Kane County Reporter

Before giving a thumbs up on House Bill 414, Rep. Jeff Keicher (R-DeKalb) raised a concern and discussed it with the bill author during the House floor debate.

The bill, authored by Rep. LaToya Greenwood (D-East St. Louis) will provide water and sewer financial assistance when enacted into law.

“My concern is that in those poverty-stricken areas, we are going to have more people in need of this assistance and fewer people contributing to the pool and the overhead,” Keicher said. “And thereby this system may in essence just collapse and fall by the wayside, so my concern is that it is too localized and that the cities that need it will deplete it and those that don't need it will not take advantage of it to the benefit of the poor. So, my curiosity is more along: can we get this to a statewide program? Is this something that was evaluated and what are your thoughts along those lines?”

Keicher, who later on gave his “yes” on the bill, further told Greenwood that he would love to work with her on the bill to make sure that it would equally benefit all Illinoisans.  

HB 414 “Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is authorized to institute the water and sewer assistance program. Provides that any person who is a resident of the State of Illinois and whose household income is not greater than an amount determined annually by the Department may apply for assistance.”

An amendment was also adopted to the bill that would provide that, “in its use of federal funds under the Act, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may not cause a disproportionate share of those federal funds to benefit customers of water or sewer providers that do not assess the Water and Sewer Assistance Charge.”