IAPD Urges Members to Contact Senators to Oppose Minimum Wage Increase Legislation
(posted May 16, 2012)
SB 1565 (Lightford, K.), which amends the Minimum Wage Law to remove exemptions for temporary or irregular employees and employees under the age of 18, passed out of the Senate Executive Committee late Wednesday. The bill also provides a procedure for increasing the minimum wage to $10.55 per hour by 2015 and thereafter indexing it to the increase in the cost of living.
IAPD has been closely monitoring SB 1565 since its introduction last year. The bill has been posted for a hearing numerous times but has previously been held because of a lack of support. Wednesday's committee action suggests that the bill could be called for a vote quickly. The Senate convenes Thursday morning at 10:00 a.m. Please contact your Senator at his or her Springfield office before that time.
Click here for IAPD's Legislative Alert, which contains talking points to discuss with your Senator as well as contact information.
Legislation Threatening Local Government Revenues in House Executive Committee
(posted May 16, 2012)
IAPD member agencies were alerted earlier this week to today's committee hearing on three amendments to HB 3637 (Madigan, M.). Each of these amendments discussed in our Legislative Update would redirect substantial amounts of the Personal Property Replacement Tax fund to make the State's pension contributions to the Teachers' Retirement System during the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2012.
The bill was not called for a hearing in the House Executive Committee today, but the committee is scheduled to convene again tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. at which time the bill could be called.
IAPD opposes any efforts to utilize the revenues of local governments other than school districts to make contributions for teacher pension costs.
Contact your legislators and let them know that you oppose to Amendments 2 and 3 to HB 3637 and any proposal that would take away local government revenues.
IAPD Legislative Initiative Passes Both Chambers
(posted May 16, 2012)
Lawmakers returned to the Capitol on Tuesday. In one of their first legislative acts, the Illinois Senate voted to approve HB 4562 (Riley, A. / Crotty, M.), which is IAPD's initiative that would allow a park board to appoint an assistant secretary and an assistant treasurer so that these assistants can perform certain duties if the secretary or treasurer is unable to do so. Although many park districts already appoint assistant officers, this will clarify the authority of those assistants to perform important functions such as signing bond documents.
PTELL Legislation Referred Back to Senate Assignments Committee
(updated May 15, 2012)
As IAPD members are well aware, we have been closely tracking SB 2862 (Sandoval, M.) since it was introduced because it would change the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law to prevent taxing districts from capturing the CPI-increase to their extension limitation if the district's total EAV is less than the previous levy year, thereby reducing available property tax revenues for local governments that are experiencing declining property values.
As we previously reported, the deadline for passing the bill out of committee had previously been extended through Friday, May 11. To date, that deadline has not been extended and the legislation has been referred back to the Senate Assignments Committee. We will continue to closely track this bill and all amendments for similar concepts.
 Parks Day at the Capitol Photos Available
(posted May 3, 2012)
The Illinois Association of Park Districts thanks the more than 40 agencies that participated in Parks Day at the Capitol, Tuesday, May 1st. Together, we shared the message that park districts, forest preserves, conservation, recreation and special recreation agencies offer much more than fun & games.
Photos from the Illinois State Capitol photographer are available here.
Again, thank you for your participation, and save the date for next year's Parks Day at the Capitol - April 30, 2013.
 Dust off Your Clubs - IAPD's Summer Golf Tour is Here!
(posted April 13, 2012)
The Illinois Association of Park Districts' 11th Annual Summer Golf Tour for commissioners, directors, staff, corporate members, and friends is just around the corner! This year's Golf Tour is scheduled for:
- Monday, May 21 - Settler's Hill Golf Course, Batavia, Illinois, GolfVisions Management, Inc.
- Monday, June 4 - Arrowhead Golf Club, Wheaton Park District (note: 9:00 a.m. shotgun start)
- Monday, August 27 - Shepherd's Crook Golf Course, Zion Park District
- Monday, September 17 - Fox Bend Golf Course, Oswegland Park District
Support Friends of Illinois Parks with a door prize donation to the tour, and register today!
Special Thanks to our Tour Sponsor
 PowerPlay! Grant Recipients Announced
(posted April 13, 2012)
Congratulations to the 31 IAPD member agencies that received PowerPlay! Grants to fund beyond-school programming for youth emphasizing health, fitness and nutrition.
Keep supporting the Park District Youth License Plate, which funds the PowerPlay! Grant Program. Order a plate for yourself or a loved one today.
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