| Critical Issues Facing the Profession |
| Gross Recipts Tax |
| A plan to fix the State budget problems has been proposed that will levy a gross receipt tax that may have a significant impact on service based businesses such as design professionals. We need to monitor this proposed bill to ensure that design professionals are treated fairly and that our businesses are not placed with a non-competitive burden. |
| Unionization |
| Unionization is a fact. It has come to the geotechnical engineers because they were not united on an industry issue. In order to limit union encroachment, most geotechnical companies have formed separate legal field subsidiaries. The office personnel may be next. This begs the very important questions of independence, unbiased judgment, control of work and quality, and allegiance of personnel. |
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| Recent Accomplishments |
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 2007 Principals Luncheon - Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn |
| Governor Quinn shared his insights on the Gross Receipts Tax (GRT) and on a number of his initiatives for the State like improving the quality of dams and rail lines. |
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| Companies that Sponsored the Luncheon
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Qualification Based Selection – QBS |
| SEPAC, together with a coalition of Engineering and Architect Organizations, was successful in getting this legislation passed. This legislation requires that the bidding and selection process for public projects be driven by qualifications first, rather than just fees. |
| Good Samaritan Act |
| Successfully sponsored legislation for the Good Samaritan Act. This Act passed largely through the efforts of SEPAC. |
| 2006 Principals Luncheon – Judy Baar Topinka |
| Provided an opportunity for SEAOI members to meet with the current State Treasurer and Candidate for Governor at the April 2006 Principals’ Luncheon. |
| Transportation For Illinois Coalition - TFIC |
| Provided continued financial support and backing to the TFIC to advance and promote the State’s Transportation needs and infrastructure development. |
| Indemnification Bill |
| Provided early review and input to the proposed amendment of the indemnification provisions. Timely input led to further review of the proposed changes. |
| SEAOI/SEPAC Dinner Meeting – Paul Green |
| Provided an opportunity for SEAOI members to listen to and interact with political analyst Paul Green in September 2006. |
| SEPAC Cocktail Party |
| Hosted the First Annual Cocktail party to provide a forum for SEAOI members along with other design professionals to discuss and debate current issues and to formulate strategies for 2007 |
| Structural Work Act |
| Opposed re-enactment of the Structural Work Act, attended meetings of, and contributed money to, the AHEAD (Alliance to Help Employment and Development) Coalition against the Structural Work Act. |
| Landscape Architecture Practice Act |
| Continued to monitor legislation that could impact the structural engineering profession (e.g., Landscape Architecture Practice Act). |
| Union-related Legislation |
| Successfully opposed House Bills HB2274, HB3992, HB4138, and Senate Bills SB1770, SB2289 AND SB2435 which were proposed by labor unions and would have amended the Professional Engineering Practice Act to the benefit of unions. |
| Legislative Alerts |
| E-mailed SEAOI members about legislative alerts and placed the alerts on the SEAOI website. |
| Legislative Updates |
| Placed regular legislative updates in the SEAOI Bulletin. |
