Food Waste Composting (SB 99) – This legislation will ease the state’s restrictions on food waste composting, reducing our waste stream, cutting down on greenhouse gas emissions, and providing an organic soil amendment for Illinois’ farms and gardens. For more information on the local impacts of this bill, see below.
Lead Sinker Education Program(SB 1269)- This bill creates a state education program to encourage the use of alternatives to lead fishing products, which can cause the death of wildlife and endanger human health.
Green Capital Construction(SJR 36) – This resolution urges the consideration of environmental issues in the capital construction bill to create green jobs and make our infrastructure more sustainable.
Natural Lawn Care (SB1769) – This bill creates new notice provisions when a school or day care sprays pesticides on areas where children will be present.

Significant funds for open space, energy efficiency, public transportation, and water protection were also included in the capital plan that passed this year.

Should you have any ideas about further environmental legislation or comments about anything that has passed this year, feel free to contact me at 773-769-1717 or e-mail heather@heathersteans.com.

Sincerely,
Heather A. Steans
State Senator

Posted in Environment, Legislation