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January 4, 2008
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Governor
AV’s BIMP; SB 1544 Trailer Provisions Left
Intact The Governor has finally
taken action on SB 783, the budget implementation bill (BIMP) that
contains the Chamber’s crucial clean-up changes to SB 1544- the tax
“loophole” legislation passed earlier this year. Although the
Governor has issued an amendatory veto (AV) for SB 783, which means it
will have to go back to the Senate and the House for acceptance before the
bill can become law, the AV only corrects two drafting errors in
provisions regarding special education reimbursements to schools and the
Road Fund cap for the Illinois State Police. The Governor’s recommended
change to the special education provisions is supported by the education
community, as it will ensure that school districts receive their special
education reimbursement increase for teachers and aides this school
year. The Governor’s other recommended change extends the cap on
funding the Illinois State Police can use from the Road Fund by $9 million
to ensure staffing needs are not impacted, a change strongly supported by
public safety officials. Both changes will also make the BIMP
consistent with the Fiscal Year 2008 budget. Sources have stated that
with the support from the education and public safety communities for the
AV, the Senate and House will accept the Governor’s changes on the BIMP
when they return next week, which means SB 783 would become law. The
Governor’s action and the General Assembly’s anticipated follow-up action
represents a major victory for the Chamber, which has not only spent
months negotiating the business tax law changes, but has also spent the
past couple of months ensuring the Governor’s action on the legislation
did not impact the SB 1544 trailer provisions in any
way. |
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Sarah Frye,
Editor |