Public Act 0632 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB2096 Enrolled LRB101 04912 AWJ 49921 b

Public Act 101-0632

AN ACT concerning local government.

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

Section 5. The Township Code is amended by changing Sections 30-5 and 30-10 as follows:

(60 ILCS 1/30-5)

Sec. 30-5. Annual township meeting.

(a) The annual township meeting in the respective townships for the transaction of the business of the township shall be held on the second Tuesday of April in each year, after 6 p.m., at the place appointed for those meetings. Elections for township officers shall be held in accordance with the consolidated schedule of elections prescribed by the general election law.

(b) Whenever the date designated in subsection (a) conflicts with the celebration of Passover, the township board may postpone the annual township meeting to the first Tuesday following the last day of Passover.

(c) Whenever the consolidated election provided for in subsection (b) of Section 2A-1.1 of the Election Code is rescheduled to the second Tuesday in April under Section 2A-1.1a of the Election Code, the annual township meeting shall be held on the third Tuesday in April at the time designated by the electors or the township board, whichever is appropriate.

(d) If the Governor declares a disaster under Section 7 of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act and the disaster declaration is effective during the dates designated for a township's annual meeting under subsection (a), (b), or (c), a township board may postpone the annual meeting if circumstances related to the disaster declaration prevent a township from holding its annual meeting. An annual township meeting postponed under this subsection shall be held on the third Tuesday, after 6 p.m., of the month following the expiration of the disaster declaration. If a subsequent disaster is declared under Section 7 of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act prior to or one day after the expiration of the disaster declaration upon which the township board based its decision to postpone the annual meeting and the township board intends to proceed with the annual meeting during this subsequent disaster declaration, the township board must consult with and receive written approval from the county health department in order to proceed with the annual meeting during the course of the subsequent disaster declaration.

(Source: P.A. 88-62; incorporates 88-360; 88-670, eff. 12-2-94.)

(60 ILCS 1/30-10)

Sec. 30-10. Notice of meeting; agenda.

(a) Notice of the time and place of holding the annual and any special township meetings shall be given by the township clerk (or, in the clerk's absence, the supervisor, assessor, or collector) by posting written or printed notices in 3 of the most public places in the township at least 15 days before the meeting and, if there is an English language newspaper published in the township, by at least one publication in that newspaper before the meeting. The notice shall set forth the agenda for the meeting.

(b) Agenda. Not less than 15 days before the annual meeting, the township board shall adopt an agenda for the annual meeting. Any 15 or more registered voters in the township may request an agenda item for consideration by the electors at the annual meeting by giving written notice of a specific request to the township clerk no later than March 1 prior to the annual meeting. The agenda published by the township board shall include any such request made by voters if the request is relevant to powers granted to electors under the Township Code.

(c) Additional agenda items. Any matter or proposal not set forth in the published agenda shall not be considered at the annual meeting other than advising that the matter may be considered at a special meeting of the electors at a later date.

(d) Notice and agenda requirements for an annual township meeting that has been postponed under subsection (d) of Section 30-5 shall be the same as provided in this Section.

(Source: P.A. 98-653, eff. 6-18-14.)

Section 10. Sections 20 and 25 of this Act may be referred to as the Cards for Kids Act.

Section 15. The Illinois Local Library Act is amended by changing Section 4-7 as follows:

(75 ILCS 5/4-7) (from Ch. 81, par. 4-7)

Sec. 4-7. Each board of library trustees of a city, incorporated town, village or township shall carry out the spirit and intent of this Act in establishing, supporting and maintaining a public library or libraries for providing library service and, in addition to but without limiting other powers conferred by this Act, shall have the following powers:

1. To make and adopt such bylaws, rules and regulations, for their own guidance and for the government of the library as may be expedient, not inconsistent with this Act;

2. To have the exclusive control of the expenditure of all moneys collected for the library and deposited to the credit of the library fund;

3. To have the exclusive control of the construction of any library building and of the supervision, care and custody of the grounds, rooms or buildings constructed, leased or set apart for that purpose;

4. To purchase or lease real or personal property, and to construct an appropriate building or buildings for the use of a library established hereunder, using, at the board's option, contracts providing for all or part of the consideration to be paid through installments at stated intervals during a certain period not to exceed 20 years with interest on the unpaid balance at any lawful rate for municipal corporations in this State, except that contracts for installment purchases of real estate shall provide for not more than 75% of the total consideration to be repaid by installments, and to refund at any time any installment contract entered into pursuant to this paragraph by means of a refunding loan agreement, which may provide for installment payments of principal and interest to be made at stated intervals during a certain period not to exceed 20 years from the date of such refunding loan agreement, with interest on the unpaid principal balance at any lawful rate for municipal corporations in this State, except that no installment contract or refunding loan agreement for the same property or construction project may exceed an aggregate of 20 years;

5. To remodel or reconstruct a building erected or purchased by the board, when such building is not adapted to its purposes or needs;

6. To sell or otherwise dispose of any real or personal property that it deems no longer necessary or useful for library purposes, and to lease to others any real property not immediately useful but for which plans for ultimate use have been or will be adopted but the corporate authorities shall have the first right to purchase or lease except that in the case of the City of Chicago, this power shall be governed and limited by the Chicago Public Library Act;

7. To appoint and to fix the compensation of a qualified librarian, who shall have the authority to hire such other employees as may be necessary, to fix their compensation, and to remove such appointees, subject to the approval of the board, but these powers are subject to Division 1 of Article 10 of the Illinois Municipal Code in municipalities in which that Division is in force. The board may also retain counsel and professional consultants as needed;

8. To contract with any public or private corporation or entity for the purpose of providing or receiving library service or of performing any and all other acts necessary and proper to carry out the responsibilities, the spirit, and the provisions of this Act. This contractual power includes, but is not limited to, participating in interstate library compacts and library systems, contracting to supply library services, and expending of any federal or State funds made available to any county, municipality, township or to the State of Illinois for library purposes. However, if a contract is for the supply of library services for residents without a public library established under the provisions of this Act, the terms of that contract will recognize the principle of equity or cost of services to non-residents expressed in this Section of this Act, and will provide for the assumption by the contracting party receiving the services of financial responsibility for the loss of or damage to any library materials provided to non-residents under the contract;

9. To join with the board or boards of any one or more libraries in this State in maintaining libraries, or for the maintenance of a common library or common library services for participants, upon such terms as may be agreed upon by and between the boards;

10. To enter into contracts and to take title to any property acquired by it for library purposes by the name and style of "The Board of Library Trustees of the (city, village, incorporated town or township) of ...." and by that name to sue and be sued;

11. To exclude from the use of the library any person who wilfully violates the rules prescribed by the board;

12. To extend the privileges and use of the library, including the borrowing of materials on an individual basis by persons residing outside of the city, incorporated town, village or township. If the board exercises this power, the privilege of library use shall be upon such terms and conditions as the board shall from time to time by its regulations prescribe, and for such privileges and use, the board shall charge a nonresident fee at least equal to the cost paid by residents of the city, incorporated town, village or township, with the cost to be determined according to the formula established by the Illinois State Library. A person residing outside of a public library service area must apply for a non-resident library card at the public library located closest to the person's principal residence. The nonresident cards shall allow for borrowing privileges at all participating public libraries in the regional library system. The nonresident fee shall not apply to: privilege and use provided under the terms of the library's membership in a library system operating under the provisions of the Illinois Library System Act, under the terms of any reciprocal agreement with a public or private corporation or entity providing a library service; , or to a nonresident who as an individual or as a partner, principal stockholder, or other joint owner owns or leases property that is taxed for library service or is a senior administrative officer of a firm, business, or other corporation owning taxable property within the city, incorporated town, village or township upon the presentation of the most recent tax bill upon that taxable property or a copy of the commercial lease of that taxable property; or to a nonresident in an unincorporated area in Illinois who is a student whose household falls at or below the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Income Eligibility Guidelines . Nothing in this item 12 requires any public library to participate in the non-resident card reciprocal borrowing program of a regional library system as provided for in this Section;

13. To exercise the power of eminent domain subject to the prior approval of the corporate authorities under Sections 5-1 and 5-2 of this Act;

14. To join the public library as a member and to join the library trustees as members in the Illinois Library Association and the American Library Association, non-profit, non-political, 501(c)(3) associations, as designated by the federal Internal Revenue Service, having the purpose of library development and librarianship; to provide for the payment of annual membership dues, fees and assessments and act by, through and in the name of such instrumentality by providing and disseminating information and research services, employing personnel and doing any and all other acts for the purpose of improving library development;

15. To invest funds pursuant to the Public Funds Investment Act; and

16. To accumulate and set apart as reserve funds portions of the unexpended balances of the proceeds received annually from taxes or other sources, for the purpose of providing self-insurance against liabilities relating to the public library.

(Source: P.A. 100-875, eff. 8-14-18.)

Section 20. The Public Library District Act of 1991 is amended by changing Section 30-55.60 as follows:

(75 ILCS 16/30-55.60)

Sec. 30-55.60. Use of library by nonresidents. The board may extend the privileges and use of the library, including the borrowing of materials on an individual basis by persons residing outside the district. If the board exercises this power, the privilege of library use shall be upon terms and conditions prescribed by the board in its regulations. The board shall charge a nonresident fee for the privileges and use of the library at least equal to the cost paid by residents of the district, with the cost to be determined according to the formula established by the Illinois State Library. A person residing outside of a public library service area must apply for a non-resident library card at the public library closest to the person's principal residence. The nonresident cards shall allow for borrowing privileges at all participating public libraries in the regional library system. The nonresident fee shall not apply to any of the following:

(1) Privileges and use provided (i) under the terms of the district's membership in a library system operating under the provisions of the Illinois Library System Act or (ii) under the terms of any reciprocal agreement with a public or private corporation or entity providing a library service.

(2) Residents of an area in which the library is conducting a program for the purpose of encouraging the inclusion of the area in the library district.

(3) A nonresident who, as an individual or as a partner, principal stockholder, or other joint owner, owns or leases property that is taxed for library service or is a senior administrative officer of a firm, business, or other corporation owning taxable property within the district, upon presentation of the most recent tax bill upon that taxable property or a copy of the commercial lease of that taxable property.

(4) A nonresident in an unincorporated area in Illinois who is a student whose household falls at or below the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Income Eligibility Guidelines.

Nothing in this Section requires any public library to participate in the non-resident card reciprocal borrowing program of a regional library system as provided for in this Section.

(Source: P.A. 100-875, eff. 8-14-18.)

Section 25. The School Code is amended by changing Section 10-20.21 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/10-20.21)

Sec. 10-20.21. Contracts.

(a) To award all contracts for purchase of supplies and materials or work involving an expenditure in excess of $25,000 or a lower amount as required by board policy to the lowest responsible bidder, considering conformity with specifications, terms of delivery, quality and serviceability, after due advertisement, except the following: (i) contracts for the services of individuals possessing a high degree of professional skill where the ability or fitness of the individual plays an important part; (ii) contracts for the printing of finance committee reports and departmental reports; (iii) contracts for the printing or engraving of bonds, tax warrants and other evidences of indebtedness; (iv) contracts for the purchase of perishable foods and perishable beverages; (v) contracts for materials and work which have been awarded to the lowest responsible bidder after due advertisement, but due to unforeseen revisions, not the fault of the contractor for materials and work, must be revised causing expenditures not in excess of 10% of the contract price; (vi) contracts for the maintenance or servicing of, or provision of repair parts for, equipment which are made with the manufacturer or authorized service agent of that equipment where the provision of parts, maintenance, or servicing can best be performed by the manufacturer or authorized service agent; (vii) purchases and contracts for the use, purchase, delivery, movement, or installation of data processing equipment, software, or services and telecommunications and interconnect equipment, software, and services; (viii) contracts for duplicating machines and supplies; (ix) contracts for the purchase of fuel, including diesel, gasoline, oil, aviation, natural gas, or propane, lubricants, or other petroleum products; (x) purchases of equipment previously owned by some entity other than the district itself; (xi) contracts for repair, maintenance, remodeling, renovation, or construction, or a single project involving an expenditure not to exceed $50,000 and not involving a change or increase in the size, type, or extent of an existing facility; (xii) contracts for goods or services procured from another governmental agency; (xiii) contracts for goods or services which are economically procurable from only one source, such as for the purchase of magazines, books, periodicals, pamphlets and reports, and for utility services such as water, light, heat, telephone or telegraph; (xiv) where funds are expended in an emergency and such emergency expenditure is approved by 3/4 of the members of the board; (xv) State master contracts authorized under Article 28A of this Code; and (xvi) contracts providing for the transportation of pupils, which contracts must be advertised in the same manner as competitive bids and awarded by first considering the bidder or bidders most able to provide safety and comfort for the pupils, stability of service, and any other factors set forth in the request for proposal regarding quality of service, and then price. However, at no time shall a cause of action lie against a school board for awarding a pupil transportation contract per the standards set forth in this subsection (a) unless the cause of action is based on fraudulent conduct.

All competitive bids for contracts involving an expenditure in excess of $25,000 or a lower amount as required by board policy must be sealed by the bidder and must be opened by a member or employee of the school board at a public bid opening at which the contents of the bids must be announced. Each bidder must receive at least 3 days' notice of the time and place of the bid opening. For purposes of this Section due advertisement includes, but is not limited to, at least one public notice at least 10 days before the bid date in a newspaper published in the district, or if no newspaper is published in the district, in a newspaper of general circulation in the area of the district. State master contracts and certified education purchasing contracts, as defined in Article 28A of this Code, are not subject to the requirements of this paragraph.

Under this Section, the acceptance of bids sealed by a bidder and the opening of these bids at a public bid opening may be permitted by an electronic process for communicating, accepting, and opening competitive bids. However, bids for construction purposes are prohibited from being communicated, accepted, or opened electronically. An electronic bidding process must provide for, but is not limited to, the following safeguards:

(1) On the date and time certain of a bid opening, the primary person conducting the competitive, sealed, electronic bid process shall log onto a specified database using a unique username and password previously assigned to the bidder to allow access to the bidder's specific bid project number.

(2) The specified electronic database must be on a network that (i) is in a secure environment behind a firewall; (ii) has specific encryption tools; (iii) maintains specific intrusion detection systems; (iv) has redundant systems architecture with data storage back-up, whether by compact disc or tape; and (v) maintains a disaster recovery plan.

It is the legislative intent of Public Act 96-841 to maintain the integrity of the sealed bidding process provided for in this Section, to further limit any possibility of bid-rigging, to reduce administrative costs to school districts, and to effect efficiencies in communications with bidders.

(b) To require, as a condition of any contract for goods and services, that persons bidding for and awarded a contract and all affiliates of the person collect and remit Illinois Use Tax on all sales of tangible personal property into the State of Illinois in accordance with the provisions of the Illinois Use Tax Act regardless of whether the person or affiliate is a "retailer maintaining a place of business within this State" as defined in Section 2 of the Use Tax Act. For purposes of this Section, the term "affiliate" means any entity that (1) directly, indirectly, or constructively controls another entity, (2) is directly, indirectly, or constructively controlled by another entity, or (3) is subject to the control of a common entity. For purposes of this subsection (b), an entity controls another entity if it owns, directly or individually, more than 10% of the voting securities of that entity. As used in this subsection (b), the term "voting security" means a security that (1) confers upon the holder the right to vote for the election of members of the board of directors or similar governing body of the business or (2) is convertible into, or entitles the holder to receive upon its exercise, a security that confers such a right to vote. A general partnership interest is a voting security.

To require that bids and contracts include a certification by the bidder or contractor that the bidder or contractor is not barred from bidding for or entering into a contract under this Section and that the bidder or contractor acknowledges that the school board may declare the contract void if the certification completed pursuant to this subsection (b) is false.

(b-5) To require all contracts and agreements that pertain to goods and services and that are intended to generate additional revenue and other remunerations for the school district in excess of $1,000, including without limitation vending machine contracts, sports and other attire, class rings, and photographic services, to be approved by the school board. The school board shall file as an attachment to its annual budget a report, in a form as determined by the State Board of Education, indicating for the prior year the name of the vendor, the product or service provided, and the actual net revenue and non-monetary remuneration from each of the contracts or agreements. In addition, the report shall indicate for what purpose the revenue was used and how and to whom the non-monetary remuneration was distributed.

(b-10) To prohibit any contract to purchase food with a bidder or offeror if the bidder's or offeror's contract terms prohibit the school from donating food to food banks, including, but not limited to, homeless shelters, food pantries, and soup kitchens.

(c) If the State education purchasing entity creates a master contract as defined in Article 28A of this Code, then the State education purchasing entity shall notify school districts of the existence of the master contract.

(d) In purchasing supplies, materials, equipment, or services that are not subject to subsection (c) of this Section, before a school district solicits bids or awards a contract, the district may review and consider as a bid under subsection (a) of this Section certified education purchasing contracts that are already available through the State education purchasing entity.

(Source: P.A. 101-570, eff. 8-23-19.)

Section 30. The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by changing Sections 6-1.2, 6-2, and 6-10 as follows:

(305 ILCS 5/6-1.2) (from Ch. 23, par. 6-1.2)

Sec. 6-1.2. Need. Income available to the person, when added to contributions in money, substance, or services from other sources, including contributions from legally responsible relatives, must be insufficient to equal the grant amount established by Department regulation (or by local governmental unit in units which do not receive State funds) for such a person.

In determining income to be taken into account:

(1) The first $75 of earned income in income assistance units comprised exclusively of one adult person shall be disregarded, and for not more than 3 months in any 12 consecutive months that portion of earned income beyond the first $75 that is the difference between the standard of assistance and the grant amount, shall be disregarded.

(2) For income assistance units not comprised exclusively of one adult person, when authorized by rules and regulations of the Illinois Department, a portion of earned income, not to exceed the first $25 a month plus 50% of the next $75, may be disregarded for the purpose of stimulating and aiding rehabilitative effort and self-support activity.

"Earned income" means money earned in self-employment or wages, salary, or commission for personal services performed as an employee. The eligibility of any applicant for or recipient of public aid under this Article is not affected by the payment of any grant under the "Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act", any refund or payment of the federal Earned Income Tax Credit, any rebate authorized under Section 2201(a) of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (Public Law 116-136) or under any other federal economic stimulus program created in response to the COVID-19 emergency, or any distributions or items of income described under subparagraph (X) of paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of Section 203 of the Illinois Income Tax Act.

(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)

(305 ILCS 5/6-2) (from Ch. 23, par. 6-2)

Sec. 6-2. Amount of aid. The amount and nature of General Assistance for basic maintenance requirements shall be determined in accordance with local budget standards for local governmental units which do not receive State funds. For local governmental units which do receive State funds, the amount and nature of General Assistance for basic maintenance requirements shall be determined in accordance with the standards, rules and regulations of the Illinois Department. However, the amount and nature of any financial aid is not affected by the payment of any grant under the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act, any rebate authorized under Section 2201(a) of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (Public Law 116-136) or under any other federal economic stimulus program created in response to the COVID-19 emergency, or any distributions or items of income described under subparagraph (X) of paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of Section 203 of the Illinois Income Tax Act. Due regard shall be given to the requirements and the conditions existing in each case, and to the income, money contributions and other support and resources available, from whatever source. In local governmental units which do not receive State funds, the grant shall be sufficient when added to all other income, money contributions and support in excess of any excluded income or resources, to provide the person with a grant in the amount established for such a person by the local governmental unit based upon standards meeting basic maintenance requirements. In local governmental units which do receive State funds, the grant shall be sufficient when added to all other income, money contributions and support in excess of any excluded income or resources, to provide the person with a grant in the amount established for such a person by Department regulation based upon standards providing a livelihood compatible with health and well-being, as directed by Section 12-4.11 of this Code.

The Illinois Department may conduct special projects, which may be known as Grant Diversion Projects, under which recipients of financial aid under this Article are placed in jobs and their grants are diverted to the employer who in turn makes payments to the recipients in the form of salary or other employment benefits. The Illinois Department shall by rule specify the terms and conditions of such Grant Diversion Projects. Such projects shall take into consideration and be coordinated with the programs administered under the Illinois Emergency Employment Development Act.

The allowances provided under Article IX for recipients participating in the training and rehabilitation programs shall be in addition to such maximum payment.

Payments may also be made to provide persons receiving basic maintenance support with necessary treatment, care and supplies required because of illness or disability or with acute medical treatment, care, and supplies. Payments for necessary or acute medical care under this paragraph may be made to or in behalf of the person. Obligations incurred for such services but not paid for at the time of a recipient's death may be paid, subject to the rules and regulations of the Illinois Department, after the death of the recipient.

(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)

(305 ILCS 5/6-10) (from Ch. 23, par. 6-10)

Sec. 6-10. Emergency financial assistance. Except in a city, village or incorporated town of more than 500,000 population, when an applicant resides in the local governmental unit in which he makes application, emergency financial assistance to alleviate life-threatening circumstances or to assist the individual in attaining self-sufficiency may be given to or in behalf of the applicant. The emergency assistance so given shall be by vendor payment in an amount necessary to meet the need, up to the maximum established by the local governmental unit. Emergency assistance shall not be granted under this Section more than once to any applicant during any 12 consecutive month period. Persons currently receiving financial assistance under this Article or under any other Article of this Code shall not be eligible for emergency financial assistance under this Section. However, the amount and nature of any emergency financial assistance is not affected by the payment of any rebate authorized under Section 2201(a) of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (Public Law 116-136) or under any other federal economic stimulus program created in response to the COVID-19 emergency. Persons receiving only medical assistance from the Illinois Department may, however, receive emergency financial assistance under this Section. Emergency financial assistance may be provided under this Section to persons who are applicants for public aid from the Illinois Department in order to cover time periods prior to receipt of public aid from the Illinois Department. A local governmental unit may use General Assistance moneys to provide emergency financial assistance under this Section but shall not use State funds to provide assistance under this Section. If a local governmental unit receives State funds to provide General Assistance under this Article, assistance provided by the local governmental unit under this Section shall not be considered in determining whether a local governmental unit has qualified to receive State funds under Article XII. A local governmental unit which provides assistance under this Section shall not, as a result of payment of such assistance, change the nature or amount of assistance provided to any other individual or family under this Article.

(Source: P.A. 88-412.)

Section 35. The Housing Authorities Act is amended by changing Sections 8.2, 14, and 24 as follows:

(310 ILCS 10/8.2) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 8.2)

Sec. 8.2. Projects; competitive bidding; arrangement with for-profit developer. An Authority has power to prepare, carry out and operate projects; to provide for the construction, reconstruction, improvement, alteration or repair of any project or any part thereof; to take over by purchase, lease, or otherwise any project undertaken by any government; to act as agent for the Federal government in connection with the acquisition, construction, operation, or management of a project or any part thereof; to arrange with any government within the area of operation for the furnishing, planning, replanning, opening or closing of streets, roads, roadways, alleys, parks, or other places of public facilities or for the acquisition by any government or any agency, instrumentality or subdivision thereof, of property, options or property rights or for the furnishing of property or services in connection with a project; to function as an agency of the city, village, incorporated town or county for which it is constituted an Authority and to act as an agent (when so designated) for any government, with respect to matters relating to housing and the purposes of this Act, including action for the elimination of unsafe and unsanitary dwellings, the provision of rental assistance, the clearing and redevelopment of blighted or slum areas, the assembly of improved and unimproved land for development or redevelopment purposes, the conservation and rehabilitation of existing housing, and the provision of decent, safe and sanitary and affordable housing accommodations, and to utilize any and all of its powers to assist governments in any manner which will tend to further the objectives of this Act; to assist through the exercise of the powers herein conferred any individual, association, corporation or organization which presents a plan for developing or redeveloping any property within the area of operation of the Authority which will tend to provide decent, safe and sanitary and affordable housing, or promote other uses essential to sound community growth.

In counties having a population of less than 1,000,000, any contract in which State funds are used for repair, improvement or rehabilitation of existing improvements that involves expenditures that meet the requirements applicable to either federal or State programs shall be let by free and competitive bidding to the lowest responsible bidder upon bond and subject to regulations as may be set by the Department and with the written approval of the Department. In the case of an emergency affecting the public health or safety declared by a majority vote of the commissioners of the Housing Authority, contracts may be let, to the extent necessary to resolve an emergency, without public advertisement or competitive bidding.

In addition to the powers conferred by this Act and other laws concerning housing authorities, a Housing Authority in any municipality or county having a population in excess of 1,000,000 shall be authorized to participate as a partner or member of a partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, or other form of a business arrangement with a for-profit developer or non-profit developer and shall have all powers deemed necessary and appropriate to engage in the rehabilitation and development or ownership, or both development and ownership, of low-income and mixed-income rental and for-sale housing as a partner or member of a partnership, limited liability company, or joint venture.

(Source: P.A. 95-887, eff. 8-22-08.)

(310 ILCS 10/14) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 14)

Sec. 14. Approval of projects by Department. Prior to the acquisition of title to any real property an Authority shall submit to the Department data as to the location and cost of the property, and prior to the undertaking of any construction or other initiation of a project an Authority shall submit to the Department the proposed plans, specifications and estimates of the costs and a statement of the proposed methods of financing and operating the project. An Authority shall not finally acquire title to any real estate nor undertake the construction or operation of a project without the approval of the Department; provided that, if the Department shall fail within thirty days after receipt thereof to state its disapproval of the proposals or such modifications thereof as it may deem desirable, the proposals shall be deemed to have been approved as submitted. No change involving an expenditure of more than twenty-five hundred dollars ($2500) shall be made in any proposal approved by the Department without submission to the Department in the manner prescribed in this Section. The provisions of this Section shall not apply with reference to any project which is or is to be financed in whole or in part by the federal government or any agency or instrumentality thereof or undertaken pursuant to the additional powers conferred in Section 8.2 upon housing authorities in any municipality or county having a population in excess of 1,000,000 pursuant to this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly.

(Source: P.A. 95-887, eff. 8-22-08.)

(310 ILCS 10/24) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 24)

Sec. 24. Management and operation of housing projects. It is hereby declared to be the policy of this State that each housing authority shall manage and operate its housing projects in an efficient manner so as to enable it to fix the rentals for dwellings at the lowest possible rates consistent with its providing decent, safe and sanitary and affordable dwellings, and that no Housing Authority shall construct or operate any project for profit, or as a source of revenue to a city, village, incorporated town or county. To this end an Authority shall fix the rentals for dwellings in its projects at no higher rates than it shall find to be necessary in order to produce revenues which (together with all other available moneys, revenues, income and receipts of the Authority from whatever sources derived) will be sufficient (a) to pay, as the same becomes due, the principal and interest on the bonds of the Authority; (b) to meet and provide for the cost of maintaining and operating the projects (including the cost of any insurance on the projects or bonds issued therefor) and the administrative expenses of the Authority; (c) to create (during not less than the ten years immediately succeeding its issuance of any bonds) a reserve sufficient to meet the large principal and interest payments which will be due on bonds in any 2 consecutive years thereafter, and to maintain a reserve; and (d) to create a reasonable reserve solely from any contributions or grants to the Authority from the federal government, the State, or any political subdivision of the State for the purpose of meeting the cost of maintaining and operating the project and of paying the principal and interest on its bonds. The management of low-rent public housing projects financed and developed under the U.S. Housing Act of 1937, as now or hereafter amended, shall be in accordance with the provisions of that Act. The provisions of this Section 24 shall not apply to any project undertaken pursuant to the additional powers conferred in Section 8.2 upon housing authorities in any municipality or county having a population in excess of 1,000,000 pursuant to this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly.

(Source: P.A. 95-887, eff. 8-22-08.)

Section 90. The State Mandates Act is amended by adding Section 8.44 as follows:

(30 ILCS 805/8.44 new)

Sec. 8.44. Exempt mandate. Notwithstanding Sections 6 and 8 of this Act, no reimbursement by the State is required for the implementation of any mandate created by Section 4-7 of the Illinois Local Library Act or Section 30-55.60 of the Public Library District Act of 1991.

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