ISBA Director of Legislative Affairs Jim Covington reviews legislation in Springfield of interest to ISBA members. This week he covers the proposed Service tax on attorneys, Juvenile Court Act (Senate Bill 3075) and Condominium Property Act (House Bill 4204).

More information on each bill is available below the video.

Service tax on attorneys. Governor-Elect Bruce Rauner has proposed expanding the sales tax to include some service industries, including lawyers. The plan’s overview may be found at this link: http://brucerauner.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/bring-back-blueprint-jobs-and-growth.pdf
His budget address is scheduled for February 18, 2015.  

Juvenile Court Act. Senate Bill 3075 (Mulroe, D-Chicago; Madigan, D-Chicago) amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. It provides that if the minor fails to comply with terms of the non-judicial probation adjustment, the matter must be referred to the state’s attorney to determine whether a delinquency petition should be filed. It allows a court services or probation department the power to confer in a preliminary conference to adjust suitable cases without the filing of a petition for an adjudicatory hearing. A court services or probation department may, when authorized or directed by the court, and with the consent of the party respondents and the State’s Attorney, confer in a pre-adjudicatory conference to adjusting suitable cases. It has passed the Senate and awaiting a vote in the House.

Condominium Property Act. House Bill 4204 (Nekritz, D-Buffalo Grove; Steans, D-Chicago) creates the Condominium and Common Interest Community Ombudsperson Act. It creates an office in the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to educate unit owners and management about the two Acts and assist in resolving disputes between unit owners and associations involving an alleged violation of the Acts. Only unit owners may ask for this assistance. By rule the Department may charge a fee for the administration and enforcement of this law. It applies to all condominium associations and common-interest community associations governed by the Condominium Property Act and the Common-Interest Community Association Act. It has passed the House and awaiting a vote in the Senate.