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
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Heather Steans