Bill Text: IL SB1724 | 2019-2020 | 101st General Assembly | Chaptered
Bill Title: Reinserts the provisions of the engrossed bill with the following changes. Changes the person who appoints certain members of the advisory committee to the Director of the Government Finance Research Center (rather than the Director of Public Health). Requires the Government Finance Research Center (rather than the Department of Public Health) to provide administrative and other support to the committee. Requires the Government Finance Research Center (rather than the Department of Public Health) to provide an opportunity for public comment on the questions to be addressed in the water rates report, the metrics to be used, and the recommendations that need to be issued. Effective immediately.
Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 14-1)
Status: (Passed) 2020-02-20 - Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Sara Feigenholtz [SB1724 Detail]
Download: Illinois-2019-SB1724-Chaptered.html
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| Public Act 101-0562 | ||||
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AN ACT concerning education.
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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represented in the General Assembly:
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Section 5. The University of Illinois Act is amended by | ||||
adding Section 105 as follows:
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(110 ILCS 305/105 new) | ||||
Sec. 105. Water rates report. | ||||
(a) Subject to appropriation, no later than December 1, | ||||
2020, the Government Finance Research Center at the University | ||||
of Illinois at Chicago, in coordination with an | ||||
intergovernmental advisory committee, must issue a report | ||||
evaluating the setting of water rates throughout the Lake | ||||
Michigan service area of northeastern Illinois and, no later | ||||
than December 1, 2021, for the remainder of Illinois. The | ||||
report must provide recommendations for policy and regulatory | ||||
needs at the State and local level based on its findings. The | ||||
report shall, at a minimum, address all of the following areas: | ||||
(1) The components of a water bill. | ||||
(2) Reasons for increases in water rates. | ||||
(3) The definition of affordability throughout the | ||||
State and any variances to that definition. | ||||
(4) Evidence of rate-setting that utilizes | ||||
inappropriate practices. | ||||
(5) The extent to which State or local policies drive | ||
cost increases or variations in rate-settings. | ||
(6) Challenges within economically disadvantaged | ||
communities in setting water rates. | ||
(7) Opportunities for increased intergovernmental | ||
coordination for setting equitable water rates. | ||
(b) In developing the report under this Section, the | ||
Government Finance Research Center shall form an advisory | ||
committee, which shall be composed of all of the following | ||
members: | ||
(1) The Director of the Environmental Protection | ||
Agency, or his or her designee. | ||
(2) The Director of Natural Resources, or his or her | ||
designee. | ||
(3) The Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, | ||
or his or her designee. | ||
(4) The Attorney General, or his or her designee. | ||
(5) At least 2 members who are representatives of | ||
private water utilities operating in Illinois, appointed | ||
by the Director of the Government Finance Research Center. | ||
(6) At least 4 members who are representatives of | ||
municipal water utilities, appointed by the Director of the | ||
Government Finance Research Center. | ||
(7) One member who is a representative of an | ||
environmental justice advocacy organization, appointed by | ||
the Director of the Government Finance Research Center. | ||
(8) One member who is a representative of a consumer | ||
advocacy organization, appointed by the Director of the | ||
Government Finance Research Center. | ||
(9) One member who is a representative of an | ||
environmental planning organization that serves | ||
northeastern Illinois, appointed by the Director of the | ||
Government Finance Research Center. | ||
(10) The Director of the Illinois State Water Survey, | ||
or his or her designee. | ||
(11) The Chairperson of the Illinois Commerce | ||
Commission, or his or her designee. | ||
(c) After all members are appointed, the committee shall | ||
hold its first meeting at the call of the Director of the | ||
Government Finance Research Center, at which meeting the | ||
members shall select a chairperson from among themselves. After | ||
its first meeting, the committee shall meet at the call of the | ||
chairperson. Members of the committee shall serve without | ||
compensation but may be reimbursed for their reasonable and | ||
necessary expenses incurred in performing their duties. The | ||
Government Finance Research Center shall provide | ||
administrative and other support to the committee. | ||
(d) No later than 60 days after the effective date of this | ||
amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly, the Government | ||
Finance Research Center must provide an opportunity for public | ||
comment on the questions to be addressed in the report, the | ||
metrics to be used, and the recommendations that need to be | ||
issued. | ||
(e) This Section is repealed on January 1, 2022.
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Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon | ||
becoming law.
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