Friday, Governor Pritzker filed a new emergency rule that would charge a misdemeanour to certain businesses who the governor has determined shouldn’t be open. The emergency rule gives local health Departments the power to authorize a Class A misdemeanor for any open non-essential businesses. This could bring fines up to $2,500 and 364 days in jail.
While this rule is in effect, the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) will be meeting Wednesday, May 20th. This committee is a bipartisan legislative panel charged with approving or rejecting rules by the executive branch. The co-chairman of this Committee (Assistant House Minority Leader Keith Wheeler) hopes to discuss this rule at the meeting on Wednesday.If not blocked by JCAR, the emergency rule would stay in effect for 150 days.
According to the ILGA.gov website emergency rules are defined as:
Emergency rules – Temporary rules that take effect immediately or up to 10 days after filing with the Secretary of State, but remain in effect for no more than 150 days. The IAPA allows use of emergency rulemaking when an agency determines that a “threat to the public interest, safety or welfare” requires rules to be adopted in less time than would be needed to complete proposed rulemaking. JCAR reviews emergency rules to insure that they meet these criteria. If an agency wants to maintain the policy established in the temporary emergency rule, a companion proposed rule must also be adopted. The companion proposed rulemaking should be adopted before the emergency rule expires. Agencies cannot file the same emergency rule more than once within a 24-month period, unless the General Assembly makes an exception to this limit and to the 150- day limit in statute. Statutes may also authorize agencies to use emergency rulemaking for specific purposes.
The JCAR committee members as posted on the public website are as follows:
Bill Cunningham – bill@billcunningham.com – 773-445-8128
Keith Wheeler – Office@repkeirhwheeler.org – 630-345-3464
Kimberly Lightford – lightford@senatedem.state.il.us – 708-632-4500
Tony Munoz – info@munozforstatesenate.com – 773-869-9050
Sue Rezin – senatorrezin@gmail.com – 815-220-8720
Paul Schimf – http://senatorschimpf.com/Contact – 618-684-1100
Tom Demmer – demmer@ilhousegop.org – 815-561-3690
Mike Halpin – Rephpin@gmail.com – 309-558-3612
Frances Ann Hurley – Repfranhurley@gmail.com – 773-445-8128
Steve Reick – reick@ilhousegop.org – 815-880-5340
Andre Thapesi – rep32district@gmail.com – 773-873-4444
***Report Courtesy of the Monmouth Area Chamber of Commerce***