Some New State Laws that Take Effect Jan 1
The City of Evanston's Intergovernmental Affairs Coordinator Matt Swentkofske reminds residents of several new laws that will take effect in the New Year. On January 1, 2011 numerous changes to Illinois state law take effect. They represent a wide variety of topics and issues that your state legislature deals with on a daily basis. Below you will find a small sampling of the many bills passed by the General Assembly and signed into law by the Governor during the 2009-10 legislative session.
• House Bill 3785 – Prohibits local government from placing restrictions on political signs placed on private property.
• House Bill 4658 – Prohibits potential employers from inquiring about a person’s credit history as a prerequisite to employment. Prohibits a credit score or credit history preventing someone from being offered employment.
• House Bill 4691 – Amplify penalties for people who transport children in an automobile who fail to properly secure the child in either a car seat or with a seatbelt. Also provides customers for a discount on car seats through their insurers.
• House Bill 5152 – Creates a system of independent review to investigate deaths of residents at state-operated facilities for people with developmental disabilities. Also known as Brian’s Law.
• House Bill 5772 – Requires pet shops and shelters to disclose information to new animal owners regarding the animals being sold/adopted. This includes birth dates, breeding info, vaccination records among some of the information requiring disclosure.
• House Bill 6101 – Increases penalties for false 911 calls or filing false police reports.
• Senate Bill 355 – Moves the statewide primary elections in even numbered years to the 3rd Tuesday in March. In 2008, the primary was moved to February.
• Senate Bill 1466 - Enacts a $5,000 limit on individual donations to any political campaign in a primary and $5,000 general election, with a $10,000 limit for corporations, labor unions and political action committees in a primary, and again in a general election. Increases candidate reporting requirements per year.
• Senate Bill 2824 – Prohibits convicted sexual predators and child sex offenders from being within 500 feet of public parks
• Senate Bill 3796 - Speeding 30 mph over the limit is no longer a petty offense punishable by fine only. Now, a ticket for going 30 mph over the speed limit has a penalty of up to six months jail and $1,500.00 fine. Speeding 40 mph or more over the limit may carry a maximum penalty of up to one year in jail and a fine of $2,500.00.
To learn more about other legislation and laws that will take effect in the new year, visit the Illinois General Assembly's web site at www.ilga.gov.
About the City's Intergovernmental Affairs Office
The City's Office of Intergovernmental Affairs works to coordinate the City of Evanston's state and federal grant applications, as well as serve as an information resource for the City Council on pending State and Federal policies. The office works as a liaison between the City Council, Mayor, city manager, city staff and the following organizations: United States Congress (House and Senate), Illinois General Assembly, Regional Transit Authority (RTA), Northwest Municipal Conference, Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP), Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), PACE Suburban Bus Service, Illinois Municipal League, National League of Cities, United States Conference of Mayors, Metra, Union Pacific Railroad, and more.
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