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Legislative Reports NAIFA Illinois Legislative Update New Laws - Effective January 1, 2010 Cell Phones (HB 72/PA 96-0131): Prohibits drivers from using cell phones in school or construction zones unless using a hands-free device. Court Fines (SB 1341/PA 96-0625): Imposes an additional $10 fee on any person who receives court supervision for a Vehicle Code violation to be deposited into the Driver’s Education Fund. E-Verify (SB 1133/PA 96-0623): Allows employers to use the E-Verify Program and the Basic Pilot Program to help them verify the employment eligibility of new employees. Ethics Reform (SB 54/PA 96-0555): Advances comprehensive ethics legislation, which among other things opens up the ethics investigation process by providing a three-way check between the Inspector General, the Ethics Commission and the Attorney General, making it very difficult to cover up violations; prohibits legislators, executive officers and state workers from offering contracts, legislation action, job benefits, etc. in exchange for a political contribution; adds more whistleblower protections; requires lobbyists to take ethics training; modifies the revolving door prohibition relating to people who reward contracts worth more than $25,000; includes Senate GOP bills requiring GOMB to post online Quarterly Financial Reports about the state’s fiscal condition and make public financial information sent to credit rating agencies. Identity Theft (HB 490/PA 96-0167): Requires the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to develop a consumer fact sheet on identity insurance that can be given to consumers. Insurance Benefit Exclusions (HB 812/PA 96-0180): Clarifies that certain insurance mandates pertaining to individual and group health insurance coverage are not intended to apply to specialty or limited insurance policies, like short-term travel, disability income, long-term care, etc. Insurance Producers Continuing Education Changes (HB 70/PA 96-0839): Reduces from 30 to 24 the number of CE hours required every 2 years. Requires 3 of the 24 hours be an ethics course taught in-classroom. Increases pre-licensing requirement for each line of authority from 15 to 20 hours. Requires 7.5 hours of pre-licensing to be conducted in a classroom setting. Limited Liability Company (HB 1336/PA 96-0263): Amends the Limited Liability Company Act to provide that a member is held to specified standards of conduct when exercising the managerial authority vested in the manager by the Act. (SB 239/PA 96-0126): Creates low-profit limited liability corporations (L3C), which are established to pursue a charitable or educational purpose, and are not created to generate income or achieve political or legislative goals. Low Speed Bicycles (SB 236/PA 96-0125): Allows a person to operate a low-speed bicycle if they have a valid driver’s license. Medicaid Payment Penalty (HB 237/PA 96-0802): Establishes that Medicaid bills must be paid within 60 days of receiving the bill and increases late-payment penalties to two percent (now one percent) per month to help providers offset the costs accrued while waiting for the payment, and encourage more prompt payment of bills by the state. Off Road Vehicles (HB 2455/PA 96-279): Makes several changes to the definition of non-highway vehicles in the Illinois Vehicle Code and requires that all non-highway vehicles operated on a street, highway or roadway be subject to Illinois’ minimum liability insurance limits. A non-highway vehicle is defined as a motor vehicle not specifically designed for use on a public highway including the following: all-terrain vehicles, golf carts, off-highway motorcycles, neighborhood vehicles. Personal Property (HB 2284/PA 96-0515): Amends the Personal Property Storage Act to move regulatory jurisdiction from the Department of Agriculture to the Illinois Commerce Commission. ICC will promulgate new insurance requirements. Texting (HB 71/PA 96-0130): Prohibits people operating a motor vehicle from using an electronic communication device, like a phone or computer, to compose, send or read an electronic message, but does not include a global positioning system, navigation system, or a device that is physically or electronically integrated into the motor vehicle. Title Insurance (SB 1632/PA 96-0334): Specifies that the title insurance industry is regulated under the Title Insurance Act, not the insurance code. Transparency Portal (HB 35/PA 96-0225): Requires CMS to establish a searchable database with access to information concerning state employees and information concerning State expenditures, State tax credits, State contracts, and revocations and suspension of occupation and use tax certificates of registration and professional licenses. Trucking (HB 3956/PA 96-0524): Increases the speed limit to 65 mph for big trucks traveling on interstates outside Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will Counties. Uninsured Motorists (HB 370/PA 96-0143): Increases the penalty for individuals caught operating an uninsured motor vehicle, if that uninsured vehicle causes bodily harm to come to another person. Vehicle Seizure (HB 253/PA 96-0502): Allows for the seizure and forfeiture of a motor vehicle driven while the offender’s driver’s license or privileges are suspended or revoked because of a reckless homicide. Wellness (SB 1877/PA 96-0639): Provides that a health insurance policy that provides coverage for treatment on an expense incurred basis, may offer a program for wellness coverage.
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