MORE THAN 300 bills had been introduced in the legislature by the end of January. Also Sen. Esther Saperstein (D., Chicago) and others offered Senate ' Joint Resolution No. 1, proposing ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment to the federal Constitution.
The lengthy balloting over the House speakership prompted the submission of a proposed amendment to the Illinois Constitution, House Joint Resolution/Constitutional Amendment No. 2, sponsored by Roscoe D. Cunningham (R., Lawrenceville). It provides a procedure for reducing the number of candidates for speaker on successive ballots until, if there is a tie on the third ballot, the secretary of state is to choose the speaker by lot from among those sharing the tie. Breaking an impasse by lot is already provided for by the Constitution in case a majority of the members of a bipartisan reapportionment commission are unable 10 agree on a redistricting plan by September 1 (Art. IV, sec. 3). So the Cunningham proposal, though unusual, is not unprecedented.
At least two bills propose tax reductions to save energy. House Bill 164, sponsored by John E. Grotberg (R., St. Charles), would allow a property tax exemption up to $2,000 for installation of a solar energy heating or cooling system. Senate Bill 41, sponsored by James F. Bell (R., Joliet), would induce people to use public transit in commuting by making the cost thereof a deductible item under the state income tax (up to 10 per cent of the tax base).
Selected bills are described below in summary form. with the chief sponsor's name. Those desiring additional detail should read the bills. Single copies are available from the clerk of the House, secretary of Senate, or your legislator, Springfield. III. 62706.
Education
Two related bills would exempt the State Board of Education from the usual controls of the Department of Personnel (S.B, 70, Saperstein) and Department of Finance (S.B. 71. Saperstein), presumably in order to give this new constitutional agency freedom from gubernatorial control similar to that formerly given the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction which the board supersedes.
H.B, 227, Jaffe, would forbid corporal punishment of pupils.
H.B. 120, Brinkmeier, would let school boards decide whether to observe the federal or state dates for Memorial Day and Veterans Day; federal and Illinois law differ.
H.B. 107, Deuster, and S.B. 68, Faweil, would wake changes in the "resource equalizer" formula Provisions.
Elections
Five bills would change the date of the primary now held on the third Tuesday in March, Proposed dates are second Tuesday in April (H.B, W, Deuster), third Tuesday in June (S.B. 52. Nudelman), first Tuesday after first Monday in September (H.B. 86, Klosak). second Tuesday in September (H.B. 213. Mahar), and third Tuesday in September <,H.B. 124, Schroeder).
County commissioners in non-township counties would be elected for four-year terms (instead of three) in even-numbered vears onlv under H.B, 200, Ralph Dunn.
Higher education
A person with one vear's service in the Illinois National Guard or Nava! Militia would be given waiver of tuition fees for up to four years' fulltime study at a state university or a community college under H.B. 218. Shea."
The award of General Assembly scholarships to a relative of a legislator would he forbidden by H.B. 99. Deuster.
Local governments
Bills affecting municipalities include H.B. 96. Williams, permitting them to license and regulate motor vehicle service and repair establishments; H.B. 165, Friedrich, reducing from 400 to 250 the number of inhabitants needed to incorporate an area into a village in a county of less than 150,000; and S.B. 44, Faweii, allowing pay of municipal officers to be changed during their term.
Bills affecting townships or road districts include H.B. 93, Sevcik, providing if a township coterminous with a municipality is dissolved, its duties, assets, and liabilities are shifted to the municipality; H.B. 158, Schisler, to enable road districts to construct buildings, etc; and S.B. 50, Regner, authorizing townships to contract with a county or municipality for fire protection or ambulance service in unincorporated areas, and to levy a tax in those areas.
Counties would be allowed to license and regulate nursing homes under H.B. 140, Borchers.
Public meetings, privacy
Illinois law forbids electronic eavesdropping (recording, wiretapping, etc) with certain exceptions. H.B. 211, Jaffe, would provide that only information obtained with the consent of all parties to an eavesdropped conversation is admissible as evidence; H.B. 212, Jaffe, would make eavesdropping without the consent of all parties involved an offense. Two other bills (H.B. 112, Griesheimer, and H.B. 155, Juckett) would grant the right to tape or film the meetings of public bodies subject to reasonable rules prescribed by the body holding the meeting. H.B. 180, Deuster, would amend the "open meetings" law to permit closed sessions.
A new act providing safeguards on the use and transfer of personal information in automated personal data systems is proposed in H.B. 125, Porter.
Regional governments
A county or township could disconnect from the Regional Transportation Authority subject to a referendum under H.B. 217, Sangmeister. The RTA could impose motor fuel taxes at rates which vary among areas in proportion to the level of service provided by RTA in such areas under H.B. 109. Skinner.
State government
New agencies are proposed in three bills: a. Criminal and Juvenile Justice Commission to supersede the Illinois Law Enforcement Commission created by executive order (S.B. 32, Graham), a Department of Services for the Handicapped (H.B. 150, Juckett), and a Delinquency Prevention Commission (H.B. 199, Maragos). A Legislative Advisory Committee to the State Fair Aeencv (eight legislators, four citizens) is proposed" in S.B.21, Mitchler.
Public administrators and public guardians (positions under the Probate Act) would be appointed by the county board instead of the governor under" H.B. 197." Hart.
State publications would be required to carry a statement of promulgation costs by H.B. 163, Grotberg.
Taxes
Three bills would raise exemptions under the Inheritance Tax Act. H.B. 161, Borchers, proposes raising from $20,000 to $50,000 the exemption for a mother, father, son, daughter, or spouse of the deceased. H.B. 179, Lauer, would raise these to $60,000, H.B. 182, Friedrich, would raise from $20,000 to $40,000 the exemption for transfers to the surviving spouse.
Books and records of county and township assessors would be public records, open to public inspection during normal business hours under S.B. 51. Regner.
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