Local Government Law

(Althoff, D-Crystal Lake) amends the Property Tax Code to allow the following persons to represent tax payers before boards of review in counties less than three million: (i) the person has been granted power of attorney by the taxpayer for the specific purpose of an appeal before the board of review; and (ii) meets at least one of the following qualifications: (1) the person is an attorney licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois; (2) the person is a Certified Public Accountant; (3) the person is a licensed Illinois real estate agent; (4) the person possesses a Certified Illinois Assessing Officer certificate from the Illinois Property Assessment Institute; (5) the person possesses a Certified Assessment Evaluator designation from the International Association of Assessing Officers; or (6) the person has obtained Certification as a Member of the Appraisal Institute, Senior Real Estate Analyst, or Senior Real Property Appraiser from the Appraisal Institute or its predecessor organization. Scheduled for a hearing today in Senate Judiciary Committee.

(Yingling, D-Hainesville) provides that "public body" includes any State-wide organization that receives 75% or more of its funding through contributions from taxing bodies for the sake of membership or dues in order to participate in the organization's activities, including, but not limited to, educational endeavors, legislative initiatives, or a general liability insurance pool. Schedule for a House Committee hearing March 20th.

(Brauer, R-Springfield) lifts the cap on the $25 court-services fee that a county may charge civil litigants and convicted defendants for courthouse security if there is an acceptable cost study prepared that justifies it. Scheduled for House Judiciary Committee Wednesday morning.

(Sims, D-Chicago) makes the Act inapplicable unless there is a written and executed contract to improve the lot or tract of land or for the purpose of improving the tract of land or to manage a structure under construction. Just introduced.

(Manar, D-Bunker Hill) prohibits a county or municipality from requiring a law enforcement officer to issue a specific number of citations or warnings within a designated period of time. It also prohibits a county or municipality from using the number of issued citations by an officer as a means to evaluate that officer. Makes it an unfair labor practice to require a peace officer to perform a duty that conflicts with the provisions of this amendatory Act.

(Link, D-Lake Bluff) amends the Code of Civil Procedure to provide that in any any successful appeal under the Administrative Review Law of an adverse decision by a unit of local government, the court shall award the plaintiff all reasonable costs, including court costs and attorney's fees, associated with the appeal. If the court finds the decision by the unit of local government to be clearly erroneous or that the plaintiff's rights to due process were abridged, the court may award the plaintiff all reasonable costs associated with the entire case dating back to the inception of the administrative proceeding. Scheduled for a hearing in Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday.