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ILA Executive Board Determines Positions on Key Bills Yesterday
At its February 8 meeting, the ILA Executive Board reviewed more than 50 library bills and determined the association's position on key bills. Legislators have several more weeks to file new bills, and many other bills relevant to the Illinois library community are likely to be introduced.
Both the ILA Public Policy Committee (PPC) and ILA Executive Board met this week with their next meetings about a month away. In the interim, the ILA Quick Response Team will address any new bills requiring immediate attention. We will keep you informed through the ILA E-Newsletter.
Please click here to see the complete list. (Click on See All Current Legislation at the bottom in the very small type for the full listing including ILA's positions.) The ILA website also includes a link to the full text of every bill, the bill's status, and information about the bill's sponsor(s). The website will be continually updated as additional bills are filed, amended, and reviewed. State Pension Reform (House Bill 96, House Bill 98, House Bill 1271, Senate Bill 1, and Senate Bill 35). The Illinois General Assembly and Illinois Governor Pat Quinn are considering legislation to reduce the cost of state pensions and decrease the state's unfunded pension liability. The five state pension systems are: K-12 Teachers outside the City of Chicago, State Employees, State University Employees, Legislators, and Judges. So far, these negotiations have not included proposals to change local pension systems such as Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF). The House effort has focused on mandating lower pension cost of living (COLA) increases and requiring employees to contribute more. The Senate has suggested that changes in benefits must include an employee choice. Employees could keep their current benefits but have to give up health care coverage in retirement, or keep health care retirement coverage but accept lower benefits such as a reduced COLA. The ILA Executive Board reaffirmed its position that any changes to pension systems should: (1) not reduce an earned employee benefit; (2) include real employee choice; and (3) strive for greater uniformity in the pension systems. ILA will continue to closely monitor all pension legislation and OPPOSE any bill that reduces an earned employee benefit. Firearm Concealed Carry (House Bill 154, House Bill 997, and Senate Bill 1284). There are several bills that would allow and regulate the carrying of firearms in public. Following a Federal Appellate court decision invalidating the current Illinois prohibition on carrying firearms in public, it is now likely that some form of open or concealed carry will be legal in Illinois. The three bills filed thus far all contain exemptions, which allow continued prohibition of firearms in many locations. Among the exemptions to carrying firearms are public libraries, schools, community colleges, and universities. With these exemptions included, public libraries, school libraries, and higher education libraries could decide locally whether to prohibit firearms. The ILA Executive Board voted to OPPOSE any legislation that does not include these four exemptions. Reduction in Local Property Tax Revenues (House Bill 89, House Bill 95, House Bill 983, House Bill 1310, House Bill 1496, House Bill 1499, House Bill 1521, Senate Bill 1308, and Senate Bill 1403). The ILA Executive Board reviewed many bills which if approved would reduce property tax revenues to local taxing bodies. The bills include extension or tightening of Tax Caps, changes to the property tax assessment and collection systems, or otherwise restrict local government property tax levies. Recognizing that the state has already cut library funding, and that local libraries have already made painful spending reductions, the board voted to OPPOSE all bills which would further restrict existing revenues available to local public libraries. ILA will continue to monitor and inform the Illinois library community of any developments in the Illinois General Assembly impacting libraries and our key concerns. Most importantly, we will call upon you to take action at the appropriate time. Thank you for interest and support! |
