* Before we go, a couple of late news stories. From the governor’s office…
Name: Jason Barclay
Position: Board Member – Illinois State Board of Education
Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed Jason Barclay to the Illinois State Board of Education. Barclay’s experience in state government coupled with his time working with an Indianapolis charter school make him uniquely qualified for the position.
Barclay is currently the General Counsel of Athletico Physical Therapy. Previously, he was General Counsel in the Office of Governor and oversaw the legal departments of Illinois’ Executive Branch. He also worked as a partner at Barnes & Thornburg and as an attorney for former Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels.
In addition to his work as an attorney, Barclay helped found a technology-focused charter school in Indianapolis and served on its board. He has also volunteered for DARE.
Barclay earned his bachelor’s degree from Duke University and his law degree from the University of Virginia. He lives in Hinsdale.
Name: Jimmy Odom
Position: Assistant Director - Department of Central Management Services
Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed Jimmy Odom the Assistant Director of Central Management Services. Odom’s experience in management and minority business development will make him an asset in this role.
Currently, Odom is the Senior Vice President for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Intersect Illinois, which is the non-profit working with the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) to grow the Illinois economy. Previously, he was a Senior Policy Adviser for Minority Business Development at DCEO where he oversaw the creation of ADME, a minority business development program designed to connect entrepreneurs to existing business networks to grow their business.
Odom is an entrepreneur and founded WeDeliver in 2012. The company connects consumers with stores to deliver products on-demand through the web.
Odom earned his degree from Columbia College. He lives in Homewood.
Name: Don Moffitt
Position: Assistant Director - Department of Agriculture
Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed former State Rep. Don Moffitt the Assistant Director of the Department of Agriculture. Moffitt is a lifelong farmer with extensive experience in state and local government, which makes him uniquely qualified for the role.
Moffitt represented the 74th District in the House of Representatives since 1993. He served as the minority spokesperson of the Agriculture & Conservation Committee and the Counties & Townships Committee. In addition, he co-chaired a fire protection task force and a task force for emergency medical services. He also served on a number of other committees ranging from education, public safety and infrastructure. Previously, he served as the Knox County Treasurer, and has held a number of other local government positions including mayor of Oneida. Moffitt also was a high school agriculture teacher.
Moffitt earned his bachelor’s degree in agricultural education from the University of Illinois. He lives in Gilson.
* From IBHE executive director James Applegate…
I wanted you to know that next month I will be leaving the IBHE to pursue other opportunities to serve American higher education. I want to offer my thanks to so many good people who have helped make my time here in Illinois rewarding.
My thanks to the talented and dedicated staff at the IBHE for the great work they do and to the Board members who hired and supported me.
Amends the Employee Sick Leave Act. Adds to the definition of “personal sick leave benefits” paid or unpaid time accrued and available to an employee as provided through an employment benefit plan or policy. Provides that an employment benefit plan or paid time off policy does not include long term disability, short term disability, an insurance policy, or other comparable benefit plan or policy. Adds a stepchild and domestic partner to the list of persons for whom an employee may use personal sick leave benefits. Provides that an employer may request written verification of the employee’s absence from a health care professional if such verification is required under the employer’s employment benefit plan or paid time off policy; and that for employers who base personal sick leave benefits on an employee’s years of service instead of annual or monthly accrual, such employer may limit the amount of sick leave to be used under the Act to half of the employee’s maximum annual grant. In a provision prohibiting retaliation, provides that nothing prohibits an employer from applying the terms and conditions set forth in the employment benefit plan or paid time off policy applicable to personal sick leave benefits. Provides that the Act does not apply to: (i) an employee of an employer subject to certain provisions of the Railway Labor Act; or (ii) an employer or employee as defined in either the federal Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act or the Federal Employers’ Liability Act. Provides that nothing in the Act shall be construed to invalidate, diminish, or otherwise interfere with any collective bargaining agreement nor shall it be construed to invalidate, diminish, or otherwise interfere with any party’s power to collectively bargain such an agreement; and that the Act does not apply to any other employment expressly exempted under rules adopted by the Department of Labor as necessary to implement the Act in accordance with applicable State and federal law. Grants the Department rulemaking authority. Effective immediately.
