Will County Gazette

Dagmara Avelar introduced HB1699 in the Illinois House on Jan. 24, 2025, during the general assembly session 104, according to the Illinois General Assembly.

According to the Illinois General Assembly site, the legislature summarized the bill's official text as follows: "Amends the Environmental Protection Act. In a provision regarding operator certification for sewage works, provides that the Environmental Protection Agency shall establish a provisional wastewater operator certification program by which a person who does not possess a high school diploma or its equivalent may act as a provisional wastewater operator under a provisional wastewater operator certificate. Allows the Agency to adopt rules. Amends the Public Water Supply Operations Act. In a provision regarding community water supply operator certification, provides that the Environmental Protection Agency shall establish a provisional community water supply operator certification program by which a person who does not possess a high school diploma or its equivalent may act as a provisional community water supply operator under a provisional community water supply operator certificate. Allows the Agency to adopt rules."

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill amends the Environmental Protection Act and the Public Water Supply Operations Act in Illinois to enhance certification requirements for operators of sewage works and community water supplies, effective immediately. It grants the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) authority to establish and enforce standards for operator certification, ensuring technical competency in the operation of sewage and water systems. The bill allows the EPA to enter agreements with other agencies for program administration and maintains existing certification rules until updated or repealed. Additionally, it establishes operator-in-training programs for individuals lacking a high school diploma, provided they fulfill specific criteria and work under certified supervision, ensuring safe and competent operations in both wastewater treatment and water supply management.

Dagmara Avelar has proposed another four bills since the beginning of the 104th session.

Avelar graduated from Northeastern Illinois University in 2010 with a BS.

Dagmara Avelar is currently serving in the Illinois State House, representing the state's 85th House District. She replaced previous state representative John Connor in 2021.

Bills in Illinois follow a multi-step legislative process, beginning with introduction in either the House or Senate, followed by committee review, floor debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching the governor for approval or veto. The General Assembly operates on a biennial schedule, and while typically thousands of bills are introduced each session, only a fraction successfully pass through the process to become law.

You can read more about bills and other measures here.

Bill Number	Date Introduced	Short Description
HB1699	01/24/2025	Amends the Environmental Protection Act. In a provision regarding operator certification for sewage works, provides that the Environmental Protection Agency shall establish a provisional wastewater operator certification program by which a person who does not possess a high school diploma or its equivalent may act as a provisional wastewater operator under a provisional wastewater operator certificate. Allows the Agency to adopt rules. Amends the Public Water Supply Operations Act. In a provision regarding community water supply operator certification, provides that the Environmental Protection Agency shall establish a provisional community water supply operator certification program by which a person who does not possess a high school diploma or its equivalent may act as a provisional community water supply operator under a provisional community water supply operator certificate. Allows the Agency to adopt rules.
HB1705	01/24/2025	Amends the School Code. Requires each school board to implement, not later than July 1, 2026, a mobile panic alert system capable of connecting disparate emergency services technologies to ensure real-time coordination between local and State law enforcement and first responder agencies. Provides that the system shall be known as "Alyssa's Alert" and shall integrate with local, public-safety, answering-point infrastructure to transmit 9-1-1 calls and mobile activations. Allows a school board to implement additional strategies or systems to ensure real-time coordination between multiple first responder agencies in the event of a school security emergency. Provides that a school board is not required to procure or implement new or additional capabilities if, as of July 1, 2025, the school board has already implemented a mobile panic alert system with capabilities that meet system requirements. Requires the State Board of Education to conduct market research not later than December 1, 2025 to identify whether an existing competitively procured source of supply is available for a mobile panic alert system from multiple vendors for use by school districts. Provides that if no existing source of supply exists, then the State Board shall issue a competitive solicitation for such source of supply no later than January 1, 2026. Effective immediately.
HB1736	01/24/2025	Amends the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) Article of the Illinois Pension Code to add the Joliet Regional Port District to the list of entities permitted to participate in the Fund as participating instrumentalities. Effective immediately.
HB1363	01/14/2025	Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. In provisions concerning non-emergency transportation services for medical assistance recipients, removes a requirement that facilities complete a Physician Certification Statement prior to ordering non-emergency transportation services for a patient. Instead, requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to develop, subject to federal approval, a Uniform Non-Emergency Transportation Certification Form (form) for non-emergency transportation. Provides that the form shall be the only form used by and required of all facilities, physicians, transportation providers, and transportation brokers whenever a patient or person covered by the medical assistance program is being transported from a facility or personal residence and requires non-emergency transportation. Makes corresponding changes to the Nursing Home Care Act and the Hospital Licensing Act. Further amends the Medical Assistance Article with a provision authorizing transportation brokers to use a network of independent driver providers for the delivery of covered transportation services. Provides that transportation brokers and participating independent driver providers shall be subject to the same driver credentialing and licensing standards and provider registration requirements as transportation network companies (TNC) and TNC drivers enrolled in the Impact Medicaid Program Advanced Cloud Technology system. With respect to the Department's Business Enterprise Program requirements for Medicaid managed care organizations (MCO), requires each MCO to submit only one Letter of Intent that consolidates and sets forth all pending transportation services from all BEP-certified transportation providers contracted with the MCO. Requires the Department to permit a MCO's transportation broker to attest to the accuracy of all claims for services provided by a contracted transportation provider.
HB1279	01/13/2025	Creates the Debt Resolution Services Act. Provides that no person shall provide or offer to provide debt resolution services without a debt resolution services license. Defines "debt resolution services" as a program or service represented, directly or by implication, to renegotiate, settle, or in any way alter the terms of payment or other terms of the debt between a consumer and one or more unsecured creditors. Sets forth requirements for a debt resolution services license. Sets forth the process for obtaining a debt resolution services license. Provides that specified persons are exempt under the Act. Provides the prerequisites and permitted practices for providing debt resolution services. Provides the requirements for a contract between a licensee and a consumer for debt resolution services. Provides that a consumer may terminate a contract to provide debt resolution services at any time without any penalty. Provides that a licensee may terminate a contract to provide debt resolution services if specified conditions are satisfied. Includes provisions concerning the powers of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation; prohibited activities under the Act, including prohibitions against false or misleading advertising; annual reports filed by a licensee; fees for debt resolution services; information a licensee must provide to a consumer; records a licensee is required to keep; penalties for violating the Act; and transactions entered into before the effective date of the Act. Repeals the Debt Settlement Consumer Protection Act. Amends various Acts to replace references to the Debt Settlement Consumer Protection Act to the Debt Resolution Services Act. Effective one year after becoming law except that certain provisions concerning rulemaking are effective immediately.
HB1289	01/13/2025	Creates the Debt Resolution Services Act. Provides that no person shall provide or offer to provide debt resolution services without a debt resolution services license. Defines "debt resolution services" as a program or service represented, directly or by implication, to renegotiate, settle, or in any way alter the terms of payment or other terms of the debt between a consumer and one or more unsecured creditors. Sets forth requirements for a debt resolution services license. Sets forth the process for obtaining a debt resolution services license. Provides that specified persons are exempt under the Act. Provides the prerequisites and permitted practices for providing debt resolution services. Provides the requirements for a contract between a licensee and a consumer for debt resolution services. Provides that a consumer may terminate a contract to provide debt resolution services at any time without any penalty. Provides that a licensee may terminate a contract to provide debt resolution services if specified conditions are satisfied. Includes provisions concerning the powers of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation; prohibited activities under the Act, including prohibitions against false or misleading advertising; annual reports filed by a licensee; fees for debt resolution services; information a licensee must provide to a consumer; records a licensee is required to keep; penalties for violating the Act; and transactions entered into before the effective date of the Act. Repeals the Debt Settlement Consumer Protection Act. Amends various Acts to replace references to the Debt Settlement Consumer Protection Act to the Debt Resolution Services Act. Effective one year after becoming law except that certain provisions concerning rulemaking are effective immediately.
HB1147	01/09/2025	Creates the Build Illinois Homes Tax Credit Act. Provides that owners of qualified low-income housing developments are eligible for credits against the taxes imposed by the Illinois Income Tax Act or taxes, penalties, fees, charges, and payments imposed by the Illinois Insurance Code. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act and the Illinois Insurance Code to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.