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More bad news on HB3652

HB 3653 Concerns: Trespassing on Private Property Provision

The Illinois Chamber would like to alert members regarding our concern with provision within HB3653, the criminal justice reform legislation passed last month during the lame duck session. 

Our friends at the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police released the following information concerning private property rights and trespassers:

Why Illinois citizens should be concerned about HB 3653
There is language in the bill that will endanger our communities and make citizens in towns and cities of every size feel less safe. For example, if this bill is signed:

• If you call the police because an unwanted person is peeking in your windows or standing in your yard or place of business and you don’t want them there for a legitimate reason, you can call the police, but the police will not be able to physically remove that person. All they can do is issue a citation (like a traffic ticket). Then, if the unwanted person still doesn’t leave and is not being threatening, the police will have no authority to arrest them or get them to “move along.” This applies to all Class B and Class C misdemeanors. Page 326.

Here at the Chamber, our ultimate concern is that businesses will no longer be able to remove trespassing individuals disruptive to operations. Whether that be our refineries, factories, financial centers, or local restaurants. It is imperative that businesses of all sizes and sectors have the ability to remove uncooperative or unwanted persons, whether they be protestors, dissatisfied customers, or politically-motivated actors.

If you have any concerns or questions regarding this provision within HB 3653 please contact us at ckaericher@ilchamber.org
 

Governor Proposes to "Cut Corporate Loopholes"

The Following Information has been provided courtesy of Keith Staats, Executive Director of the Illinois Chamber Tax Institute, and was originally published in the Tax Institute's member newsletter. Keith's content is provided weekly to Tax Institute members. 

As you may have seen in Crain's Chicago Business, the Governor announced some limited details of the budget he plans to propose for Fiscal Year 2022 beginning on July 1, 2021. According to the announcement, the Governor does not plan to impose an income tax rate hike. He proposes to "balance" the budget for the upcoming fiscal year through increasing taxes on businesses by, among other things, eliminating so-called "corporate loopholes" worth $900 million per year.

Natural Gas. Natural Advantage. (NGNA) – Natural Gas, Natural Advantage is an initiative of the U.S. Chamber’s Global Energy Institute (GEI) that showcases the benefits that natural gas provides to the economy, environment and natural security. Through targeted outreach at the state and local level, NGNA is educating Americans about the unique advantages of natural gas and advocating communities to support its continued production and use.

Congress is turning its attention to President Biden’s $1.9 trillion economic stimulus package, which is called the American Rescue Plan.  Because the package includes enhanced unemployment benefits that are currently set to lapse in mid-March, Congress is under pressure to take action by then.

The following aspects of the proposal have a specific impact on employers:

• Restoration and expansion of emergency paid leave: 

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2021 continues to present challenges. there is an ever present need to insure the success of your business. 
 
Southern Illinois-based companies such as yours can gain additional market share by gaining knowledge about all things related to exporting.  
 
A wise man once said “If you want to be a success, find someone who has already been successful.”  To assure your international business success, with real business concerns arising, it seems listening and learning from others who have gone down this winding export road would be beneficial.  The Illinois SBDC International Trade Center at SIUE (ITC) has launched a series of Virtual Roundtables via Zoom to provide a forum to discuss your concerns, ask questions and gain insight to the keys to successful exporting.
 

These education events are through the Illinois Chamber. YOU CAN REGISTER AT MEMBER PRICES because the Highland Chamber is a member! 

FEATURED EVENT: 

To Mandate Vaccines or Not:  What Employers Need to Understand

Tuesday March 2, 2021 10:30 am - 12:00 pm

2020 placed more focus on health care in the workplace and what employers can or should do to protect the health and safety of employees, clients and vendors. The release of the COVID-19 vaccine raises the question of whether employers can require employees to receive that -- or any – vaccine and the implications for employers of imposing such a requirement. Join Suzannah Wilson Overholt and Jeffrey Risch with SmithAmundsen LLC as they discuss legal issues related to vaccine and other similar requirements in the workplace for 2021.

 

• 2/23 Terminating the Problem Employee (Webinar) NEW EVENT
• 2/24 Understanding Disability in the Workplace: LTD, STD, Workers’ Compensation and Return to Work (Webinar) 
• 2/25 Compensation Trends You Need to Know For 2021 (Webinar) NEW EVENT

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• 3/2 To Mandate Vaccines or Not: What Employers Need to Understand (Webinar)

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• 3/9 NEW Illinois Law Changes Coming: Restrictions on the Use of Criminal Restrictions (Webinar)
• 3/10 - NEW Illinois Law Changes Coming: New Equal Pay & Related Reporting Mandates (Webinar)
• 3/18 How to Play the Game: Opportunities and Pitfalls in a “Gamified” Workplace (Webinar)
• 3/23 Gearing up for President Biden's Emergency COVID-19 Workplace Rules (Webinar)
• 3/30 Dealing with Lenders: From Negotiation to Documentation (Webinar)
• 3/31 Prevailing Wage Updates for 2021 and Beyond (Webinar)

Attention Highland Area Employers: 
 
HSHS Medical Group recently began notifying local employers of a plan to alter Occupational Health Services at the St. Joseph Highland location beginning March 1, 2021. This decision has been met with disappointment in the community. We understand the frustration, and we are listening to the feedback in order to adjust our plans. We ask for your patience while we find a long-term solution, but I wanted to let you know that we are looking into options that will enable us to extend services beyond March 1, with the goal of continuing many of the current Occupational Services in Highland.   
 
We will keep you updated as plans develop, but in the meantime, please feel free to contact me directly with any questions.
 
Thank you, 
 
Jeff Pollock
Outreach Representative – LeadWell
HSHS Medical Group
4941 Benchmark Centre, Suite 400 - Swansea, IL 62226
Cell: 618-741-0352
Jeff.Pollock@hshs.org
 

HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital Highland provides healthy eating and exercise tips during American Heart Month

While there are some health risks that you may not have control over when it comes to heart disease, such as your family history, there are factors that you can positively affect to reduce your risk. Two main factors that you can affect are maintaining a healthy diet and incorporating exercise into your lifestyle.
 
Are you eating the right foods?

 

December Honoree

Cameron Meyer

Highland Rural King 

Cameron is a hard worker and does whatever needs to be done all over the store.

 

Highland Moose Lodge would like to acknowledge employees of local businesses. Employers can nominate their employee by emailing their name along with a write up of why they were chosen to lodge2479@mooseunits.org by the 30^th of each month. The Lodge will choose one person each month from the write ups that were received. The person that the Lodge chooses will receive a $100 gift certificate from the Highland Chamber of Commerce.