Illinois 2023 2023-2024 Regular Session

Illinois House Bill HB4921 Introduced / Bill

Filed 02/07/2024

                    103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB4921 Introduced , by Rep. Lindsey LaPointe SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 65 ILCS 95/11 from Ch. 24, par. 1611 Amends the Home Equity Assurance Act. In provisions authoring a governing commission with no less than $4,000,000 in its guarantee fund to establish a Low Interest Home Improvement Loan Program, provides that the loan may be used for repair or maintenance of a guaranteed residence's water and sewer pipes and repair of a guaranteed residence, including, but not limited to, basement repairs, following flooding damage or other natural disaster damage to the property (rather than following flooding damage to the property). Provides that a commission may use loan funds to issue a grant or rebate for repairs, maintenance, remodeling, alteration, or improvement of a guaranteed residence for purposes of preventing or repairing damage as a result of a natural disaster, including, but not limited to, flooding. LRB103 37586 AWJ 67712 b   A BILL FOR 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB4921 Introduced , by Rep. Lindsey LaPointe SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:  65 ILCS 95/11 from Ch. 24, par. 1611 65 ILCS 95/11 from Ch. 24, par. 1611 Amends the Home Equity Assurance Act. In provisions authoring a governing commission with no less than $4,000,000 in its guarantee fund to establish a Low Interest Home Improvement Loan Program, provides that the loan may be used for repair or maintenance of a guaranteed residence's water and sewer pipes and repair of a guaranteed residence, including, but not limited to, basement repairs, following flooding damage or other natural disaster damage to the property (rather than following flooding damage to the property). Provides that a commission may use loan funds to issue a grant or rebate for repairs, maintenance, remodeling, alteration, or improvement of a guaranteed residence for purposes of preventing or repairing damage as a result of a natural disaster, including, but not limited to, flooding.  LRB103 37586 AWJ 67712 b     LRB103 37586 AWJ 67712 b   A BILL FOR
103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB4921 Introduced , by Rep. Lindsey LaPointe SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
65 ILCS 95/11 from Ch. 24, par. 1611 65 ILCS 95/11 from Ch. 24, par. 1611
65 ILCS 95/11 from Ch. 24, par. 1611
Amends the Home Equity Assurance Act. In provisions authoring a governing commission with no less than $4,000,000 in its guarantee fund to establish a Low Interest Home Improvement Loan Program, provides that the loan may be used for repair or maintenance of a guaranteed residence's water and sewer pipes and repair of a guaranteed residence, including, but not limited to, basement repairs, following flooding damage or other natural disaster damage to the property (rather than following flooding damage to the property). Provides that a commission may use loan funds to issue a grant or rebate for repairs, maintenance, remodeling, alteration, or improvement of a guaranteed residence for purposes of preventing or repairing damage as a result of a natural disaster, including, but not limited to, flooding.
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    LRB103 37586 AWJ 67712 b
A BILL FOR
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1  AN ACT concerning local government.
2  Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3  represented in the General Assembly:
4  Section 5. The Home Equity Assurance Act is amended by
5  changing Section 11 as follows:
6  (65 ILCS 95/11) (from Ch. 24, par. 1611)
7  Sec. 11. Guarantee Fund.
8  (a) Each governing commission and program created by
9  referendum under the provisions of this Act shall maintain a
10  guarantee fund for the purposes of paying the costs of
11  administering the program and extending protection to members
12  pursuant to the limitations and procedures set forth in this
13  Act.
14  (b) The guarantee fund shall be raised by means of an
15  annual tax levied on all residential property within the
16  territory of the program having at least one, but not more than
17  6 dwelling units and classified by county ordinance as
18  residential. The rate of this tax may be changed from year to
19  year by majority vote of the governing commission but in no
20  case shall it exceed a rate of .12% of the equalized assessed
21  valuation of all property in the territory of the program
22  having at least one, but not more than 6 dwelling units and
23  classified by county ordinance as residential, or the maximum

 

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB4921 Introduced , by Rep. Lindsey LaPointe SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
65 ILCS 95/11 from Ch. 24, par. 1611 65 ILCS 95/11 from Ch. 24, par. 1611
65 ILCS 95/11 from Ch. 24, par. 1611
Amends the Home Equity Assurance Act. In provisions authoring a governing commission with no less than $4,000,000 in its guarantee fund to establish a Low Interest Home Improvement Loan Program, provides that the loan may be used for repair or maintenance of a guaranteed residence's water and sewer pipes and repair of a guaranteed residence, including, but not limited to, basement repairs, following flooding damage or other natural disaster damage to the property (rather than following flooding damage to the property). Provides that a commission may use loan funds to issue a grant or rebate for repairs, maintenance, remodeling, alteration, or improvement of a guaranteed residence for purposes of preventing or repairing damage as a result of a natural disaster, including, but not limited to, flooding.
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    LRB103 37586 AWJ 67712 b
A BILL FOR

 

 

65 ILCS 95/11 from Ch. 24, par. 1611



    LRB103 37586 AWJ 67712 b

 

 



 

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1  tax rate approved by the voters of the territory at the
2  referendum which created the program or, in the case of a
3  merged program, the maximum tax rate approved by the voters at
4  the referendum authorizing the merger, whichever rate is
5  lower. The commissioners shall cause the amount to be raised
6  by taxation in each year to be certified to the county clerk in
7  the manner provided by law, and any tax so levied and certified
8  shall be collected and enforced in the same manner and by the
9  same officers as those taxes for the purposes of the county and
10  city within which the territory of the commission is located.
11  Any such tax, when collected, shall be paid over to the proper
12  officer of the commission who is authorized to receive and
13  receipt for such tax. The governing commission may issue tax
14  anticipation warrants against the taxes to be assessed for the
15  calendar year in which the program is created and for the first
16  full calendar year after the creation of the program.
17  (c) The moneys deposited in the guarantee fund shall, as
18  nearly as practicable, be fully and continuously invested or
19  reinvested by the governing commission in investment
20  obligations which shall be in such amounts, and shall mature
21  at such times, that the maturity or date of redemption at the
22  option of the holder of such investment obligations shall
23  coincide, as nearly as practicable, with the times at which
24  monies will be required for the purposes of the program. For
25  the purposes of this Section investment obligation shall mean
26  direct general municipal, state, or federal obligations which

 

 

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1  at the time are legal investments under the laws of this State
2  and the payment of principal of and interest on which are
3  unconditionally guaranteed by the governing body issuing them.
4  (d) Except as permitted by this subsection and subsection
5  (d-5), the guarantee fund shall be used solely and exclusively
6  for the purpose of providing guarantees to members of the
7  particular Guaranteed Home Equity Program and for reasonable
8  salaries, expenses, bills, and fees incurred in administering
9  the program, and shall be used for no other purpose.
10  A governing commission, with no less than $4,000,000 in
11  its guarantee fund, may, if authorized (i) by referendum duly
12  adopted by a majority of the voters or (ii) by resolution of
13  the governing commission upon approval by two-thirds of the
14  commissioners, establish a Low Interest Home Improvement Loan
15  Program in accordance with and subject to procedures
16  established by a financial institution, as defined in the
17  Illinois Banking Act. Whenever the question of creating a Low
18  Interest Home Improvement Loan Program is initiated by
19  resolution or ordinance of the corporate authorities of the
20  municipality or by a petition signed by not less than 10% of
21  the total number of registered voters of each precinct in the
22  territory, the registered voters of which are eligible to sign
23  the petition, it shall be the duty of the election authority
24  having jurisdiction over the municipality to submit the
25  question of creating the program to the electors of each
26  precinct within the territory at the regular election

 

 

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1  specified in the resolution, ordinance, or petition initiating
2  the question. A petition initiating a question described in
3  this subsection shall be filed with the election authority
4  having jurisdiction over the municipality. The petition shall
5  be filed and objections to the petition shall be made in the
6  manner provided in the Election Code. A resolution, ordinance,
7  or petition initiating a question described in this subsection
8  shall specify the election at which the question is to be
9  submitted. The referendum on the question shall be held in
10  accordance with the Election Code. The question shall be in
11  substantially the following form:
12  "Shall the (name of the home equity program) implement
13  a Low Interest Home Improvement Loan Program with money
14  from the guarantee fund of the established guaranteed home
15  equity program?"
16  The votes must be recorded as "Yes" or "No".
17  Whenever a majority of the voters on the public question
18  approve the creation of the program as certified by the proper
19  election authorities or a resolution of the governing
20  commission is approved by a two-thirds majority, the
21  commission shall establish the program and administer the
22  program with funds collected under the Guaranteed Home Equity
23  Program, subject to the following conditions:
24  (1) At any given time, the cumulative total of all
25  loans and loan guarantees (if applicable) issued under
26  this program may not reduce the balance of the guarantee

 

 

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1  fund to less than $3,000,000.
2  (2) Only eligible applicants may apply for a loan.
3  (3) The loan must be used for the repair, maintenance,
4  remodeling, alteration, or improvement of a guaranteed
5  residence. This condition is intended to include the
6  repair or maintenance of a guaranteed residence's water
7  and sewer pipes and repair of a guaranteed residence,
8  including, but not limited to, basement repairs, following
9  flooding damage or other natural disaster damage to the
10  property. This condition is not intended to exclude the
11  repair, maintenance, remodeling, alteration, or
12  improvement of a guaranteed residence's landscape. This
13  condition is intended to exclude the demolition of a
14  current residence. This condition is also intended to
15  exclude the construction of a new residence.
16  (4) An eligible applicant may not borrow more than the
17  amount of equity value in his or her residence.
18  (5) A commission must ensure that loans issued are
19  secured with collateral that is at least equal to the
20  amount of the loan or loan guarantee.
21  (6) A commission shall charge an interest rate which
22  it determines to be below the market rate of interest
23  generally available to the applicant.
24  (7) A commission may, by resolution, establish other
25  administrative rules and procedures as are necessary to
26  implement this program including, but not limited to, loan

 

 

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1  dollar amounts and terms. A commission may also impose on
2  loan applicants a one-time application fee for the purpose
3  of defraying the costs of administering the program.
4  (8) A commission may use loan funds to issue a grant or
5  rebate for repairs, maintenance, remodeling, alteration,
6  or improvement of a guaranteed residence for purposes of
7  preventing or repairing damage as a result of a natural
8  disaster, including, but not limited to, flooding.
9  (d-5) A governing commission, with no less than $4,000,000
10  in its guarantee fund, may, if authorized by referendum duly
11  adopted by a majority of the voters, establish a Foreclosure
12  Prevention Loan Fund to provide low interest emergency loans
13  to eligible applicants that may be forced into foreclosure
14  proceedings.
15  Whenever the question of creating a Foreclosure Prevention
16  Loan Fund is initiated by resolution or ordinance of the
17  corporate authorities of the municipality or by a petition
18  signed by not less than 10% of the total number of registered
19  voters of each precinct in the territory, the registered
20  voters of which are eligible to sign the petition, it shall be
21  the duty of the election authority having jurisdiction over
22  the municipality to submit the question of creating the
23  program to the electors of each precinct within the territory
24  at the regular election specified in the resolution,
25  ordinance, or petition initiating the question. A petition
26  initiating a question described in this subsection shall be

 

 

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1  filed with the election authority having jurisdiction over the
2  municipality. The petition shall be filed and objections to
3  the petition shall be made in the manner provided in the
4  Election Code. A resolution, ordinance, or petition initiating
5  a question described in this subsection shall specify the
6  election at which the question is to be submitted. The
7  referendum on the question shall be held in accordance with
8  the Election Code. The question shall be in substantially the
9  following form:
10  "Shall the (name of the home equity program) implement a
11  Foreclosure Prevention Loan Fund with money from the guarantee
12  fund of the established guaranteed home equity program?"
13  The votes must be recorded as "Yes" or "No".
14  Whenever a majority of the voters on the public question
15  approve the creation of a Foreclosure Prevention Loan Fund as
16  certified by the proper election authorities, the commission
17  shall establish the program and administer the program with
18  funds collected under the Guaranteed Home Equity Program,
19  subject to the following conditions:
20  (1) At any given time, the cumulative total of all
21  loans and loan guarantees (if applicable) issued under
22  this program may not exceed $3,000,000.
23  (2) Only eligible applicants may apply for a loan. The
24  Commission may establish, by resolution, additional
25  criteria for eligibility.
26  (3) The loan must be used to assist with preventing

 

 

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1  foreclosure proceedings.
2  (4) An eligible applicant may not borrow more than the
3  amount of equity value in his or her residence.
4  (5) A commission must ensure that loans issued are
5  secured as a second lien on the property.
6  (6) A commission shall charge an interest rate which
7  it determines to be below the market rate of interest
8  generally available to the applicant.
9  (7) A commission may, by resolution, establish other
10  administrative rules and procedures as are necessary to
11  implement this program including, but not limited to,
12  eligibility requirements for eligible applicants, loan
13  dollar amounts, and loan terms.
14  (8) A commission may also impose on loan applicants a
15  one-time application fee for the purpose of defraying the
16  costs of administering the program.
17  (d-10) The Northwest Home Equity Assurance Program may, if
18  authorized (i) by referendum approved by a majority of the
19  voters or (ii) by resolution of the governing commission upon
20  approval by two-thirds of the commissioners, establish a
21  Delinquent Tax Repayment Loan Fund to provide low-interest
22  emergency loans to eligible applicants.
23  If the question of creating a Delinquent Tax Repayment
24  Loan Fund is initiated by resolution or ordinance of the
25  corporate authorities of the municipality or by a petition
26  signed by not less than 10% of the total number of registered

 

 

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1  voters of each precinct in the territory, the registered
2  voters of which are eligible to sign the petition, it shall be
3  the duty of the election authority having jurisdiction over
4  the municipality to submit the question of creating the
5  program to the electors of each precinct within the territory
6  at the regular election specified in the resolution,
7  ordinance, or petition initiating the question. A resolution,
8  ordinance, or petition initiating a question described in this
9  subsection shall be filed with the election authority having
10  jurisdiction over the municipality. The resolution, ordinance,
11  or petition shall be filed and objections to the resolution,
12  ordinance, or petition shall be made in the manner provided in
13  the Election Code. A resolution, ordinance, or petition
14  initiating a question described in this subsection shall
15  specify the election at which the question is to be submitted.
16  The referendum on the question shall be held in accordance
17  with the Election Code. The question shall be in substantially
18  the following form:
19  "Shall the (name of the home equity program) implement
20  a Delinquent Tax Repayment Loan Fund with money from the
21  guarantee fund of the Northwest Home Equity Assurance
22  Program?"
23  The votes must be recorded as "Yes" or "No".
24  If a majority of the voters on the question approve the
25  creation of a Delinquent Tax Repayment Loan Fund as certified
26  by the proper election authorities or two-thirds of the

 

 

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1  commissioners, by resolution, approve the creation of a
2  Delinquent Tax Repayment Loan Fund, the commission shall
3  establish the program and administer the program with funds
4  collected under the program, subject to the following
5  conditions:
6  (1) At any given time, the cumulative total of all
7  loans and loan guarantees (if applicable) issued under
8  this program may not exceed $3,000,000.
9  (2) Only eligible applicants may apply for a loan. The
10  commission may establish, by resolution, additional
11  criteria for eligibility.
12  (3) The loan must be used to assist with repayment of
13  delinquent property taxes and for those facing imminent
14  delinquency.
15  (4) An eligible applicant may not borrow more than the
16  amount due to the treasurer's office.
17  (5) A commission shall charge an interest rate which
18  it determines to be below the market rate of interest
19  generally available to the applicant.
20  (6) A commission may, by resolution, establish other
21  administrative rules and procedures as are necessary to
22  implement this program including, but not limited to,
23  eligibility requirements for eligible applicants, loan
24  dollar amounts, and loan terms.
25  (7) Where practicable, it shall be required that a
26  borrower obtain free housing counseling services prior to

 

 

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1  applying to this tax program for the purpose of assisting
2  with budgeting and providing a recommendation as to
3  whether this client is suited for this program.
4  (8) A commission may also impose on loan applicants a
5  one-time application fee for the purpose of defraying the
6  costs of administering the program.
7  (e) The guarantee fund shall be maintained, invested, and
8  expended exclusively by the governing commission of the
9  program for whose purposes it was created. Under no
10  circumstance shall the guarantee fund be used by any person or
11  persons, governmental body, or public or private agency or
12  concern other than the governing commission of the program for
13  whose purposes it was created. Under no circumstances shall
14  the guarantee fund be commingled with other funds or
15  investments.
16  (e-1) No commissioner or family member of a commissioner,
17  or employee or family member of an employee, may receive any
18  financial benefit, either directly or indirectly, from the
19  guarantee fund. Nothing in this subsection (e-1) shall be
20  construed to prohibit payment of expenses to a commissioner in
21  accordance with Section 4 or payment of salaries or expenses
22  to an employee in accordance with this Section.
23  As used in this subsection (e-1), "family member" means a
24  spouse, child, stepchild, parent, brother, or sister of a
25  commissioner or a child, stepchild, parent, brother, or sister
26  of a commissioner's spouse.

 

 

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