* In this case, it’s a dead bill…

It will be at least another year before self-driving cars hit Illinois roads.

Bill-sponsor Mike Zalewski says it is time to pump the breaks on his legislation. The bill is currently in committee, and if it were to pass there, it would be put up for a vote in the House. However, there are still a lot of issues and it is enough to make Zalewski admit that the bill is not ready for a vote this session.

Skeptics include Abate Illinois. That is a group dedicated to preserving motorcyclists’ rights. Zalewski is planning on hearing out every concern he can.

The assistive technology is great. Completely automated cars are, however, nowhere near fruition. I’m with ABATE on this.

* When I was in the hospital years ago, I noticed that nurse staffing levels were way down on the weekends. I simply couldn’t get the same medical attention as I did during the week. And I noticed it again when Steve Schnorf was in the hospital before he passed away…

Under the Safe Patient Limits Act, no nurse working in a hospital could be responsible for more than four patients at a time.

That number would be lower for special units like maternity wards, intensive care units and emergency rooms.

Paul Pater, with the Illinois Nurses Association, said high patient-to-nurse ratios are dangerous for everyone.

“Hospitals and administrators take advantage of our empathy and sense of duty to our patients to force unsafe situations on the nurses of Illinois in a misguided attempt to save money,” Pater said.

* WMAY…

Democratic State Senator Andy Manar is joining with Republican Jason Barickman on a bill that would reduce the signature requirement for new political parties and independent candidates. Currently, established political parties need fewer than 10,000 signatures to get on the statewide ballot… while independents need 25,000.

The bipartisan bill would put everyone at the same, lower threshold. Manar and Barickman say their bill should get bipartisan support.

* Illinois Policy Institute…

Airbnb’s growth has created push-back from hotels in the form of new taxes and stringent regulations by local communities, but a new Illinois House bill would halt bans and overregulation of vacation rental services.

House Bill 2919, introduced by Rep. Michael Zalewski, D-Riverside, limits the home-rule authority of local governments. HB 2919 would prohibit municipalities from enacting ordinances that have the “express or practical effect” of banning Airbnb and similar vacation rental services, as happened in Lake Bluff and a well-connected ward in Chicago.

Vacation rental services provide valuable and affordable lodging alternatives for visitors, and income streams for residents. Studies suggest the growth in vacation rentals benefits both property owners and the broader economy.

The services, also known as home sharing, have come under fire across the nation. New York City bans vacation rental of full units for fewer than 30 days.

…Adding… E-mail to the author of that Policy Institute piece…

Hi Joe,

I’m writing on behalf of the Village of Lake Bluff to request a clarification regarding your recent article on HB2919 (re: short term rentals / Airbnb).

In the second paragraph, your article references some prior (2017) IPI reporting on Lake Bluff’s short term rental regulations that is no longer accurate. In early 2018, following a fact-based public process, the Village adopted regulations that allow short-term rentals to operate with reasonable restrictions that protect public safety and ensure payment of the Village’s hotel tax. I have attached our regulations if you are curious to know more.

There are inconsistencies between our regulations and what would be permissible under HB2919. Notably, we would prohibit the use of neighborhood houses as vacation rentals 365 days a year. However, certainly, we do not “ban” short term rentals. As someone reading your article would likely come to that conclusion, we would appreciate an edit or a clarification.

Thanks,

Glen Cole
Asst. to the Village Administrator
Village of Lake Bluff

* Other stuff…

* Gov. Pritzker Signs Legislation at Southern Illinois Hospital: Ferrell Hospital CEO Alisa Coleman says the additional funding is huge so her facility and the 50 others like it receive the appropriate payments under the hospital assessment program. “More than 43% of critical access hospitals are operating in the red today and others on extremely thin margins.”