House Sponsors: ACEVEDO-LANG. Short description: LOCGOV-EMPLYEE DEBT COLLECTION Synopsis of Bill as introduced: Amends various local government Acts and the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act. Changes the Counties Code by adding a Section that authorizes wage deductions for debt collection from Cook County employees. Changes the Cook County Forest Preserve District Act by adding a Section that authorizes wage deductions for debt collection from District employees. Changes the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Act by adding a Section that authorizes similar deductions from District employees. Changes the Housing Authorities Act by adding a Section that authorizes similar deductions from housing authority employees. Changes the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act to include the County of Cook, the Cook County Forest Preserve District, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, and municipal housing authorities in large cities in the list of local government employers that are authorized to deduct wages to pay a debt owed by an employee. Effective immediately. HOUSE AMENDMENT NO. 1. Adds reference to: 65 ILCS 5/10-4-8 new 70 ILCS 1505/16b 70 ILCS 3605/28c 105 ILCS 5/34-18 from Ch. 122, par. 34-18 Deletes everything and re-inserts similar language, with various changes concerning applicability and references to municipalities and counties. Adds provisions amending the Illinois Municipal Code, the Chicago Park District Act, the Metropolitan Transit Authority Act, and the School Code to permit the wages of employees of a municipality with a population of at least 500,000, the Chicago Park District, the Metropolitan Transit Authority, and the Chicago School Reform Board of Trustees to be withheld to pay debts owed by those employees to a county with a population of at least 3,000,000. Effective immediately. HOUSE AMENDMENT NO. 2. In the provisions amending the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Act, provides that the withholding provisions apply in the case of a debt owing to a county as well as a municipality. STATE MANDATES NOTE, H-AM 1,2 (Department of Commerce and Community Affairs) This legislation creates a local government organization and structure mandate for which reimbursement of the increased costs to units of local government is not required under the State Mandates Act. FISCAL NOTE, H-AM 1,2 (Department of Commerce and Community Affairs) This legislation will not incur a fiscal impact on DCCA. The fiscal impact on Cook County, the City of Chicago, and other units of local government which already have a wage garnish- ment system in place would be negligible. In order for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District to implement a collec- tion system authorized by the legislation, it would be neces- sary for it to dedicate sufficient funds for start-up costs and ensure that appropriate financial and administrative controls are in place. Therefore, due to the nature of the the legislation, an estimate of the costs incurred by units of local government cannot be determined at this time. Last action on Bill: SESSION SINE DIE Last action date: 01-01-09 Location: House Amendments to Bill: AMENDMENTS ADOPTED: HOUSE - 2 SENATE - 0 END OF INQUIRY Full Text Bill Status