Illinois Chamber of Commerce
Introduce Responsible Reopening and Rehiring Legislation with
Sponsor Senate Republican Leader Bill Brady
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[August 12, 2020]
The Illinois Chamber of Commerce is introducing a
measure, Senate Bill 3993, to expedite the reopening of business in
Illinois in the safest, most equitable way possible. The
legislation, sponsored by Senate Republican Leader Bill Brady
(R-Bloomington), directs the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH)
to establish the Safe Place of Business (SPB) protocols on or before
May 30, 2020, to give guidance to all businesses and allowing them
to reopen once protocols are met.
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“The proposal put forward by the Illinois Chamber
is an important step in moving the discussion forward on how we
safely reopen our state and get our economy moving forward more
quickly,” said Senate Republican Leader Bill Brady, sponsor of the
measure in the Illinois Senate.
The protocols include customer density limits based on business
facilities’ square footage and appropriate social distancing, face
covering requirements for all employees and regular cleaning
regimens. Protocols may vary, based on the prevalence of COVID-19
diagnoses within the 11 Department of Public Health’s Emergency
Medical Services (EMS) regions. Regions with higher instances of
COVID-19 may have lower density thresholds and more frequent
cleaning requirements. IDPH will publish additional protocols for
specific customer-facing businesses as necessary. Any business that
complies with their regional SPB protocols will be able to reopen
and rehire staff at their discretion as soon as practical.
“Reopening should be safe and equitable for all Illinois
communities,” said Illinois Chamber of Commerce President and CEO
Todd Maisch. “Thousands of businesses across Illinois have been
operating safely from day one of the shutdown. Any business that
proves they can operate as safely as the ones that have been open
this whole time should be allowed to reopen as soon as possible.”
The legislation also addresses daycare shortages to help ease the
burden for parents and workers deemed 'non-essential' returning to a
physical location of business and those working from home safe and
reliable care. All daycares would be allowed to reopen or expand
capacity at their discretion as soon as practical in compliance with
SPB protocols. “The government is placing an
unreasonable expectation on parents and guardians by not allowing
care centers to reopen along with places of business,” said Maisch.
“It is impossible for anyone deemed ‘non-essential’ to return to a
physical location or continue to work from home for an extended time
without proper care for their children and dependents. Besides
providing a safe place, care centers provide children and people
with disabilities structure, education and social interaction that
is vital to their mental health and well-being.”
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The legislation allows hospitals and other health
care facilities located in regions that have adequate Intensive Care
Unit capacity that adhere to their SPB protocols to resume
performing any services for any patients needing care. It also
directs IDPH to conduct a public information campaign explaining the
safety measures that should be implemented to encourage non-COVID-19
patients to seek necessary care.
In addition, the state will adopt common sense strategies such as
allowing physicians licensed in one state to practice in others and
create financial incentives to accelerate the implementation of tele-medicine
to allow the health care community to better assist the state’s
response in public health emergencies.
Finally, to better prepare Illinois in the case of future pandemics
or emergencies, SB 3993 incorporates the legislature into the
recovery process by preventing the governor from extending an
initial disaster proclamation without the General Assembly passage
of a resolution that approves the extension, in whole or in part,
within five calendar days after the extension or further
proclamation.
If, due to health or safety concerns, the General Assembly is unable
to convene to approve the extension, the extension may remain in
effect with written certification from the Speaker of the House, the
Senate President and the Minority Leaders of the House and Senate.
[Illinois Chamber of Commerce] |