Compromise Ride-Sharing Bill Heads To Governor’s Desk

Dave Dahl -- Illinois Radio Network

Among the bills the legislature sent to the governor on the next-to-last day of the fall veto session: a compromise with for-profit ride-sharing companies. A bill awaiting the governor's action regulates drivers of such services as Uber and Lyft and requires insurance and background checks.

“If you're Uber, you can surge-price as long as you have an app that's functional, and it's on the network,” explains State Rep. Mike Zalewski (D-Riverside), the House sponsor. “Uber felt that this was a restriction on the market to touch that. Our feeling was: let's give the locals the ability to regulate that any way they want.”

Illinois employees who are not in the habit of saving for retirement would get a nudge with the Secure Choice program, also approved by lawmakers Wednesday. The idea is to make it hassle-free for small businesses to offer this IRA program to their workers. State Sen. Dale Righter (R-Mattoon) doesn't see what the fuss is: “The people that we are speaking about,” he said, “either cannot save because they do not make enough money, or they simply are choosing not to save.”

A bill which some observes note is a “bone to trial lawyers” before Gov. Pat Quinn exits office has passed the legislature. It would allow mesothelioma patients to file suit regardless of when they were exposed to asbestos. Previously, there was a 10-year statute of repose.

SB 2774 (Uber), SB 2758 (Secure Choice), and SB 2221 (asbestos) have passed both chambers and await the governor's action.