Bill Summaries

Gubernatorial succession

The succession to the governor, in case of vacancy, is clarified under H.B. 604, sponsored by Rep. John Hallock (R., Rockford), which lists the order as lieutenant governor, the elected attorney general, the elected secretary of state, the elected comptroller, the elected treasurer, the president of the Senate and the speaker of the House. P.A. 82-105, effective immediately.

Insurance

The 8 percent ceiling on interest rates for loans made on whole life insurance policies is removed under H.B. 963, sponsored by Rep. Gerald Bradley (D., Bloomington), and S.B. 913, sponsored by Sen. James Rupp (R., Decatur). P.A. 82-631 and P.A. 82-595, respectively; both effective January 1, 1982.

Judiciary

Seventy new associate circuit judges are added to the state's court system, 20 in Cook County and 50 downstate, under S.B. 700, sponsored by Sen. Egan. P.A. 82-662, effective immediately.

Local government

The Local Accounting Task Force is created to recommend improvements in local government accounting systems under H.B. 1608, sponsored by Rep. James Keane (D., Chicago). P.A.

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Legislative Action

82-643, effective September 24, 1981.

Local governments are authorized to establish audit review committees under H.B. 1614, sponsored by Keane. P.A. 82-644, effective January 1, 1982.

Labor and commerce

The only workers' compensation bill to pass this year allows two or more employers with similar job risks to pool their insurance premiums to reduce their rates. And two or more employers of similar professional organizations are allowed to pool their liabilities to qualify as group insurers under the measure, S.B. 662, sponsored by Sen. Aldo DeAngelis (R., Chicago Heights). P.A. 82-327, effective immediately.

Business gets a .5 percent credit against the corporate personal property tax replacements for investment in land, machinery or buildings starting in July 1982, under S.B. 477, sponsored by Sen. Davidson. It also allows companies to get an additional .5 percent credit for similar investment after July 1, 1985, if, by then, their Illinois employment has increased 1 percent over the preceding year. P.A. 82-315, effective January 1, 1982.

The only other major business incentive passed authorizes local government to abate property taxes for as long as 10 years but for no more than $1 million in order to attract industry, under S.B. 486, sponsored by Sen. Prescott Bloom (R., Peoria). P.A. 82-316, effective January 1, 1982.

School boards are allowed, but not required, to recognize teacher unions for collective bargaining under H.B. 701, sponsored by Rep. Mc-Clain. A board may voluntarily recognize a union if it seems to represent the most teachers, or a union may become the exclusive representative by election. One provision requires nonunion teachers to pay a service fee to cover collective bargaining costs. P.A. 82-107, effective immediately.

Motor vehicles

State imphed-consent laws now cover drivers charged with driving while under the influence of drugs, as well as alcohol, and test requirements and penalties are more strict, under S.B. 457, sponsored by Sen. Max Coffey (R., Charleston). P.A. 82-311, effective January 1, 1982.

Drivers convicted of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, personal injury or damages of $1,000-or more, face suspension of their licenses for a year instead of six months, under S.B. 625, sponsored by Sen. Timothy Simms (R., Rockford). P.A. 82-141, effective January 1, 1982.

Open meetings

Major revisions in the state's 25-year-old open meetings law were made under H.B. 411, sponsored by Rep. Jim Reilly (R., Jacksonville). (For details, see "Fanner backs revisions in open meetings law, "July Illinois Issues, p. 9). P.A. 82-378, effective January 1, 1982.

Pensions

Teachers and executive branch state workers who retired before January 1, 1977, receive a 'one-time' bonus of S12 per year of service, under H.B. 682, sponsored by Rep. Clarence Neff (R., Stronghurst). P.A. 82-520, effective immediately.

Some 6,000 security workers with the Department of Corrections will get an average 25 percent increase in their pension benefits under S.B. 244, sponsored by Sen. Sangmeister. P.A. 82-191, effective January 1, 1982.

The maximum pension for legislators who retire after 1981 goes from 80 percent of their final salary to 85 percent, under H.B. 291, sponsored by Rep. Ralph Capparelli (D., Chicago). Their contribution is increased from 10 percent to 11.5 percent. P.A. 82-342, effective January 1, 1982.

About 160 law enforcement officers working for the Department of Conservation will quality for a larger pension, with increased contributions, under S.B. 587, sponsored by Sen. Vadala-bene. P.A. 82-304, effective January 1, 1982.

The state's five pension systems are allowed to invest in mortgages held on owner-occupied Illinois homes, generally those mortgages and mort gage/insurance combinations which represent no more than 95 percent of the appraised value of the property, under S.B. 851, sponsored by Sen. Davidson. P.A. 82-308, effective immediately.

Public aid

"Phestate's "workfare" laws are strengthened and a pilot project in Chicago expanded citywide under S.B. 848, sponsored by Sen. Steven Nash (D., Chicago). The law allows the Department of Public Aid to decide whether tnose on General Assistance and/or Aid to Families with Depen dent Children should be required to work for their benefits. P.A. 82-439, effective September 14, 1981.

Regulation of professions

Financial support for the University of Illinois' Office of Real Estate Research (ORER) is stabilized under a funding package designed to supplement a realtor's subsidy with a state subsidy based on new real estate license fees rather than lax revenue, under H.B. 774-776, sponsored by House Majority Leader Arthur Telcser (R., Chicago). P.A. 82-90, 82-337 and 82-338, respectively; all effective immediately.

All other license fees paid by real estate brokers and salesmen will be used solely to regulate the profession, under H.B. 698, sponsored by Rep. Daniels, and S.B. 769, sponsored by Senate Minority Leader James Philip (R., Elmhurst). P.A. 82-336 and 82-328, respectively; both effective immediately.

Revenue and taxes

In the only major tax relief legislation to pass, the basic exemption in the state inheritance tax that benefits a surviving spouse was increased from $40,000 to $60,000, under H.B. 725, sponsored by Rep. Steve Miller (R., Danville). P.A. 82-651, effective September 25, 1981.

Local governments that want to increase their tax levies by more than 5 percent are now required to hold hearings under the so-called "truth in taxation" law, H.B. 1048, sponsored by Rep. Thomas Ewing (R., Pontiac). P.A. 82-102, effective immediately.□

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