Jacobs' legislative accomplishments

A recent article and comments here have attempted to suggest that the fact that Sen. Mike Jacobs has been the "main sponsor" of 16 bills as a newbie senator is a remarkable achievment. A commenter who clearly seems to be on Jacobs' payroll has been leaving comments which are absolutely giddy about what a monumental achievement this is. (Try to believe it; they actually compare Jacobs to "Lincoln, Douglas, Straton, Stevenson, Dirkesn, Madigan, Simon and Durbin." Sounds like someone's gargantuan ego is running amok again.)

I have no doubt that Jacobs has been working hard since his appointment, but no one but Springfield types or real political geeks can get too excited about the number 16, nor do they have a clue whether or why it's held out as a reason we should all be really impressed. I think it was our star-struck commenter who said that no other freshman in the history of Illinois had ever sponsored that many bills that passed. Of course, they didn't cite a source for that fact, and as with all such unsupported claims, I'd be skeptical of it's truth.

In politics, the half-truth is an art form, like reporting that you were the valedictorian of your graduating class - but neglecting to mention that your mom was the teacher and the class consisted of 5 people. Sometimes details make a difference.

Yet more times than not, the public is tossed nothing but sweeping generalities which appear to inform, but which tells them nothing. Sen. Huffnpuff or Rep. Bombast are in favor of "improving education" or "strengthening our communities".

Specifics seem to be rare as frog feathers. We're just told something is really great without any attempt to explain why or if it's great, or even why we should care.

So without any further infomation, a senator sponsoring 16 bills is a nearly meaningless factoid to 90% of voters. For starters, what were these bills and what did they achieve for the people of the district and state? How do the bills affect these people's lives?

I did some looking around on the Illinois Legislature website and found this page which contains all the bills for which Jacobs is listed as the main senate sponsor.

Assuming that the 16 bills touted are bills which have actually passed into law, this list shows 3 Jacobs Senate bills passed and 15 House bills which became law originally sponsored by House members Boland, Verschoore, and others, onto which Jacobs then signed on as sponsor on the Senate side. For a bill to become law, it must be passed by both houses and signed by the governor.

This makes a total of 18 bills, a difference for which I don't have an explanation, other than that perhaps two more have passed since the 16 bill figure was mentioned.

Below are listed the three Senate bills and 15 House bills and their abbreviated titles. It includes links to the web pages containing their legislative history and further info, and the short description of the bill provided on the legislative website.

A few abbreviations: VEH=Vehicle MUNI=Municiple CRIM=Criminal CD=Code TECH= a technical change, such as moving a comma or deleting a sentence in the language of a bill. CMS=Central Management Services

SENATE BILLS

1 - SB1666
VEH CD-PURPLE HRT PLT-SPOUSES

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that an Illinois resident who is the surviving spouse of a person awarded the Purple Heart by a branch of the armed forces of the United States is eligible to be issued Purple Heart license plates.

2 - SB1826
MUNI CD PARK DIST ANNEX

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that an unincorporated territory containing 60 acres or less may be annexed by any municipality that shares a boundary, in whole or in part, with the territory under several circumstances including, if the unincorporated area is bounded by one or more municipalities and a forest preserve district or a park district (now, forest preserve district). Provides that nothing in the Section shall be construed as permitting a municipality to annex territory that is owned by a park district without obtaining the district's express consent as provided in the Park District Code. Amends the Park District Code. Provides that a park district's property shall not be subject to annexation by a municipality without the express consent of the board of park commissioners. Effective immediately.


3 - SB2375
INS-FIREMENS CONTINUANCE

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Requires the Division of Insurance of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to enforce the provisions of a Section concerning the firemen's continuance privilege, including provisions relating to municipality self-insured benefit plans. Effective immediately.


HOUSE BILLS

1 - HB330
PUBLIC BLDG COMMN-CONTINUATION - Patrick Verschoore House Sponsor

Amends the Public Building Commission Act. Deletes a provision that requires any county that created a public building commission by resolution adopted by the county board to submit the resolution to the voters of the county. Makes corresponding changes. Provides that the county board of any county that has created a public building commission for a limited and specific purpose may expand that purpose by resolution.

2 - HB594
VOLUNTEER EMT PROTECT JOB Mike Boland House Sponsor

Amends the Volunteer Firefighter Job Protection Act to also provide volunteer emergency workers with job protections. Changes the short title of the Act to the Volunteer Emergency Worker Job Protection Act. Provides that the Act does not apply to municipalities of 3,500 or more. Defines volunteer emergency worker. Makes other changes

3 - HB596
CRIM CD-FALSE PER FIRE FIGHTER Mike Boland House Sponsor

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that a person who knowingly and falsely represents himself to be fire fighter of any jurisdiction commits a Class 4 felony. Provides that a person who knowingly and falsely represents himself to be a fire fighter of any jurisdiction in attempting or committing a felony commits a Class 3 felony.

4 - HB828
MOBILE HOME TAX SALE-NOTICE Dan Reitz House Sponsor

Amends the Mobile Home Local Services Tax Enforcement Act. With respect to the notice for application of judgment and sale of tax-delinquent mobile homes, removes the requirement that the notice include the mobile home park where the mobile home is sited, if known, the model year of the home, and the square footage of the home. Provides that the vehicle identification number of the mobile home must be listed only if known. Effective immediately.

5 - HB829
PROP TX-INTEREST PAYMENT FUNDS Dan Reitz House sponsor

Amends the Property Tax Code and the Mobile Home Local Services Tax Enforcement Act. Provides that any moneys accumulated in the special fund for the payment of interest by the county treasurer in excess of $100,000 (now, $500,000) must be paid each year prior to the commencement of the annual tax sale, first to satisfy any existing unpaid judgments, and any funds remaining thereafter must be paid to the general fund of the county. Effective immediately.

6 - HB1182
VEH CD-ATV-DNR RULEMAKING Patrick Vershoore House Sponsor

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the Department of Natural Resources may (rather than shall) adopt administrative rules regarding the operation of all-terrain vehicles and off-highway motorcycles.

7 - HB1339
BOAT & SNOWMOBILE SAFETY Patrick Verschoore House sponsor

Amends the Snowmobile Registration and Safety Act and the Boat Registration and Safety Act. Provides that a person who has not been previously convicted of or assigned supervision for operating a snowmobile or watercraft under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or intoxicating compounds (OUI), and has not had his or her operating privileges suspended under the applicable provision, is a first offender regarding the applicable provision. Provides that a forfeiture of bail to secure a court appearance or a failure to appear for trial is equivalent to a conviction. Provides that a person may not operate a snowmobile or watercraft while his or her privilege to do so has been revoked in this State, by another State, by a federal agency, or by a province of Canada. Provides that the Department of Natural Resources shall suspend for one year the watercraft operating privileges of any person convicted of misdemeanor OUI under a local ordinance or federal law and for 3 years the privileges of anyone convicted of felony OUI or reckless homicide. Requires the operator of a vessel to report an accident involving any injury requiring treatment beyond first aid (rather than any injury resulting in the victim's incapacitation for a period of 72 hours). Requires reporting of a watercraft accident resulting in $2,000 or more in property damage or complete loss of a vessel (rather than reporting of any accident resulting in $500 or more in property damage).

8 - HB1387
VEH CD-MOTOR CARRIER RULES Kevin McCarthy House sponsor

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Adopts federal motor carrier safety regulations regarding: drug, alcohol, and controlled substances testing; training requirements; financial responsibility; and transportation of hazardous materials. Provides that violators of motor carrier safety regulations are subject to a civil penalty prescribed by federal regulations (rather than a civil penalty of no more than $5,000). Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the driver of any bus that meets specified requirements for a school bus must, in addition to following all other required procedures, turn off all noise producing accessories before crossing a railroad track or tracks. Provides that any school bus manufactured on or after January 1, 2006 must be equipped with a noise suppression switch capable of turning off noise producing accessories.

9 - HB1402
FIREMENS DISCIPLINARY ACT Michael K. Smith House sponsor

Amends the Firemen's Disciplinary Act. With respect to certain periods of suspension, changes references to "24 duty hours" (now, "72 hours"). Effective immediately.

10 - HB1919
GAMING-TECH Patrick Verschoore House sponsor

Amends the Riverboat Gambling Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the annual report of the Board.

House Amendment No. 1
Deletes reference to:
230 ILCS 10/16
Adds reference to:
230 ILCS 10/7 from Ch. 120, par. 2407

Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Riverboat Gambling Act. Provides that the 3 licenses authorizing riverboat gambling on the Mississippi River, subject to approval by the municipality in which the riverboat was docked on August 7, 2003 and with Illinois Gaming Board approval, be authorized to relocate to a new location. Effective immediately.

11 - HB3258
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE BENEFITS-TECH Raymond Poe House sponsor

Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning downstate teachers.

Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Downstate Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that an active teacher member of the Board of Trustees who ceases teaching may serve out the remainder of his or her term. Provides that a vacancy occurring in the elective membership of the board shall be filled by a qualified person selected by the remaining elected members of the board, rather than by the board as a whole. Effective immediately.

12 - HB3622
PERSONNEL RADIATION MONITORING Kathleen A. Ryg House sponsor

Repeals the Personnel Radiation Monitoring Act. Effective immediately.

13 - HB3770
CMS EFFICIENCY REVOLVING FUND Daniel V. Beiser House sponsor

Amends the Department of Central Management Services Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. With respect to savings realized from the implementation of State agency business processing efficiency initiatives, provides that savings realized by the Department of Transportation shall be deposited into the Construction Fund, rather than the Efficiency Initiatives Revolving Fund. Effective immediately.

Fiscal Note (Central Management Services)
The Department of Central Management Services anticipates a significant impact from this bill, in the form of decreased revenues. Between FY04 and what is projected for FY06, payments from the Illinois Department of Transportation range from $21 million in FY04 to a projected amount of $4.4 million in FY06.

House Amendment No. 1
Changes the reference from the Construction Fund to the State Construction Account Fund.

14 - HB4298
CRIM CD-CHILD SEX OFFENDER Patrick Verschoore House sponsor

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Increases from within 500 feet to within 2,000 feet the distance from which a child sex offender may not loiter near a school or public park. Increases from within 500 feet to within 2,000 feet the distance from which a child sex offender may not reside near a school, playground, or a facility providing programs or services exclusively directed toward persons under 18 years of age or from a victim under 21 years of age.

Deletes everything after the enacting clause. Creates the Interstate Sex Offender Task Force Act. Provides that the Task Force shall consist of members representing the Illinois Department of Corrections, the Illinois State Police, the Office of the Illinois Attorney General, statewide sexual assault victim service providers, and such other criminal justice and law enforcement entities and organizations as deemed appropriate by the Illinois State Police. Provides that the Task Force shall examine: (1) the systems of communication between states regarding the interstate movement of registered sex offenders; (2) The laws of Illinois and its border states that restrict and affect where convicted or registered sex offenders may reside; (3) the extent to which law enforcement resources are affected by residency restrictions; and (4) the impact of residency restrictions on the parole, mandatory supervised release, and probation systems in Illinois. Provides that the Task Farce shall report its findings and recommendations to the Governor, the Attorney General, and the General Assembly no later than January 1, 2007. Effective immediately.

Provides that the Illinois Department of Corrections shall provide staff and administrative support services to the Task Force. Corrects a spelling error.

Deletes everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Sex Offender Management Board Act. Provides that the Sex Offender Management Board shall examine: the systems of communication between states regarding the interstate movement of registered sex offenders; the laws of Illinois and its border states restricting the residence of convicted or registered sex offenders, including but not limited to those enacted by the States of Iowa and Missouri; the extent to which State and local law enforcement resources are affected by these residency restrictions; the impact of residency restrictions for convicted or registered sex offenders on activities of, and on the resources required by, both county probation departments and the Illinois Department of Corrections. Provides that the Board shall report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly no later than January 1, 2008. Effective immediately.

Deletes everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the engrossed bill with these changes: (1) changes the membership in the Task Force to the Director of the Illinois Department of Corrections (or the Director's designee) who shall act as the Chair of the Task Force, the Director of the Illinois Department of State Police (or the Director's designee), the Attorney General (or the Attorney General's designee), one member of the General Assembly appointed by each of the following: the President of the Senate, the Minority Leader of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives; together with one member designated by the Illinois State's Attorneys Association, one member designated by the Illinois Association of the Chiefs of Police, one member designated by the Illinois Sheriffs' Association, and any additional members the Chair of the Task Force may designate; (2) provides that members of the Task Force shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for actual expenses as the discretion of the Director of the Illinois Department of Corrections from funds appropriated for that purpose; (3) provides that the Task Force shall report its findings and recommendations to the Governor, the Attorney General, and the General Assembly no later than January 1, 2008 (rather than January 1, 2007); and (4) corrects a typing error. Effective immediately.

15-HB5251
LINE OF DUTY-ELIGIBLE PARENT Patrick Vershoore House sponsor

Amends provisions regarding the payment of compensation under the Line of Duty Compensation Act. Provides that, in the case of a person killed in the line of duty who was born out of wedlock and was not an adoptive child at the time of the person's death, a person shall be deemed to be a parent of the person killed in the line of duty only if that person would be an eligible parent of the person killed in the line of duty under specified criteria in the Probate Act of 1975. Applies to a pending claim if compensation was not paid before the effective date of the amendatory Act. Effective immediately.

House Amendment No. 1
Requires a person to be an eligible parent as defined in the Probate Act of 1975 (rather than being an eligible parent under specified criteria in the Probate Act of 1975). Applies to a pending claim if compensation was not paid "to the claimant of the pending claim" (rather than "to the party") before the effective date of the amendatory Act.