Illinois Chamber Rail Report

March 03, 2023

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ILLINOIS CHAMBER
Rail Report

March 2, 2023

Highlights from Today:

The House was in Springfield for this week's final day of session. No action of note occurred on the floor while committee hearings were held throughout the morning. HR 110 elects Nicole Hill as the new Doorkeeper of the House.

The House and Senate will both return next Tuesday, March 7th at 12 pm.

Committee Action of Note:

HB 1236, Bidding passed out of the Counties & Townships Committee by a vote of 7-2-0. This bill provides that, in determining the lowest responsible bidder, a county board of a county with fewer than 2,000,000 inhabitants shall for certain procurements take into consideration, among other things, the bidder's active participation in an apprenticeship program registered with the United States Department of Labor.

HB 1465, Bidding passed out of the Counties & Townships Committee by a vote of 9-0-0. This bill states in provisions concerning the performance of functions by the highway commissioner of a road district, provides that, except for professional services, when the cost of construction, materials, supplies, new machinery or equipment exceeds $30,000 (instead of $20,000), the contract for such construction, materials, supplies, machinery or equipment shall be let to the lowest responsible bidder if specified conditions are met.

HB 2033, Bonds passed out of the Counties & Townships Committee by a vote of 9-0-0. This bill amends the Local Government Debt Reform Act. Provides that an ordinance levying a tax for the payment of principal of and interest on general obligation bonds or limited bonds may be filed electronically with the county clerk.

HB 2238, Stroke Centers passed out of the Public Health Committee by a vote of 8-0-0. This bill provides for the certification and designation of Thrombectomy Capable Stroke Centers, Thrombectomy Ready Stroke Centers, and Primary Stroke Centers.

HB 2496, Drugs passed out of the Public Health Committee by a vote of 8-0-0. This bill amends the Illinois Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Provides that it is a violation of the Act to contract to delay the entry of a drug into the marketplace.

HB 2827, Credentialing passed out of the Public Health Committee by a vote of 8-0-0. This bill amends the Health Care Professional Credentials Data Collection Act. Provides that "recredentialing" and "single credentialing cycle" must be undertaken for a period not to exceed 3 years (rather than once every 2 years). Provides that forms established by the Department of Public Health under the provisions shall be available in both paper and electronic formats upon request and in the format requested (rather than just in both paper and electronic formats). Repeals provisions establishing the Health Care Credentials Council and makes conforming changes.

HB 3053, County Procurement Goals passed out of the Counties & Townships Committee 6-3-0. This bill provides that a county may establish goals, based upon a legally defensible disparity study, for the procurement of goods and services to promote and encourage the continuing economic development of: (1) minority-owned and minority-operated businesses; (2) women-owned and women-operated businesses; (3) businesses owned and operated by persons with disabilities; and (4) businesses owned and operated by veterans of the armed forces of the United States. In the County Design-Build Authorization Division of the Code, provides that, rather than evaluating design-build proposals to see if they comply with the utilization goals for business enterprises established in the Business Enterprise for Minorities, Women, and Persons with Disabilities Act and provisions of the Illinois Human Rights Act, design-build proposals may be evaluated to determine if the proposals meet the county's contracting goals for the county's program for disadvantaged business enterprises based on the county's most recent, legally defensible disparity study.