Bill sponsored by Stadelman restrains power companies from deceptive marketing
Legislation to hold alternative retail electric and gas suppliers accountable for deceptive marketing intended to ensnare consumers into more expensive utility plans has been approved in the Illinois Senate. Co-sponsor Steve Stadelman said Senate Bill 651 targets predatory practices that prey on people who can least afford higher utility bills.
The proposed HEAT Act would protect utility consumers by:
- Improving the Attorney General’s existing authority to protect consumers from suppliers’ unlawful and deceptive marketing practices;
- Protecting public energy assistance funds, LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) and PIPP (Percentage of Income Payment Plan), from being wasted to pay the higher prices charged by alternative retail energy supporters;
- Requiring the utility’s comparison price to be included on all supplier marketing materials, during telephone or door-to-door solicitations and on every consumer’s utility bill so consumers can make informed price comparisons;
- Requiring suppliers to notify customers before their rates rise so consumers can take informed action;
- Preventing suppliers from renewing a consumer’s contract and raising rates without notifying the consumer of the new rate and obtaining the consumer’s consent; and
- Requiring suppliers to report their rates to the Illinois Commerce Commission and Attorney General.
Stadelman takes a stand against government redundancy
State Senator Steve Stadelman voted in favor of legislation to prohibit the Illinois General Assembly from establishing any new units of local government until Jan. 1, 2022. Senate Bill 1215 also prohibits dividing existing units of local government but does not apply to the creation of a new unit of local government through the consolidation of two or more preexisting units of local government.
Stadelman supported the legislation as a proactive step to reduce and eliminate unnecessary layers bureaucracy in a state that already has nearly 7,000 units of government. If approved in the House of Representatives and signed by the governor, the moratorium is meant to give municipalities time to evaluate and consolidate services to promote the efficient use of taxpayer dollars.
Stadelman backs bill to expand mental health services for first responders
Firefighters and police would have greater access to mental health services under a proposal passed in the Illinois Senate with the support of State Senator Steve Stadelman. Senate Bill 730, now pending in the House of Representatives, would increase access to counseling by allowing agencies to train personnel in peer counseling and establishing a training program for law enforcement officers to recognize signs of work-related cumulative stress.
A 2017 study by the Ruderman Family Foundation found more police officers and firefighters died due to suicide than all line-of-duty deaths combined. The study also highlighted the vast under-reporting of suicides, with concerns that the problem is much bigger and more complicated than experts initially anticipated.
Traumatic experiences can have a lifetime effect on a person, and the legislation, according to Stadelman, will help de-stigmatize mental health treatment.
In case you missed me on Facebook ...
Steve Stadelman is with Steven Hall and Harlan Johnson.
Great to see Rockford area members of the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition at the Capitol!
Rebecca Quirk It was nice meeting with you today. Thank you for voting Yea on SB0009 Coal Ash Pollution Prevention! We are so pleased that it passed. And thank you so much for considering co-sponsoring the Clean Energy Jobs Act.
Steve Stadelman is with Lindsay Williams.
Great to see employees of Milestone and Mosaic at the Capitol advocating for their issues!
Lindsay Williams Thank you for taking time out of your day to talk with us!!! And for your continual support of our plight!
