Legislative Committee Co-Chairs Brian Pollock and Susan Starrett

The Kane County Board Legislative Committee will host a legislative breakfast Monday as a chance to meet, greet and otherwise hobnob with state and federal elected officials.

This is one of those meetings that’s open to the public — a requirement of the Open Meetings Act — but the official business is more about relationship building and getting across some important messages about what legislation Kane County is actively supporting.

For some years, Kane County hired lobbyists to get the message to Springfield. That function has been taken over by the County Board Legislative Committee, and Monday’s breakfast is a megaphone aimed at making sure Kane County voices are heard.

The meeting is especially important in light of Gov. Bruce Rauner’s “Illinois Turnaround” initiative, which includes at least three major components that have been lamented by a number of suburban local government entities: proposals to cut local governments’ share of state income tax, freeze property taxes and exempt firefighters and police officers from possible pension benefit cuts.

In addition, Kane County has a stake in a quite of few pieces of pending legislation, among them a bill that would allow the Kane County Board to impose a judicial facilities fee and a bill that would make an increase in jury pay optional for those counties that can’t afford it.

“This is a crucial moment,” County Board Chairman Chris Lauzen said at the end of Wednesday’s Executive Committee meeting. “It is a Super Bowl kind of moment.”

Legislative Committee Co-Chair Brian Pollock said Wednesday that much of Kane County’s focus will be “unfunded mandate relief.” Pollock said he hopes most or all Kane County Board members will attend the breakfast as a sign of solidarity.

“If 20 of us show up, what it says is, ‘This stuff matters,’ ” he said. “They’ll know we mean business. We need to show them we want their votes.”

Pollock co-chairs the Legislative Committee with Susan Starrett. The Legislative Breakfast is set for 8 a.m. Monday, March 9, in the First Floor Auditorium, Kane County Government Center, Building A, 719 S. Batavia Avenue, Geneva, IL.

Below is a list of some of the relatively recent state legislation that is of interest to Kane County.

Some Recent State Legislation of Interest to Kane County
HB2768		John E. Bradley	CNTY CD-COURT SERVICES FEE	02/20/2015	House	Referred to Rules Committee
****	Provides that a court services fee shall not exceed $25 unless the fee is set according to an acceptable cost study under the Code.
SB0059		John G. Mulroe	COUNTY CODE-JUROR FEES	01/28/2015	Senate	Assigned to Judiciary
****	Provides that if the county board determines it cannot pay jurors the sums of $25 for the first day and thereafter $50 for each day of necessary attendance, then the board shall fix an amount no less than $4 for each day of necessary attendance at courts as jurors in counties of the first class, the sum of $5 for each day in counties of the second class, and the sum of $10 for each day in counties of the third class. Additional provisions.
SB0804		William R. Haine	CNTY CD-COURT SERVICES FEE	02/05/2015	Senate	Referred to Assignments
****	Provides that a court services fee shall not exceed $25 unless the fee is set according to an acceptable cost study under the Code.
SB1336		Linda Holmes	CNTY CD-JUDICIAL FACILITY FEE	02/18/2015	Senate	Referred to Assignments
****	Provides that the Kane County Board may by ordinance impose a judicial facilities fee. Effective immediately.
SB1469		Michael Connelly	CNTY CD-BUDGET HEARING	02/20/2015	Senate	Referred to Assignments
****	Provides that the county board shall hold a public hearing regarding the county’s annual budget after making the budget available for public inspection and at least 7 days prior to the board’s final action on the budget. Effective immediately.
SB1496		Thomas Cullerton	CNTY MUNI-CRIME FREE HOUSING	02/20/2015	Senate	Referred to Assignments
****	Provides that the county board may adopt a crime free rental housing ordinance for the purpose of reducing crime in residential areas.
SB1500		Andy Manar	MUNI CNTY CD-REPORT DUE DATES	02/20/2015	Senate	Referred to Assignments
****	Provides that various documents that are submitted to the Comptroller must be filed within 180 days after the close of a fiscal year (removing the option to file as soon thereafter as various audits become available). Further changes audit due dates from 6 months to 180 days. Amends the Counties Code changing audit due dates from 6 months to 180 days. Effective immediately.
SB1630		Darin M. LaHood	ABANDONED-IRREGULAR PARCELS	02/20/2015	Senate	Referred to Assignments
****	Provides that counties may petition to have property declared abandoned if the property is not being maintained as shown by the county having to abate a violation more than 3 times within a 12 month period. Further provides that counties may transfer irregular public parcels at no cost to adjoining property owners after receiving no bids after a public auction or no offers after adopting a resolution to sell the irregular public parcel.
SB1745		Pamela J. Althoff	CNTY CD-PROCUREMENT CONTRACTS	02/20/2015	Senate	Referred to Assignments
****	Provides that county contracts may be awarded as a sole source procurement unless an interested party requests public hearing. Provides that contracts for professional or artistic services cannot be amended through use of sole source procurements if the result would increase the contract of more than 5% of the initial award, or would extend the contract term beyond the time reasonably needed for a competitive procurement, not to exceed 2 months.
SB1746		Pamela J. Althoff	CNTY CD-CONTRACTS OF 4 YEARS	02/20/2015	Senate	Referred to Assignments
****	Provides that counties may make contracts of up to 4 years in duration. Contracts that are 4 years in duration must contain a provision allowing the county board to terminate the contract by majority vote within 120 days of a new county board member being sworn into office.
SB1794		Darin M. LaHood	GAMING-LICENSEE LIMITATIONS	02/20/2015	Senate	Referred to Assignments
****	Makes a variety of changes to the Video Gaming Act.
SB1853		Terry Link	CNTY-CONSOLIDATE-FIRE-POLICE	02/20/2015	Senate	Referred to Assignments
****	Provides a process for a County Board to consolidate fire protection districts.