By Peter M. Murphy
Director, Governmental Services

The IAPD/IPRA legislative platform for 1981 has appeared in the last several issues of Illinois Parks & Recreation so that you may lend your support to these very important legislative initiatives. The Illinois General Assembly is in full swing during May and June with the legislature meeting on a full time basis.

Do you know the current status of the legislative platform? If not watch your "Communicator" newsletter or contact the IAPD offices so that you can add your voice to support legislation favorable to the field of parks and recreation.

The current status of legislation impacting parks and recreation is listed below. IAPD/IPRA platform items have been italicized and we encourage your continued strong support.

Senate

S.B. 10 - KEATS - Adds Section 1.1 to the "Inheritance and Transfer Tax Law" to allow up to 25 % of such tax on a transfer to be distributed to units of local government designated by the decedent. (Assigned to Revenue)

S.B. 28 - NEGA - Adds Section 19.23-lb to the "Revenue Act of 1939" to provide, beginning with the 1981 assessment year, for a homestead exemption of up to $1500 from the equalized assessed value of real property owned by veterans, or their spouses, or on remarried surviving spouses. Effective immediately. (Fiscal note filed Revenue)

S.B. 40 - VADALABENE - Amends Eminent Domain Act. Permits public property to be taken for just compensation by another public body under Act, provided proposed public use would be of greater benefit to the public. Effective immediately. (Assigned to Local Government)

S.B. 41 . VADALABENE - New Act providing that property dedicated for public use may be changed to different public use after 30 years. Requires public notice and public hearing. (Assigned to Local Government)

S.B. 82 - LEMKE - Amends Minimum Wage Law to make Illinois minimum wage the same as Federal. (Assigned to Labor and Commerce)

S.B. 107 - JOYCE, JEREMIAH - Creates the Peace Officers Collective Bargaining and Arbitration Act. Authorizes collective bargaining between Peace Officers and their public employers. Establishes arbitration procedure to be followed when negotiations have reached an impasse, and lists factors upon which the arbitration panel shall base its findings, opinions and order. Requires compliance with collective bargaining agreements and findings of arbitrators. Prohibits strikes by peace officers. Effective immediately. (Assigned to Local Government)

S.B. 218 - SIMMS - Amends the Local Records Act to make certified audits of the receipt and use of public funds by units of local government and school districts public records. Applicable to home rule units. (Assigned to Local Government)

S.B. 298 - DAVIDSON-SCHAFFER - Creates the "Illinois Non-game Wildlife Protection Act." Creates the Illinois Non-game Wildlife Conservation Fund, a special fund in the Treasury. Provides for a voluntary check-off system for individuals paying the Illinois Income Tax to contribute part of refunds due to the fund. Effective upon its becoming a law. (Assigned to Agriculture, Conservation & Energy)

S.B. 305 - JOYCE, JEREMIAH - Amends the Revenue Act of 1939. Changes the level of assessment of property from 33 1/3% of actual value to 25% of actual value. Effective January 1, 1982. State Mandates Act may require reimbursement to local gov'ts. (Assigned to Revenue)

S.B. 382 - BERNING - Amends State Finance Act. Adds Section prohibiting use of public funds for lobbying purposes. Provides that violation of this Section is a Class C misdemeanor. (Assigned to Executive)

S.B. 414 - OZINGA AND MAHAR - Amends the Park District Code to repeal the provisions allowing a municipality included in 2 park districts to disconnect from one of them. Effective immediately. (Assigned to Local Government)

S.B. 425 - GROTBERG-KEATS - Amends the Prevailing Wage Law. Makes the Act inapplicable to projects, specifically excluded by the public body for which the projects are constructed. (Assigned to Labor and Commerce)

S.B. 472 - NEGA - Amends Finance Act and State Revenue sharing act; creates a park, recreation and open space distributive fund in an amount equal to 1/48th of net revenue realized from Illinois income tax with monthly distribution to park districts, forest preserve districts and conservation districts based on population.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 8 May/June 1981

S.B. 473 - NEGA - Amends Lottery Law; provides for depositing unclaimed lottery prize money into the Park, Recreation and Open Space Distributive Fund; companion to S.B. 472.

S.B. 529 - NEDZA, ET AL - Amends Chicago Park District Working Cash Fund Act; authorizes $40,000,000 additional bonds for working cash fund; raises annual issuing authority from $25,000,000 to $40,000,000.

HOUSE

H.B. 42 - DONOVAN - Amends an Act concerning public utilities to prohibit passing on State tax exceeding 3% imposed by the Messages Tax Act, Gas Revenue Tax Act of the Public Utilities Revenue Act to customers who are units of local government or school districts. Effective immediately. (Assigned to Public Utilities)

H.B. 58 - KARPIEL, CAREY AND DANIELS -Amends the Revenue Act of 1939. Changes the amount of assessment from 33 1/3 % of actual value to 2.5% of actual value. Effective January 1, 1982. (Policv Object Statement Filed, Journalized, Revenue)

H.B. 78 - KARPIEL, RIGNEY, STANLEY, BELL, HUDSON, SWANSTROM, NELSON AND DEUCHLER - The Local Government Accountability Act. Implements Article VIII, Section 4 of the Constitution. Establishes uniform systems of budgeting and accounting for units of local government and school districts. Requires the chief administrative officer to submit a recommended budget to the governing body, which must adopt a general appropriations act in accordance with the proposed budget. Establishes procedures for deviating from the general appropriations act. Establishes standard fiscal years for various types of governmental units. Requires annual financial reports and financial & compliance audits. Establishes procedures to be followed where provisions of the Act have been violated. Prohibits home rule units from altering the provisions pertaining to the auditing and budgeting procedures of units of local government. Effective July 1, 1982. (Assigned to Cities & Villages)

The Illinois Association of Park Districts presented to the Honorable Senator Kenneth Hall a plaque in appreciation for his effective interest, support and sponsorship of Parks & Recreation legally beneficial to all Park Districts throughout the state of Illinois.

Taking part in the presentation ceremony were (left to right): Peter Murphy, Director, Governmental Services, Springfield; Scott Randolph, President of E. St. Louis Board of Park Commissioners, E. St. Louis; Dr. Theodore B. Flickinger, Executive Director, IAPD, Springfield; Senator Kenneth Hall; Talmon Cuffin, Commissioner, E. St. Louis; Mane Martin, Secretary-Treasurer, E. St. Louis; and Roy Mosley, Commissioner, E, St. Louis.

H.B. 129 - HALLSTROM, KOCIOLKO AND WATSON - Amends the Govrernmental Ethics Act by providing that certain State, local government and school district employees file "statements of economic interest" if they earn $30,000 or more per year instead of $20,000. (First Reading Senate; Referred to Committee on Assignment)

H.B. 176 - VINSON - Amends State Property Control Act to permit the Director of Administrative Services to lease surplus State real and personal property to local governmental units if a public purpose is served; the rent to be paid must be sufficient to cover the costs of operation; and the Governor must determine the lease will result in the best use of the property. Lease of real estate must contain the provision that the value of the property will not be diminished by the intended use of the property. Lease of realty may be for a period not to exceed 99 years. (Assigned to Executive)

H.B. 206 - PIERCE-REDMOND, MATIJEVICH AND DEUSTER - Amends the "Revenue Act of 1939" to raise the general homestead exemption from $3,000 to $4,500. Effective immediately. (Fiscal Note filed -Revenue)

H.B. 207 - PIERCE-REDMOND, REED, DEUSTER, MATIJEVICH AND FREDERICK, VF -Amends the Revenue Act of 1939. Changes the level of assessment of property from 33 1/3% of actual value to 28% of actual value. Effective January 1, 1982. (Fiscal Note filed - Revenue)

H.B. 257 - WOLF, JJ, RYAN, BARNES, HUSKEY AND TELCSER - Repeals the State Mandates Act. Effective immediately. (Assigned to Executive)

H.B. 281 - DEUSTER - Repeals the Prevailing Wage Law which regulates wages of laborers, mechanics and other workmen employed in any public works by the State, county, city or any public body or any political subdivision or by anyone under contract for public works. (Assigned to Labor & Commerce)

H.B. 362 - SCHBAEDER - Amends the "Revenue Act of 1939" to limit property taxes to those amounts extended in the immediately preceding calendar year plus the average percentage of increase for the last 5 years in Illinois Personal Income; provides for certain exceptions. Effective immediately. (Fiscal Note filed -Revenue)

H.B. 371 - BIRKINBINE-DEUSTER, ACKERMAN, SWANSTROM, EWING, MACDONALD, NELSON, FREDERICK, VF, GRIFFIN, MEYER, RJ, REED, MCCOURT, PULLEN, NEFF, HOXSEY, HUDSON, HOFFMAN AND KLEMM - Repeals the State Prevailing Wage Law. (Assigned to Labor & Commerce)

Illinois Parks and Recreation 10 May/June 1981

H.B. 388 - WOLF, SAM - Amends the open meetings Act. Provides that a meeting in which the acquisition or sale of real estate is being considered, except the portion of such meeting in which final action is taken, may be closed to the public. (Assigned to Executive)

H.B. 411 - REILLY-PIERCE-FINDLEY, TOPINKA, MCGREW, ZWICK AND HALLOCK -Amends the Open Meetings Act to specify the procedure for closing meetings; requires public notice of closed meetings; allows persons unaffiliated with the news media to record open meetings; defines "meeting"; requires minutes to be taken, and specifies their contents and conditions of release to the public; specifies the manner of bringing enforcement actions for violations of the Act, and assigns costs. (Fiscal Note Requested - Leverenz - Executive)

H.B. 600 - SATTERTHWAITE - Amends the Counties Act by broadening counties powers to acquire real estate to include prairies and other natural areas in addition to forests. (Assigned to Counties & Townships)

H.B. 745 - STEARNEY - Amends the Local Governmental Tort Immunity Act. Provides that if a local public entity obtains insurance against any liability for which it has an immunity and the coverage of such insurance is limited to claims over a given amount, such public entity cannot deny liability for claims below such amount by reason of its immunity. (Referred to Committee on Assignment)

H.B. 780 - LEINENWEBER, ET AL - Creates the Uniform Information Practices Code; provides for access and disclosure of records maintained by state and local government units; restricts disclosure of certain records; sets judicial procedure for compelling disclosure; other provisions.

H.B. 866 - FAWELL - Amends Park District Code; repeals provisions allowing municipalities included in 2 park districts to disconnect from one of them.

H.B. 875 - PARLEY, ET AL - Amends state finance and state revenue sharing acts: creates a Park, Recreation and Open Space Distributive Fund in an amount equal to 1/48 of net revenue from Illinois Income Tax; provides monthly distribution to park, forest preserve and conservation districts based on population.

H.B. 876 - FARLEY, ET AL - Amends Lottery Law; provides for depositing unclaimed lottery prize money in the Park, Recreation and Open Space Distributive Fund for allocation to park, forest preserve and conservation districts.

H.B. 908 - YOURELL - Amends Revenue Act; requires petitions to change tax rates to be signed by not fewer than 10 per cent (now 5 percent or 1,000 voters, whichever is less) of the legal voters in the taxing district.

See Legislative Scene... Page 27

Illinois Parks and Recreation 11 May/June 1981

Legislative Scene ... From Page 11

H.B. 933 - MAUTINO, ET AL - Amends Park District Code; removes referendum requirements from existing park districts to establish paving and lighting taxes and police taxes.

H.B. 961 - MCBROOM - Amends act concerning aquariums and museums in public parks; permits park districts under 500,000 to levy an annual tax up to .03 per cent, rather than .015 per cent, of assessed value of property.

H.B. 967 - PARLEY - Amends Chicago Park District Working Cash Fund Act; provides that district may issue additional bonds not to exceed $40,000,000 to create a working cash fund; raises from $25,000,000 to $40,000,000 the maximum amount of bonds which may be issued in one year.

H.B. 1036 - WIKOFF - Amends Park District Code; raises limit on recreational programs tax from 0.05 per cent to 0.25 per cent.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 27 May/June 1981