ICCTA Action Alert May 4, 2001 Both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly adjourned Thursday afternoon and are scheduled to return to Springfield on Tuesday, May 8. The House has completed most of its committee work on Senate bills, while the Senate has scheduled May 11 as the deadline to consider House bills in a Senate committee. Major issues currently before lawmakers include the redrawing of legislative and congressional districts and the development of the FY 2002 budget. Some observers predict that because there may be difficulty in reaching agreement on these issues, the scheduled final adjournment date of May 25 might not be met. Bills of Interest to Community Colleges Several bills of interest to community colleges have been approved by both houses and will be sent to the Governor for his approval. Others have advanced as follows: HB 1905 -- Community College Treasurers Bond Reduction (Wojcik - Wirsing / Cronin) ICCTA Position: SUPPORT This ICCTA initiative reduces the amount of the required bond for community college treasurers (outside of Chicago) to be the same as that for K-12 board treasurers. This reduction in premium payments could save community colleges between $350,000 and $500,000 per year. HB 1905 has passed both houses and will be sent to the Governor. HB 289 -- Statements of Economic Interest (Johnson / Karpiel) ICCTA Position: SUPPORT Provides that a person whose multiple offices or positions each require a Statement of Economic Interests need file only one statement with the Secretary of State (for offices and positions required to file with the Secretary of State) or one statement with the county clerk (for offices and positions required to file with the county clerk). HB 289 has passed both houses and will be sent to the Governor. HB 921 -- Interior Design Practice Act Reauthorization (Pankau / Noland) ICCTA Position: SUPPORT Reauthorizes the Interior Design Practice Act for 10 years until January 1, 2012. The current Act, which sunsets at the end of 2001, was vigorously opposed by architects for extending the sunset until 2012. Several community colleges offer programs in interior design. HB 921 has passed both houses and will be sent to the Governor. HB 572 -- Physical Therapist Continuing Education (Bradley / Burzynski) ICCTA Position: SUPPORT Requires 40 hours of continuing education per license renewal cycle for a physical therapist, and 20 hours of continuing education per license renewal cycle for a physical therapist assistant. Changes the definition of "physical therapy aide." HB 572 passed out of the Senate Licensing Committee 7-0. ICCTA Lobby Day is May 9 -- call 1-800-454-2282 to register or sign up on-line here. For additional information on state legislative issues, contact ICCTA at 1-800-454-2282. Illinois Community College Trustees Association 401 E. Capitol Ave., Suite 200 Springfield, IL 62701-1711 217-528-2858 (phone) 217-528-8662 (fax) ICCTA@communitycolleges.org (e-mail) http://www.communitycolleges.org | Home | News | Events | Links |