Legislative Action

SIGNIFICANT bills of the 78th General Assembly's regular session, which ended July 12, are summarized below. The roll calls listed to the right show Final votes on each bill in the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Illinois was one of the last states to pass a campaign disclosure act. The effectiveness of the bill (S.B, 1568) has yet to be demonstrated.

The three coal development bills (S.B. 1659, S.B. 1667, S.B. 2651) are followed through the General Assembly by William Lambrecht in "Story of a law: how Assembly worked out an energy program" on pages 24-25.

The development of the Illinois school aid formula, including H.B. 2753, will be analyzed in the February 1975 issue of Illinois Issues.

Bill Summaries

Business
H.B. 2864, Grotberg, et al. Charitable donations by public utilities may now be considered as operating expenses in rate sufficiency determinations made by the Commerce Commission. P.A. 78-1243

S.B. 1010, Hall, H. Increases maximum interest rate to 9 1/2% for home mortgages until July 1, 1975. If interest over 8%, no pre-payment penalty clause allowed, maximum "points" 3% of principal. P.A. 78-996

H.B. 2588, Getty, et al. "Collection Agency Act." Requires registration of collection agencies with Department of Registration and Education and defines unlawful and deceptive practices and penalties for violations. P.A. 78-1248

Education

H.B. 2753, Berman, et al. Resource equalizer school aid formula, based on (1) maximum operating tax rate, and (2) guaranteed per pupil assessed valuation per district type (elementary — $ 1.95/$64, 615; secondary — $ 1".05/$ 120, 000; unit — $3.00/$42, 000) to guarantee a total of $1, 260 of State and local money per pupil. P.A. 78-1114

Elections

S.B. 1568, Roe, et al. Requires disclosure of campaign contributions and expenditures of state political committees to the Board of Elections and by local political committees to the county clerk. P.A. 78-1183

Local Government

S.B. 1227, Vadalabene. Amends sections of the Township Act. Requires referendum approval of boundary changes in all townships affected rather than in newly created townships only. P.A. 78- 1186

Bill passage requires a majority vote in both houses — 30 in the Senate and 89 in the Home. In some instances, a three- fifths vote is required. Y= Yes: N=No;

P= Present and not voting; * =Absent.

Pensions
S.B. 638, Shapiro, et al. Repeals provision for forfeiting pensions of persons convicted of a felony arising out of their official duties for persons of three pension systems — General Assembly, Judges, and State Employees. Vetoed, Sept. 9, 1974

Public Transportation
H.B. 2772, Blair. et al. "Downstate Public Transportation Act." Provides for 2/3 tangible operating deficits of downstate public transportation programs be paid by State from 1/32 of net revenue from retailers' occupation, service, use taxes collected in areas served. P.A, 78-1109

Energy
H.B. 2651, Blair, et al. Creates the Illinois Energy Resources Commission to study energy related problems and, specifically, the development of Illinois coal. Commission's prior approval required for expenditures of coal development bond funds. P.A. 78-1125

S.B. 1659, Glass. "The Illinois Coal Development Bond Act." Creates the Illinois Energy Advisory Council. Department of Business and Economic Development authorized to use $70 million for capital development of coal resources with previous approval of Illinois Energy Resources Commission and subject to legislative appropriation. P.A. 78-1122

S.B. 1667, Partee, ct al. Amends eminent domain act for land acquisition for development of coal resources. P.A. 78-1124

28/Illinois Issues/January 1975