Signed by Governor JB Pritzker

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with house amendments and pass a bill that establishes the Restore Illinois Collaborative Commission, among other provisions related to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Highlights:

• Establishes the Restore Illinois Collaborative Commission to provide legal input on plans to revive various sectors of the state’s economy in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic (Article 5, Sec. 5-5).

• Establishes the Broadband Advisory Council to study the goal of expanding broadband services to unserved rural and urban areas in this state to achieve universal broadband services and internet access (Article 5, Sec. 10-5).

• Requires the council to document in the study, zip codes identified as having high levels of poverty and that have the infrastructure necessary to meet the requirements for high-speed internet access, and to report its findings to the General Assembly no later than January 1, 2021 (Article 10, Sec. 10-5).

• Authorizes open or closed meetings through audio or video conference so long as the following conditions are met, including, but not limited to (Article 15, Sec. 15-5):

• The governor or director of the Illinois Department of Public Health has issued a disaster declaration related to public health concerns because of a public disaster;

• The head of the public body determines that an in-person meeting is not practicable because of the disaster;

• All members of the body participating, wherever their physical location, will be verified and can hear one another;

• At least one member of the body is physically present at the regular meeting location; and

• At least 48 hours notice is given prior to the meeting held.

• Specifies that the deadlines for filing statements of economic interests under this section on or after March 17, 2020, will be suspended until August 1, 2020 (Article 15, Sec. 15-20).

• Authorizes the Secretary of State to extend the statewide disaster proclamation issued by the Governor based on a health pandemic or similar emergency by 120 days beyond the expiration of the disaster proclamation, and to similarly extend the expiration dates of (Article 15, Sec. 15-24):

• Driver’s licenses, driving permits, disabled parking placards, and vehicle registrations;

• Professional licenses, registrations, certifications, commissions, vehicle dealership licenses, commercial driver training school licenses and securities; and

• Broker and investment adviser registrations.

• Specifies that the aforementioned 120-day extensions may be further extended by 30 days upon request of the Governor or Secretary (Article 15, Sec. 15-24).

• Authorizes the procurements made to the University of Illinois for investment services scheduled to expire June 2020, to be extended through June 2021 (Article 15, Sec. 15-35).

• Requires that, from the time of the passage of this bill through June 30, 2022, all zoological parks, aquariums, or museums to be open to the public without charge for a period equivalent to 52 days or 1 day for every 14 days the zoological park is open (Article 15, Sec. 15-35).

• Requires the Department of Insurance to appoint a task force consisting of 10 members that include representatives from the national trade association to study the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on businesses and to bring recommendations for legislation (Article 25, Sec. 25-5).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that establishes the Restore Illinois Collaborative Commission, among other provisions related to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Highlights:

• Establishes the Restore Illinois Collaborative Commission to provide legal input on plans to revive various sectors of the state’s economy in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic (Article 5, Sec. 5-5).

• Establishes the Broadband Advisory Council to study the goal of expanding broadband services to unserved rural and urban areas in this state to achieve universal broadband services and internet access (Article 5, Sec. 10-5).

• Requires the council to document in the study, zip codes identified as having high levels of poverty and that have the infrastructure necessary to meet the requirements for high-speed internet access, and to report its findings to the General Assembly no later than January 1, 2021 (Article 10, Sec. 10-5).

• Authorizes open or closed meetings through audio or video conference so long as the following conditions are met, including, but not limited to (Article 15, Sec. 15-5):

• The governor or director of the Illinois Department of Public Health has issued a disaster declaration related to public health concerns because of a public disaster;

• The head of the public body determines that an in-person meeting is not practicable because of the disaster;

• All members of the body participating, wherever their physical location, will be verified and can hear one another;

• At least one member of the body is physically present at the regular meeting location; and

• At least 48 hours notice is given prior to the meeting held.

• Specifies that the deadlines for filing statements of economic interests under this section on or after March 17, 2020, will be suspended until August 1, 2020 (Article 15, Sec. 15-20).

• Authorizes the Secretary of State to extend the statewide disaster proclamation issued by the Governor based on a health pandemic or similar emergency by 120 days beyond the expiration of the disaster proclamation, and to similarly extend the expiration dates of (Article 15, Sec. 15-24):

• Driver’s licenses, driving permits, disabled parking placards, and vehicle registrations;

• Professional licenses, registrations, certifications, commissions, vehicle dealership licenses, commercial driver training school licenses and securities; and

• Broker and investment adviser registrations.

• Specifies that the aforementioned 120-day extensions may be further extended by 30 days upon request of the Governor or Secretary (Article 15, Sec. 15-24).

• Authorizes the procurements made to the University of Illinois for investment services scheduled to expire June 2020, to be extended through June 2021 (Article 15, Sec. 15-35).

• Requires that, from the time of the passage of this bill through June 30, 2022, all zoological parks, aquariums, or museums to be open to the public without charge for a period equivalent to 52 days or 1 day for every 14 days the zoological park is open (Article 15, Sec. 15-35).

• Requires the Department of Insurance to appoint a task force consisting of 10 members that include representatives from the national trade association to study the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on businesses and to bring recommendations for legislation (Article 25, Sec. 25-5).

Full Bill Text