This Week In Springfield, the Illinois General Assembly returned from a two-week break.
| PENSION REFORM PHARMACY PRACTICE ACT E-911 FEES E-WASTE THERMOSTATS 19 DAYS |
Stating it signaled ‘a new era of financial responsibility’, Governor Patrick Quinn signed into law S.B. 1946 (Sen. John Cullerton, D- Chicago/Rep. Michael Madigan, D- Chicago) as Public Act 96-0889. This law contains a significant reform of Illinois’ public employee pensions systems. Pro-reform advocates who participated in the Governor’s Pension Reform Task Force last year, including IRMA, were skeptical that this day would come.
Public Act 96-0889 increased the retirement age from 60 years of age (with 8 years of service) to 67 years of age (with 10 years of service); amended the three percent cost-of-living adjustment to ½ of the Consumer Price Index but not exceeding three percent; the COLA is no longer compounded; the earnings and benefit cap was lowered from $240,000 to $106,800; the practice of ‘double-dipping’ (i.e. having more than one public pension) was eliminated; and the final average salary upon which the pension is based was changed from the highest four years of the last 10 to the highest eight years of the last 10. It is important to note that these changes apply to public employees hired on or after January 1, 2011. Therefore, while the Act is conservatively estimated to save the State $300 million in the next fiscal year, it estimated the reforms will save the State approximately $200 billion over the next 35 years.
While these may not be every reform some would have wished for, this new law does represent an extraordinary achievement generated by genuine bi-partisan support. It took the substantial leadership of Governor Quinn, Senate President Cullerton, Speaker of the House Madigan, Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno, and House Republican Leader Tom Cross. However, special recognition must be given to State Representative Kevin McCarthy (D- Orland Park) who, in the face of often overwhelming opposition, tirelessly and honorably pursued the goal of reform.
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This week, nearly three years after enactment of the rewrite of the Illinois Pharmacy Practice Act, the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules adopted the Final Rules implementing the Act. The only substantive change was in section 1330.500 (e)-(h) regarding what constituted a ‘representative sample’ of all medicines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). IRMA, along with other pharmacy associations, successfully negotiated with the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation to address their concerns without imposing onerous requirements that were outside the intent of the Pharmacy Practice Act. With the formal adoption of the administrative rules, Illinois has a state-of-the-art practice act which will allow the Illinois pharmacy community to utilize appropriate technology and delivery mechanisms to meet the needs and demands of the modern marketplace.
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Under existing law, telecommunications providers are required to collect and submit to the State a 911 fee on all prepaid phones. While it is admittedly a cumbersome process, nearly all telecommunication companies selling in prepaid phones obey the law and collect and redeem the monies to the State. Unfortunately, all do not. The industry is attempting to convince elected officials to shift their burden to retailers to collect the fee at the point-of-sale. This week, the Senate Telecommunications & Information Technology Committee recommended to the floor Senate Amendment #2 to S.B. 120 (Sen. Don Harmon, D- Oak Park). However, they did so only after the sponsor agreed to hold the bill on 2nd Reading over the summer and continue to meet with IRMA and other opponents (e.g. City of Chicago, 911 centers) in an attempt to address concerns. IRMA would like to thank the members of the committee who expressed their concerns over the proposal to Sen. Harmon. We would also like to thank Sen. Harmon for his willingness to continue discussions.
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Previous issues of TWIS have reported on IRMA’s initiative to amend the Illinois e-waste law and alter the manner in which television manufacturers calculate their share of the market and subsequent recycling responsibilities. In short, Illinois would change from being the only state to require retailers to report their sales, to an extrapolation of national sales data which is how the other 20-plus e-cycling states calculate manufacturer responsibility. Before the Easter Break, the House and Senate each unanimously passed identical bills. This week, H.B. 5907 (Rep. Mark Walker, D- Arlington Heights/Sen. Michael Frerichs, D- Champaign) was unanimously passed out of the Senate Environment Committee and will now go to the Senate floor for additional consideration. IRMA would like to thank Rep. Walker and Senator Frerichs (D- Champaign) for their sponsorship in the House and Senate respectively.
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Agreement was formalized this week on a proposal regarding the collection thermostats containing mercury. Beginning next year, S.B. 3346 (Sen. Heather Steans, D- Chicago) requires manufacturers to begin collecting mercury thermostats that are taken out-of-service. The collection goal for manufacturers begins at 5,000 thermostats in 2011 and increases to 15,000 in 2013 and 2014. Collection goals in future years will be established cooperatively through discussion with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) and the various stakeholders. Manufacturers must establish collection outlets and may approach wholesalers, contractors, and retailers to request their voluntary participation. IRMA would like to thank Senator Steans, Senator Dale Risinger (R- Peoria), the IEPA, and the Environmental Law & Policy Center.
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There are only 19 days until Business Day 2010. Wednesday, May 5th, is an exciting opportunity for you to join with your peers from throughout the State to make your cares and concerns heard in Springfield. Governor Pat Quinn and State Senator Bill Brady, the gubernatorial nominees of the Democratic and Republican parties respectively, have been invited to address the opening luncheon and share their starkly different visions for the State. After visiting with legislators at the Capitol, attendees will unwind at the evening reception which has become a ‘can’t miss’ event. For more information and to register, please visit www.irma.org . We look forward to seeing you in Springfield on Wednesday, May 5th.
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Rob Karr, Senior Vice President
Government & Member Relations
