Gov. Bruce Rauner has launched a website where small-business owners can tell state officials about the rules and regulations making it difficult for them to expand and create jobs. Click here to visit the website.
The governor’s goal is to reduce regulatory costs 25 percent over the next two years.
In other developments, a number of bills affecting small businesses passed out of committee in the Senate. They include:
- SB 1347 (Biss) would require State contracts and subcontracts to include a minimum wage paid to all workers in performance of the contract/subcontract. The minimum wage would start at $16.36 per hour on January 1, 2018. Status: Failed to pass the Senate. NFIB opposed.
- HB 2351 (Rep. Currie) Wage Lien bill would allow workers to easily put liens on personal and business property of business owners and corporate officers for failure to pay liabilities under the wage payment & collection, minimum wage, etc. Status: Moved back to Rules Committee. NFIB opposed.
- HB 2376 (Flowers) Family Leave Insurance Program would create a state-run insurance program similar to unemployment insurance that would provide up to 12 weeks of paid leave to workers taking temporary leave due to illness or to care for a family member. Effects businesses with 50 or more workers. Imposes .3 percent wage tax on employees. Status: Moved back to Rules committee. However, SB 1721 is the same bill and is in Senate Labor committee. NFIB opposes.
- HB 2462 (Rep. Moeller) Equal Pay – Wage History Prohibits an employer from screening job applicants based on their wage or salary history as a condition of being interviewed/considered for employment. Limits employer defenses an provides for civil penalties, including punitive damages and injunctive relief. Status: Passed House. NFIB opposes.
- HB 2622 (Rep. Fine) Workers Comp Insurance: creates a non-profit (quasi-governmental), taxpayer-capitalized, mutual insurance company that would compete with over 300 carriers already providing WC coverage in Illinois. Status: Passed House but Majority Leader Currie moved to reconsider the vote. NFIB opposes.
- HB 2749 (Rep. Guzzardi) Overtime Exemption Threshold: Amends the Minimum Wage Law to increase the overtime requirement threshold to $47,476 and annually increases it by the US CPI, meaning any employees earning salaries less than this amount will have to document their overtime hours and be compensated for their overtime hours. Status: Moved back to Rules Committee. NFIB opposed.
- HB 2771 (Rep. C. Mitchell) Mandated Paid Sick Leave: Requires employers to provide 5 sick days annually to employees. Any full or part-time employee may earn sick days 180 days after beginning employment. Accrual rate of one hour of sick leave for every 40 hours worked. Individuals may file civil actions with respect to violations of the new Act. This bill does not apply if the employer already provides 5 or more days of paid leave. Status: Passed House. Sen.Toi Hutchinson is the sponsor. NFIB opposes.
- SB 1720 (Biss) increases criminal penalties for violation of the Wage Payment & Collection Act. Bars contractors for 5 years from bidding on any state procurement by a business violating certain Illinois employment laws, any comparable laws in other states or the federal FLSA. Status: Passed Senate. NFIB opposes.
- SB 1760 (McGuire) Creates the Wrongful Discharge from Employment Act defines when a discharge from employment is wrongful and authorizes civil actions and would have a major impact on current “agreed to” unemployment misconduct rules. Status: Senate third reading. NFIB opposes.
