Current Topic

Illinois General Assembly: End of session report

There were wins and losses in this past legislative session.  To view all bills passing both houses and awaiting the Governor's signature, click on "Bills Signed" to the left. To view the full text of any of these bills or others, to to www.ilga.govhttp://www.ilga.gov

Among the successes:

• After many years and many efforts, SB 1579 to license managers was passed.  Kudos to attorney Mark Pearlstein who has been working diligently on this
  
• Defeat of HB 821 which while narrowly written would have usurped an association from regulating rentals
• SB 1390 expands the use of electronic means of communication under the General-Not-for-Profit Act which will be applicable to HOAs and townhomes
• SB 149 makes various changes to the Illinois Elevator Safety and Regulation Act including expanding the review board to include an owner from the condominium association community.
  

Among the disappointments was the  lack of movement on any of the recommendations from the State's Advisory Board made as a result of public hearings they held last year.  Homeowners were vehement in their need for relief on the issue of foreclosures.  Complaints were also heard regarding developers who left their companies with little or no funds resulting in owners having little or no relief to collect for damages or defects.  Even minor recommendations to improve the Illinois Condominium Property Act were left unacted on.

Click on "Bills Introduced" to see which bills affecting community associations have been introduced and are still "alive".  Please note that the General Assembly can suspend past deadline dates to keep a bill "alive."

CHICAGO CONTEMPLATES CHANGES TO ELEVATOR INSPECTIONS:  The Building Committee postponed action on a proposed ordinance which would significantly increase fees condo associations would need to pay for inspections.  As initially proposed, building owners would have to hire Qualified Elevator Inspectors or Supervising Elevator Mechanics if the building has a long term maintenance contract in two of every three years to verify that the elevators are up to code. Currently Chicago charges $ 150 per elevator car to conduct these inspections. Under the proposal this would increase to $1,000 per elevator car.

Also in the proposal is language to amend ASME A17.3 code standards to provide existing elevators just one year to comply with these new standards. The cost to comply varies depending on the age and condition of the elevator. Conservative estimates put the cost at between $10,000 and $20,000 per elevator car.