Public Act 0639 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB2174 Enrolled LRB101 07405 SMS 52445 b

Public Act 101-0639

AN ACT concerning regulation.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Regulatory Sunset Act is amended by changing Section 4.32 as follows:

(5 ILCS 80/4.32)

Sec. 4.32. Acts repealed on January 1, 2022. The following Acts are repealed on January 1, 2022:

The Boxing and Full-contact Martial Arts Act.

The Cemetery Oversight Act.

The Collateral Recovery Act.

The Community Association Manager Licensing and Disciplinary Act.

The Crematory Regulation Act.

The Detection of Deception Examiners Act.

The Home Inspector License Act.

The Illinois Health Information Exchange and Technology Act.

The Medical Practice Act of 1987.

The Registered Interior Designers Act.

The Massage Licensing Act.

The Petroleum Equipment Contractors Licensing Act.

The Radiation Protection Act of 1990.

The Real Estate Appraiser Licensing Act of 2002.

The Water Well and Pump Installation Contractor's License Act.

(Source: P.A. 100-920, eff. 8-17-18; 101-316, eff. 8-9-19; 101-614, eff. 12-20-19.)

(5 ILCS 80/4.31 rep.)

Section 10. The Regulatory Sunset Act is amended by repealing Section 4.31.

Section 15. The Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, and Coal Resources Development Law of 1997 is amended by changing Section 6-7 as follows:

(20 ILCS 687/6-7)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on December 31, 2020)

Sec. 6-7. Repeal. The provisions of this Law are repealed on December 31, 2021 2020.

(Source: P.A. 99-489, eff. 12-4-15.)

Section 20. The Illinois Power Agency Act is amended by changing Section 1-130 as follows:

(20 ILCS 3855/1-130)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2021)

Sec. 1-130. Home rule preemption.

(a) The authorization to impose any new taxes or fees specifically related to the generation of electricity by, the capacity to generate electricity by, or the emissions into the atmosphere by electric generating facilities after the effective date of this Act is an exclusive power and function of the State. A home rule unit may not levy any new taxes or fees specifically related to the generation of electricity by, the capacity to generate electricity by, or the emissions into the atmosphere by electric generating facilities after the effective date of this Act. This Section is a denial and limitation on home rule powers and functions under subsection (g) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution.

(b) This Section is repealed on January 1, 2022 2021.

(Source: P.A. 100-1157, eff. 12-19-18.)

Section 25. The Emergency Telephone System Act is amended by changing Sections 3, 15.3, 15.3a, 15.6b, 30, and 99 as follows:

(50 ILCS 750/3) (from Ch. 134, par. 33)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on December 31, 2020)

Sec. 3. (a) By July 1, 2017, every local public agency shall be within the jurisdiction of a 9-1-1 system.

(b) By December 31, 2021 July 1, 2020, every 9-1-1 system in Illinois shall provide Next Generation 9-1-1 service.

(c) Nothing in this Act shall be construed to prohibit or discourage in any way the formation of multijurisdictional or regional systems, and any system established pursuant to this Act may include the territory of more than one public agency or may include a segment of the territory of a public agency.

(Source: P.A. 99-6, eff. 1-1-16; 100-20, eff. 7-1-17.)

(50 ILCS 750/15.3) (from Ch. 134, par. 45.3)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on December 31, 2020)

Sec. 15.3. Local non-wireless surcharge.

(a) Except as provided in subsection (l) of this Section, the corporate authorities of any municipality or any county may, subject to the limitations of subsections (c), (d), and (h), and in addition to any tax levied pursuant to the Simplified Municipal Telecommunications Tax Act, impose a monthly surcharge on billed subscribers of network connection provided by telecommunication carriers engaged in the business of transmitting messages by means of electricity originating within the corporate limits of the municipality or county imposing the surcharge at a rate per network connection determined in accordance with subsection (c), however the monthly surcharge shall not apply to a network connection provided for use with pay telephone services. Provided, however, that where multiple voice grade communications channels are connected between the subscriber's premises and a public switched network through private branch exchange (PBX) or centrex type service, a municipality imposing a surcharge at a rate per network connection, as determined in accordance with this Act, shall impose:

(i) in a municipality with a population of 500,000 or less or in any county, 5 such surcharges per network connection, as defined under Section 2 of this Act, for both regular service and advanced service provisioned trunk lines;

(ii) in a municipality with a population, prior to March 1, 2010, of 500,000 or more, 5 surcharges per network connection, as defined under Section 2 of this Act, for both regular service and advanced service provisioned trunk lines;

(iii) in a municipality with a population, as of March 1, 2010, of 500,000 or more, 5 surcharges per network connection, as defined under Section 2 of this Act, for regular service provisioned trunk lines, and 12 surcharges per network connection, as defined under Section 2 of this Act, for advanced service provisioned trunk lines, except where an advanced service provisioned trunk line supports at least 2 but fewer than 23 simultaneous voice grade calls ("VGC's"), a telecommunication carrier may elect to impose fewer than 12 surcharges per trunk line as provided in subsection (iv) of this Section; or

(iv) for an advanced service provisioned trunk line connected between the subscriber's premises and the public switched network through a P.B.X., where the advanced service provisioned trunk line is capable of transporting at least 2 but fewer than 23 simultaneous VGC's per trunk line, the telecommunications carrier collecting the surcharge may elect to impose surcharges in accordance with the table provided in this Section, without limiting any telecommunications carrier's obligations to otherwise keep and maintain records. Any telecommunications carrier electing to impose fewer than 12 surcharges per an advanced service provisioned trunk line shall keep and maintain records adequately to demonstrate the VGC capability of each advanced service provisioned trunk line with fewer than 12 surcharges imposed, provided that 12 surcharges shall be imposed on an advanced service provisioned trunk line regardless of the VGC capability where a telecommunications carrier cannot demonstrate the VGC capability of the advanced service provisioned trunk line.

Subsections (i), (ii), (iii), and (iv) are not intended to make any change in the meaning of this Section, but are intended to remove possible ambiguity, thereby confirming the intent of paragraph (a) as it existed prior to and following the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly.

For mobile telecommunications services, if a surcharge is imposed it shall be imposed based upon the municipality or county that encompasses the customer's place of primary use as defined in the Mobile Telecommunications Sourcing Conformity Act. A municipality may enter into an intergovernmental agreement with any county in which it is partially located, when the county has adopted an ordinance to impose a surcharge as provided in subsection (c), to include that portion of the municipality lying outside the county in that county's surcharge referendum. If the county's surcharge referendum is approved, the portion of the municipality identified in the intergovernmental agreement shall automatically be disconnected from the county in which it lies and connected to the county which approved the referendum for purposes of a surcharge on telecommunications carriers.

(b) For purposes of computing the surcharge imposed by subsection (a), the network connections to which the surcharge shall apply shall be those in-service network connections, other than those network connections assigned to the municipality or county, where the service address for each such network connection or connections is located within the corporate limits of the municipality or county levying the surcharge. Except for mobile telecommunication services, the "service address" shall mean the location of the primary use of the network connection or connections. For mobile telecommunication services, "service address" means the customer's place of primary use as defined in the Mobile Telecommunications Sourcing Conformity Act.

(c) Upon the passage of an ordinance to impose a surcharge under this Section the clerk of the municipality or county shall certify the question of whether the surcharge may be imposed to the proper election authority who shall submit the public question to the electors of the municipality or county in accordance with the general election law; provided that such question shall not be submitted at a consolidated primary election. The public question shall be in substantially the following form:

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Shall the county (or city, village or incorporated town) of ..... impose YES a surcharge of up to ...¢ per month per network connection, which surcharge will be added to the monthly bill you receive ------------------

for telephone or telecommunications charges, for the purpose of installing (or improving) a 9-1-1 Emergency NO Telephone System?

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If a majority of the votes cast upon the public question are in favor thereof, the surcharge shall be imposed.

However, if a Joint Emergency Telephone System Board is to be created pursuant to an intergovernmental agreement under Section 15.4, the ordinance to impose the surcharge shall be subject to the approval of a majority of the total number of votes cast upon the public question by the electors of all of the municipalities or counties, or combination thereof, that are parties to the intergovernmental agreement.

The referendum requirement of this subsection (c) shall not apply to any municipality with a population over 500,000 or to any county in which a proposition as to whether a sophisticated 9-1-1 Emergency Telephone System should be installed in the county, at a cost not to exceed a specified monthly amount per network connection, has previously been approved by a majority of the electors of the county voting on the proposition at an election conducted before the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1987.

(d) A county may not impose a surcharge, unless requested by a municipality, in any incorporated area which has previously approved a surcharge as provided in subsection (c) or in any incorporated area where the corporate authorities of the municipality have previously entered into a binding contract or letter of intent with a telecommunications carrier to provide sophisticated 9-1-1 service through municipal funds.

(e) A municipality or county may at any time by ordinance change the rate of the surcharge imposed under this Section if the new rate does not exceed the rate specified in the referendum held pursuant to subsection (c).

(f) The surcharge authorized by this Section shall be collected from the subscriber by the telecommunications carrier providing the subscriber the network connection as a separately stated item on the subscriber's bill.

(g) The amount of surcharge collected by the telecommunications carrier shall be paid to the particular municipality or county or Joint Emergency Telephone System Board not later than 30 days after the surcharge is collected, net of any network or other 9-1-1 or sophisticated 9-1-1 system charges then due the particular telecommunications carrier, as shown on an itemized bill. The telecommunications carrier collecting the surcharge shall also be entitled to deduct 3% of the gross amount of surcharge collected to reimburse the telecommunications carrier for the expense of accounting and collecting the surcharge.

(h) Except as expressly provided in subsection (a) of this Section, on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly and until December 31, 2017, a municipality with a population of 500,000 or more shall not impose a monthly surcharge per network connection in excess of the highest monthly surcharge imposed as of January 1, 2014 by any county or municipality under subsection (c) of this Section. Beginning January 1, 2018 and until December 31, 2021 2020, a municipality with a population over 500,000 may not impose a monthly surcharge in excess of $5.00 per network connection. On or after January 1, 2022 2021, a municipality with a population over 500,000 may not impose a monthly surcharge in excess of $2.50 per network connection.

(i) Any municipality or county or joint emergency telephone system board that has imposed a surcharge pursuant to this Section prior to the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1990 shall hereafter impose the surcharge in accordance with subsection (b) of this Section.

(j) The corporate authorities of any municipality or county may issue, in accordance with Illinois law, bonds, notes or other obligations secured in whole or in part by the proceeds of the surcharge described in this Section. The State of Illinois pledges and agrees that it will not limit or alter the rights and powers vested in municipalities and counties by this Section to impose the surcharge so as to impair the terms of or affect the security for bonds, notes or other obligations secured in whole or in part with the proceeds of the surcharge described in this Section. The pledge and agreement set forth in this Section survive the termination of the surcharge under subsection (l) by virtue of the replacement of the surcharge monies guaranteed under Section 20; the State of Illinois pledges and agrees that it will not limit or alter the rights vested in municipalities and counties to the surcharge replacement funds guaranteed under Section 20 so as to impair the terms of or affect the security for bonds, notes or other obligations secured in whole or in part with the proceeds of the surcharge described in this Section.

(k) Any surcharge collected by or imposed on a telecommunications carrier pursuant to this Section shall be held to be a special fund in trust for the municipality, county or Joint Emergency Telephone Board imposing the surcharge. Except for the 3% deduction provided in subsection (g) above, the special fund shall not be subject to the claims of creditors of the telecommunication carrier.

(l) Any surcharge imposed pursuant to this Section by a county or municipality, other than a municipality with a population in excess of 500,000, shall cease to be imposed on January 1, 2016.

(Source: P.A. 99-6, eff. 6-29-15; 100-20, eff. 7-1-17.)

(50 ILCS 750/15.3a)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on December 31, 2020)

Sec. 15.3a. Local wireless surcharge.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, a unit of local government or emergency telephone system board providing wireless 9-1-1 service and imposing and collecting a wireless carrier surcharge prior to July 1, 1998 may continue its practices of imposing and collecting its wireless carrier surcharge, but, except as provided in subsection (b) of this Section, in no event shall that monthly surcharge exceed $2.50 per commercial mobile radio service (CMRS) connection or in-service telephone number billed on a monthly basis. For mobile telecommunications services provided on and after August 1, 2002, any surcharge imposed shall be imposed based upon the municipality or county that encompasses the customer's place of primary use as defined in the Mobile Telecommunications Sourcing Conformity Act.

(b) Until December 31, 2017, the corporate authorities of a municipality with a population in excess of 500,000 on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 99th General Assembly may by ordinance continue to impose and collect a monthly surcharge per commercial mobile radio service (CMRS) connection or in-service telephone number billed on a monthly basis that does not exceed the highest monthly surcharge imposed as of January 1, 2014 by any county or municipality under subsection (c) of Section 15.3 of this Act. Beginning January 1, 2018, and until December 31, 2021 2020, a municipality with a population in excess of 500,000 may by ordinance continue to impose and collect a monthly surcharge per commercial mobile radio service (CMRS) connection or in-service telephone number billed on a monthly basis that does not exceed $5.00. On or after January 1, 2022 2021, the municipality may continue imposing and collecting its wireless carrier surcharge as provided in and subject to the limitations of subsection (a) of this Section.

(c) In addition to any other lawful purpose, a municipality with a population over 500,000 may use the moneys collected under this Section for any anti-terrorism or emergency preparedness measures, including, but not limited to, preparedness planning, providing local matching funds for federal or State grants, personnel training, and specialized equipment, including surveillance cameras, as needed to deal with natural and terrorist-inspired emergency situations or events.

(Source: P.A. 99-6, eff. 1-1-16; 100-20, eff. 7-1-17.)

(50 ILCS 750/15.6b)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on December 31, 2020)

Sec. 15.6b. Next Generation 9-1-1 service.

(a) The Administrator, with the advice and recommendation of the Statewide 9-1-1 Advisory Board, shall develop and implement a plan for a statewide Next Generation 9-1-1 network. The Next Generation 9-1-1 network must be an Internet protocol-based platform that at a minimum provides:

(1) improved 9-1-1 call delivery;

(2) enhanced interoperability;

(3) increased ease of communication between 9-1-1 service providers, allowing immediate transfer of 9-1-1 calls, caller information, photos, and other data statewide;

(4) a hosted solution with redundancy built in; and

(5) compliance with NENA Standards i3 Solution 08-003.

(b) By July 1, 2016, the Administrator, with the advice and recommendation of the Statewide 9-1-1 Advisory Board, shall design and issue a competitive request for a proposal to secure the services of a consultant to complete a feasibility study on the implementation of a statewide Next Generation 9-1-1 network in Illinois. By July 1, 2017, the consultant shall complete the feasibility study and make recommendations as to the appropriate procurement approach for developing a statewide Next Generation 9-1-1 network.

(c) Within 12 months of the final report from the consultant under subsection (b) of this Section, the Department shall procure and finalize a contract with a vendor certified under Section 13-900 of the Public Utilities Act to establish a statewide Next Generation 9-1-1 network. By July 1, 2021 2020, the vendor shall implement a Next Generation 9-1-1 network that allows 9-1-1 systems providing 9-1-1 service to Illinois residents to access the system utilizing their current infrastructure if it meets the standards adopted by the Department.

(Source: P.A. 99-6, eff. 1-1-16; 100-20, eff. 7-1-17.)

(50 ILCS 750/30)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on December 31, 2020)

Sec. 30. Statewide 9-1-1 Fund; surcharge disbursement.

(a) A special fund in the State treasury known as the Wireless Service Emergency Fund shall be renamed the Statewide 9-1-1 Fund. Any appropriations made from the Wireless Service Emergency Fund shall be payable from the Statewide 9-1-1 Fund. The Fund shall consist of the following:

(1) 9-1-1 wireless surcharges assessed under the Wireless Emergency Telephone Safety Act.

(2) 9-1-1 surcharges assessed under Section 20 of this Act.

(3) Prepaid wireless 9-1-1 surcharges assessed under Section 15 of the Prepaid Wireless 9-1-1 Surcharge Act.

(4) Any appropriations, grants, or gifts made to the Fund.

(5) Any income from interest, premiums, gains, or other earnings on moneys in the Fund.

(6) Money from any other source that is deposited in or transferred to the Fund.

(b) Subject to appropriation and availability of funds, the Department shall distribute the 9-1-1 surcharges monthly as follows:

(1) From each surcharge collected and remitted under Section 20 of this Act:

(A) $0.013 shall be distributed monthly in equal amounts to each County Emergency Telephone System Board or qualified governmental entity in counties with a population under 100,000 according to the most recent census data which is authorized to serve as a primary wireless 9-1-1 public safety answering point for the county and to provide wireless 9-1-1 service as prescribed by subsection (b) of Section 15.6a of this Act, and which does provide such service.

(B) $0.033 shall be transferred by the Comptroller at the direction of the Department to the Wireless Carrier Reimbursement Fund until June 30, 2017; from July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018, $0.026 shall be transferred; from July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019, $0.020 shall be transferred; from July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2020, $0.013 shall be transferred; from July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021, $0.007 will be transferred; and after June 30, 2021, no transfer shall be made to the Wireless Carrier Reimbursement Fund.

(C) Until December 31, 2017, $0.007 and on and after January 1, 2018, $0.017 shall be used to cover the Department's administrative costs.

(D) Beginning January 1, 2018, until June 30, 2020, $0.12, and on and after July 1, 2020, $0.04 shall be used to make monthly proportional grants to the appropriate 9-1-1 Authority currently taking wireless 9-1-1 based upon the United States Postal Zip Code of the billing addresses of subscribers wireless carriers.

(E) Until June 30, 2021 2020, $0.05 shall be used by the Department for grants for NG9-1-1 expenses, with priority given to 9-1-1 Authorities that provide 9-1-1 service within the territory of a Large Electing Provider as defined in Section 13-406.1 of the Public Utilities Act.

(F) On and after July 1, 2020, $0.13 shall be used for the implementation of and continuing expenses for the Statewide NG9-1-1 system.

(2) After disbursements under paragraph (1) of this subsection (b), all remaining funds in the Statewide 9-1-1 Fund shall be disbursed in the following priority order:

(A) The Fund shall pay monthly to:

(i) the 9-1-1 Authorities that imposed surcharges under Section 15.3 of this Act and were required to report to the Illinois Commerce Commission under Section 27 of the Wireless Emergency Telephone Safety Act on October 1, 2014, except a 9-1-1 Authority in a municipality with a population in excess of 500,000, an amount equal to the average monthly wireline and VoIP surcharge revenue attributable to the most recent 12-month period reported to the Department under that Section for the October 1, 2014 filing, subject to the power of the Department to investigate the amount reported and adjust the number by order under Article X of the Public Utilities Act, so that the monthly amount paid under this item accurately reflects one-twelfth of the aggregate wireline and VoIP surcharge revenue properly attributable to the most recent 12-month period reported to the Commission; or

(ii) county qualified governmental entities that did not impose a surcharge under Section 15.3 as of December 31, 2015, and counties that did not impose a surcharge as of June 30, 2015, an amount equivalent to their population multiplied by .37 multiplied by the rate of $0.69; counties that are not county qualified governmental entities and that did not impose a surcharge as of December 31, 2015, shall not begin to receive the payment provided for in this subsection until E9-1-1 and wireless E9-1-1 services are provided within their counties; or

(iii) counties without 9-1-1 service that had a surcharge in place by December 31, 2015, an amount equivalent to their population multiplied by .37 multiplied by their surcharge rate as established by the referendum.

(B) All 9-1-1 network costs for systems outside of municipalities with a population of at least 500,000 shall be paid by the Department directly to the vendors.

(C) All expenses incurred by the Administrator and the Statewide 9-1-1 Advisory Board and costs associated with procurement under Section 15.6b including requests for information and requests for proposals.

(D) Funds may be held in reserve by the Statewide 9-1-1 Advisory Board and disbursed by the Department for grants under Section 15.4b of this Act and for NG9-1-1 expenses up to $12.5 million per year in State fiscal years 2016 and 2017; up to $20 million in State fiscal year 2018; up to $20.9 million in State fiscal year 2019; up to $15.3 million in State fiscal year 2020; up to $16.2 million in State fiscal year 2021; up to $23.1 million in State fiscal year 2022; and up to $17.0 million per year for State fiscal year 2023 and each year thereafter. The amount held in reserve in State fiscal years 2018 and 2019 shall not be less than $6.5 million. Disbursements under this subparagraph (D) shall be prioritized as follows: (i) consolidation grants prioritized under subsection (a) of Section 15.4b of this Act; (ii) NG9-1-1 expenses; and (iii) consolidation grants under Section 15.4b of this Act for consolidation expenses incurred between January 1, 2010, and January 1, 2016.

(E) All remaining funds per remit month shall be used to make monthly proportional grants to the appropriate 9-1-1 Authority currently taking wireless 9-1-1 based upon the United States Postal Zip Code of the billing addresses of subscribers of wireless carriers.

(c) The moneys deposited into the Statewide 9-1-1 Fund under this Section shall not be subject to administrative charges or chargebacks unless otherwise authorized by this Act.

(d) Whenever two or more 9-1-1 Authorities consolidate, the resulting Joint Emergency Telephone System Board shall be entitled to the monthly payments that had theretofore been made to each consolidating 9-1-1 Authority. Any reserves held by any consolidating 9-1-1 Authority shall be transferred to the resulting Joint Emergency Telephone System Board. Whenever a county that has no 9-1-1 service as of January 1, 2016 enters into an agreement to consolidate to create or join a Joint Emergency Telephone System Board, the Joint Emergency Telephone System Board shall be entitled to the monthly payments that would have otherwise been paid to the county if it had provided 9-1-1 service.

(Source: P.A. 99-6, eff. 1-1-16; 100-20, eff. 7-1-17.)

(50 ILCS 750/99)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on December 31, 2020)

Sec. 99. Repealer. This Act is repealed on December 31, 2021 2020.

(Source: P.A. 99-6, eff. 6-29-15; 100-20, eff. 7-1-17.)

Section 30. The Public Utilities Act is amended by changing Sections 13-1200, 21-401, and 21-1601 as follows:

(220 ILCS 5/13-1200)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on December 31, 2020)

Sec. 13-1200. Repealer. This Article is repealed December 31, 2021 2020.

(Source: P.A. 99-6, eff. 6-29-15; 100-20, eff. 7-1-17.)

(220 ILCS 5/21-401)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on December 31, 2020)

Sec. 21-401. Applications.

(a)(1) A person or entity seeking to provide cable service or video service pursuant to this Article shall not use the public rights-of-way for the installation or construction of facilities for the provision of cable service or video service or offer cable service or video service until it has obtained a State-issued authorization to offer or provide cable or video service under this Section, except as provided for in item (2) of this subsection (a). All cable or video providers offering or providing service in this State shall have authorization pursuant to either (i) the Cable and Video Competition Law of 2007 (220 ILCS 5/21-100 et seq.); (ii) Section 11-42-11 of the Illinois Municipal Code (65 ILCS 5/11-42-11); or (iii) Section 5-1095 of the Counties Code (55 ILCS 5/5-1095).

(2) Nothing in this Section shall prohibit a local unit of government from granting a permit to a person or entity for the use of the public rights-of-way to install or construct facilities to provide cable service or video service, at its sole discretion. No unit of local government shall be liable for denial or delay of a permit prior to the issuance of a State-issued authorization.

(b) The application to the Commission for State-issued authorization shall contain a completed affidavit submitted by the applicant and signed by an officer or general partner of the applicant affirming all of the following:

(1) That the applicant has filed or will timely file with the Federal Communications Commission all forms required by that agency in advance of offering cable service or video service in this State.

(2) That the applicant agrees to comply with all applicable federal and State statutes and regulations.

(3) That the applicant agrees to comply with all applicable local unit of government regulations.

(4) An exact description of the cable service or video service area where the cable service or video service will be offered during the term of the State-issued authorization. The service area shall be identified in terms of either (i) exchanges, as that term is defined in Section 13-206 of this Act; (ii) a collection of United States Census Bureau Block numbers (13 digit); (iii) if the area is smaller than the areas identified in either (i) or (ii), by geographic information system digital boundaries meeting or exceeding national map accuracy standards; or (iv) local unit of government. The description shall include the number of low-income households within the service area or footprint. If an applicant is an incumbent cable operator, the incumbent cable operator and any successor-in-interest shall be obligated to provide access to cable services or video services within any local units of government at the same levels required by the local franchising authorities for the local unit of government on June 30, 2007 (the effective date of Public Act 95-9), and its application shall provide a description of an area no smaller than the service areas contained in its franchise or franchises within the jurisdiction of the local unit of government in which it seeks to offer cable or video service.

(5) The location and telephone number of the applicant's principal place of business within this State and the names of the applicant's principal executive officers who are responsible for communications concerning the application and the services to be offered pursuant to the application, the applicant's legal name, and any name or names under which the applicant does or will provide cable services or video services in this State.

(6) A certification that the applicant has concurrently delivered a copy of the application to all local units of government that include all or any part of the service area identified in item (4) of this subsection (b) within such local unit of government's jurisdictional boundaries.

(7) The expected date that cable service or video service will be initially offered in the area identified in item (4) of this subsection (b). In the event that a holder does not offer cable services or video services within 3 months after the expected date, it shall amend its application and update the expected date service will be offered and explain the delay in offering cable services or video services.

(8) For any entity that received State-issued authorization prior to this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly as a cable operator and that intends to proceed as a cable operator under this Article, the entity shall file a written affidavit with the Commission and shall serve a copy of the affidavit with any local units of government affected by the authorization within 30 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly stating that the holder will be providing cable service under the State-issued authorization.

The application shall include adequate assurance that the applicant possesses the financial, managerial, legal, and technical qualifications necessary to construct and operate the proposed system, to promptly repair any damage to the public right-of-way caused by the applicant, and to pay the cost of removal of its facilities. To accomplish these requirements, the applicant may, at the time the applicant seeks to use the public rights-of-way in that jurisdiction, be required by the State of Illinois or later be required by the local unit of government, or both, to post a bond, produce a certificate of insurance, or otherwise demonstrate its financial responsibility.

The application shall include the applicant's general standards related to customer service required by Section 22-501 of this Act, which shall include, but not be limited to, installation, disconnection, service and repair obligations; appointment hours; employee ID requirements; customer service telephone numbers and hours; procedures for billing, charges, deposits, refunds, and credits; procedures for termination of service; notice of deletion of programming service and changes related to transmission of programming or changes or increases in rates; use and availability of parental control or lock-out devices; complaint procedures and procedures for bill dispute resolution and a description of the rights and remedies available to consumers if the holder does not materially meet their customer service standards; and special services for customers with visual, hearing, or mobility disabilities.

(c)(1) The applicant may designate information that it submits in its application or subsequent reports as confidential or proprietary, provided that the applicant states the reasons the confidential designation is necessary. The Commission shall provide adequate protection for such information pursuant to Section 4-404 of this Act. If the Commission, a local unit of government, or any other party seeks public disclosure of information designated as confidential, the Commission shall consider the confidential designation in a proceeding under the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act, and the burden of proof to demonstrate that the designated information is confidential shall be upon the applicant. Designated information shall remain confidential pending the Commission's determination of whether the information is entitled to confidential treatment. Information designated as confidential shall be provided to local units of government for purposes of assessing compliance with this Article as permitted under a Protective Order issued by the Commission pursuant to the Commission's rules and to the Attorney General pursuant to Section 6.5 of the Attorney General Act (15 ILCS 205/6.5). Information designated as confidential under this Section or determined to be confidential upon Commission review shall only be disclosed pursuant to a valid and enforceable subpoena or court order or as required by the Freedom of Information Act. Nothing herein shall delay the application approval timeframes set forth in this Article.

(2) Information regarding the location of video services that have been or are being offered to the public and aggregate information included in the reports required by this Article shall not be designated or treated as confidential.

(d)(1) The Commission shall post all applications it receives under this Article on its web site within 5 business days.

(2) The Commission shall notify an applicant for a cable service or video service authorization whether the applicant's application and affidavit are complete on or before the 15th business day after the applicant submits the application. If the application and affidavit are not complete, the Commission shall state in its notice all of the reasons the application or affidavit are incomplete, and the applicant shall resubmit a complete application. The Commission shall have 30 days after submission by the applicant of a complete application and affidavit to issue the service authorization. If the Commission does not notify the applicant regarding the completeness of the application and affidavit or issue the service authorization within the time periods required under this subsection, the application and affidavit shall be considered complete and the service authorization issued upon the expiration of the 30th day.

(e) Any authorization issued by the Commission will expire on December 31, 2024 2023 and shall contain or include all of the following:

(1) A grant of authority, including an authorization issued prior to this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly, to provide cable service or video service in the service area footprint as requested in the application, subject to the provisions of this Article in existence on the date the grant of authority was issued, and any modifications to this Article enacted at any time prior to the date in Section 21-1601 of this Act, and to the laws of the State and the ordinances, rules, and regulations of the local units of government.

(2) A grant of authority to use, occupy, and construct facilities in the public rights-of-way for the delivery of cable service or video service in the service area footprint, subject to the laws, ordinances, rules, or regulations of this State and local units of governments.

(3) A statement that the grant of authority is subject to lawful operation of the cable service or video service by the applicant, its affiliated entities, or its successors-in-interest.

(e-5) The Commission shall notify a local unit of government within 3 business days of the grant of any authorization within a service area footprint if that authorization includes any part of the local unit of government's jurisdictional boundaries and state whether the holder will be providing video service or cable service under the authorization.

(f) The authorization issued pursuant to this Section by the Commission may be transferred to any successor-in-interest to the applicant to which it is initially granted without further Commission action if the successor-in-interest (i) submits an application and the information required by subsection (b) of this Section for the successor-in-interest and (ii) is not in violation of this Article or of any federal, State, or local law, ordinance, rule, or regulation. A successor-in-interest shall file its application and notice of transfer with the Commission and the relevant local units of government no less than 15 business days prior to the completion of the transfer. The Commission is not required or authorized to act upon the notice of transfer; however, the transfer is not effective until the Commission approves the successor-in-interest's application. A local unit of government or the Attorney General may seek to bar a transfer of ownership by filing suit in a court of competent jurisdiction predicated on the existence of a material and continuing breach of this Article by the holder, a pattern of noncompliance with customer service standards by the potential successor-in-interest, or the insolvency of the potential successor-in-interest. If a transfer is made when there are violations of this Article or of any federal, State, or local law, ordinance, rule, or regulation, the successor-in-interest shall be subject to 3 times the penalties provided for in this Article.

(g) The authorization issued pursuant to this Section by the Commission may be terminated, or its cable service or video service area footprint may be modified, by the cable service provider or video service provider by submitting notice to the Commission and to the relevant local unit of government containing a description of the change on the same terms as the initial description pursuant to item (4) of subsection (b) of this Section. The Commission is not required or authorized to act upon that notice. It shall be a violation of this Article for a holder to discriminate against potential residential subscribers because of the race or income of the residents in the local area in which the group resides by terminating or modifying its cable service or video service area footprint. It shall be a violation of this Article for a holder to terminate or modify its cable service or video service area footprint if it leaves an area with no cable service or video service from any provider.

(h) The Commission's authority to administer this Article is limited to the powers and duties explicitly provided under this Article. Its authority under this Article does not include or limit the powers and duties that the Commission has under the other Articles of this Act, the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act, or any other law or regulation to conduct proceedings, other than as provided in subsection (c), or has to promulgate rules or regulations. The Commission shall not have the authority to limit or expand the obligations and requirements provided in this Section or to regulate or control a person or entity to the extent that person or entity is providing cable service or video service, except as provided in this Article.

(Source: P.A. 99-6, eff. 6-29-15; 100-20, eff. 7-1-17.)

(220 ILCS 5/21-1601)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on December 31, 2020)

Sec. 21-1601. Repealer. Sections 21-101 through 21-1501 of this Article are repealed December 31, 2021 2020.

(Source: P.A. 99-6, eff. 6-29-15; 100-20, eff. 7-1-17.)

Section 35. The Mercury Thermostat Collection Act is amended by changing Section 55 as follows:

(415 ILCS 98/55)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2021)

Sec. 55. Repealer. This Act is repealed on January 1, 2022 2021.

(Source: P.A. 96-1295, eff. 7-26-10.)

Section 40. The Transportation Network Providers Act is amended by changing Section 34 as follows:

(625 ILCS 57/34)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on June 1, 2020)

Sec. 34. Repeal. This Act is repealed on June 1, 2021 2020.

(Source: P.A. 99-56, eff. 7-16-15.)

Section 45. The Mechanics Lien Act is amended by changing Section 6 as follows:

(770 ILCS 60/6) (from Ch. 82, par. 6)

Sec. 6. In no event shall it be necessary to fix or stipulate in any contract a time for the completion or a time for payment in order to obtain a lien under this Act, provided, that the work is done or material furnished within three years from the commencement of said work or the commencement of furnishing said material in the case of work done or material furnished as to residential property; and within 5 years from the commencement of said work or the commencement of furnishing said material in the case of work done or material furnished as to any other type of property. The changes made by Public Act 97-966 are operative from January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2021 2020.

(Source: P.A. 99-852, eff. 8-19-16.)

Section 50. "An Act concerning employment", approved August 9, 2019 (Public Act 101-221), is amended by changing Section 99-99 as follows:

(P.A. 101-221, Sec. 99-99)

Sec. 99-99. Effective date. This Act takes effect January 1, 2020, except that: (i) Article 5 takes effect March 1, 2021 July 1, 2020; and (ii) Article 6 and this Article take effect upon becoming law.

(Source: P.A. 101-221.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.