Title
Resolution approving the 2018 Lake County State and Federal Legislative Program.
Staff Summary
• Annually, the County develops a list of legislative priorities that are submitted to State and Federal legislators representing Lake County.
• The County's 2018 Legislative Program seeks to:
o Amend the personal service and publication requirements for final take notices on vacant property;
o Amend the Illinois Underground Utility Facilities Damage Prevention Act to specifically exclude underground storm sewers located within County rights-of-way;
o Seek consolidation of the Lakes Region Sanitary District following the completion of a financial feasibility study;
o Dissolve the Seavey Drainage District and transfer the assets to the appropriate Villages;
o Transfer the appointing authority for cemetery associations to the presiding officer of the township in which the association resides;
o Remove the partisan requirement for the composition of appointed Boards of Review, and instead base appointments on the qualifications and merits of appointees’ and their experience in property appraisal and property tax administration;
o Support efforts to amend the Property Tax Code to clarify the definition of ‘surviving spouse’ with respect to the homestead exemption for veterans with disabilities;
o Support efforts to amend the Mental Health and Development Disability and Confidentiality Act for the enhancement of mental and behavioral health coordination of care; and
o Support convening a working group to identify legislative and operational changes that simplify the process for driver’s license reinstatement for indigent individuals who have committed non-moving violations.
• The County's 2018 Legislative Program also includes a federal component supporting efforts to align federal regulations related to the treatment of substance abuse with HIPAA through the Overdose Prevention and Patient Safety Act.
Body
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, legislative proposals were solicited from elected officials and department heads; and
WHEREAS, the Financial and Administrative Committee, with recommendation from the Ad Hoc Legislative Committee, has prepared a Lake County Legislative Program for the County’s 2018 fiscal year; and
WHEREAS, the Financial and Administrative Committee recommends the approval of the 2018 Lake County State and Federal Legislative Program.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the County Board of Lake County, Illinois, that the 2018 Lake County State and Federal Legislative Program is hereby approved with the attached program.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this County Board does hereby approve those efforts necessary to draft, introduce, and support legislation designed to implement the objectives of this program, with those efforts to be executed by the County Administrator in coordination with the Chair of the County Board, the Chair of the Financial and Administrative Committee, and the Co-Chairs of the Ad Hoc Legislative Committee.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that because of the unique and often unpredictable timing by which actions occur in the Illinois General Assembly and U.S. Congress, the County Administrator, in coordination with the Chair of the County Board, the Chair of the Financial and Administrative Committee, and the Co-Chairs of the Ad Hoc Legislative Committee, is hereby authorized and directed to take all appropriate actions regarding other legislative proposals that may impact upon Lake County government.
DATED at Waukegan, Illinois, on December 12, 2017.