www.ilparks.org May/June 2005 15

The Legislative Platform for park, forest preserve and conservation districts is designed to address the most pressing concerns and needs of these local governments. The following recommendations for legislative reform represent the culmination of the efforts and input by elected board members, their legal counsel and professional staff. After many months of exploring and researching issues, we are giving these proposals our highest priority and respectfully present them to the members of the 94th General Assembly.

• House Bill 158 - Seek to change the tax levy indicator from the Consumer Price Index to the Employment Cost Index.

• House Bill 263 - Support an exemption of the IMRF levy from the Property Tax Extension Limitation Act. Seek to provide full benefits at 35 years of service instead of 40 years subject to an exemption of IMRF from the Property Tax Exemption Limitation Act.

• House Bill 1323 - Increase the bid limit from $10,000 to $20,000 for conservation districts.

• House Bill 3760 - Support creation of the Park and Recreational Facility Construction Act. The act would authorize the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to determine the eligibility for — and authorize the Capital Development Board to manage -grants to park or recreation units for park or recreational facility construction projects.

• Senate Bill 355 - Remove the requirement of mandatory background checks for employees 17 years of age and under.

• Senate Bill 1826 - Seek legislation permitting annexation of park district property by a municipality only upon the consent of the park district.

• Senate Bill 1827 - Support the inclusion of park districts in legislation to permit participation in guaranteed energy savings contracts.

• Senate Bill 2054 - Support clarification that park district refunding bonds are excluded from the non-referendum debt limitation of such districts.

• Senate Bill 2085/House Bill 3694 - Support legislation requiring the continuation of municipal sewer and water service to another governmental entity that was previously provided those services without requirement of annexation.

• Monitor IDNR budget to support continued and full funding for the Open Space Land Acquisition and Development fund (OSLAD).

• Support an exemption from the overtime provisions for seasonal recreation employees.

• Grow non-referendum bonding authority by the Consumer Price Index.

• Oppose a sweep of the OSLAD Fund balance. These obligated monies should not be jeopardized or siphoned off to other purposes.

• Monitor wage issues associated with the minimum wage and prevailing wage and oppose legislation raising employer costs.

• Oppose unfunded mandates.

• Monitor TIF and Property Tax Appeal Board legislation.

16 Illinois Parks and Recreation www.ILipra.org