Rep. La Shawn K. Ford

Filed: 3/15/2019

 

 


 

 


 
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1
AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 2759

2    AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend House Bill 2759 by replacing
3everything after the enacting clause with the following:
 
4    "Section 5. The University of Illinois Act is amended by
5adding Section 105 as follows:
 
6    (110 ILCS 305/105 new)
7    Sec. 105. Water rates report.
8    (a) Subject to appropriation, no later than December 1,
92020, the Government Finance Research Center at the University
10of Illinois at Chicago, in coordination with an
11intergovernmental advisory committee, must issue a report
12evaluating the setting of water rates throughout the Lake
13Michigan service area of northeastern Illinois and, no later
14than December 1, 2021, for the remainder of Illinois. The
15report must provide recommendations for policy and regulatory
16needs at the State and local level based on its findings. The

 

 

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1report shall, at a minimum, address all of the following areas:
2        (1) The components of a water bill.
3        (2) Reasons for increases in water rates.
4        (3) The definition of affordability throughout the
5    State and any variances to that definition.
6        (4) Evidence of rate-setting that utilizes
7    inappropriate practices.
8        (5) The extent to which State or local policies drive
9    cost increases or variations in rate-settings.
10        (6) Challenges within economically disadvantaged
11    communities in setting water rates.
12        (7) Opportunities for increased intergovernmental
13    coordination for setting equitable water rates.
14    (b) In developing the report under this Section, the
15Government Finance Research Center shall form an advisory
16committee, which shall be composed of all of the following
17members:
18        (1) The Director of the Environmental Protection
19    Agency, or his or her designee.
20        (2) The Director of Natural Resources, or his or her
21    designee.
22        (3) The Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity,
23    or his or her designee.
24        (4) The Attorney General, or his or her designee.
25        (5) At least 2 members who are representatives of
26    private water utilities operating in Illinois, appointed

 

 

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1    by the Director of Public Health.
2        (6) At least 4 members who are representatives of
3    municipal water utilities, appointed by the Director of
4    Public Health.
5        (7) One member who is a representative of an
6    environmental justice advocacy organization, appointed by
7    the Director of Public Health.
8        (8) One member who is a representative of a consumer
9    advocacy organization, appointed by the Director of Public
10    Health.
11        (9) One member who is a representative of an
12    environmental planning organization that serves
13    northeastern Illinois, appointed by the Director of Public
14    Health.
15        (10) The Director of the Illinois State Water Survey,
16    or his or her designee.
17        (11) The Chairperson of the Illinois Commerce
18    Commission, or his or her designee.
19    (c) After all members are appointed, the committee shall
20hold its first meeting at the call of the Director of the
21Government Finance Research Center, at which meeting the
22members shall select a chairperson from among themselves. After
23its first meeting, the committee shall meet at the call of the
24chairperson. Members of the committee shall serve without
25compensation but may be reimbursed for their reasonable and
26necessary expenses incurred in performing their duties. The

 

 

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1Department of Public Health shall provide administrative and
2other support to the committee.
3    (d) No later than 60 days after the effective date of this
4amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly, the Department of
5Public Health must provide an opportunity for public comment on
6the questions to be addressed in the report, the metrics to be
7used, and the recommendations that need to be issued.
8    (e) This Section is repealed on January 1, 2022.
 
9    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
10becoming law.".