April 2005

2005 IPLSA ANNUAL CONFERENCE – A HUGE SUCCESS

1,145 people attended the 48^th IPLSA Annual Conference held in Springfield.  The conference was sponsored by the Little Egyptian Chapter and was the largest we have ever had.
 

NEW SPEAKER’S KIT AVAILABLE

ACSM/NSPS has put together a NSPS Speaker’s Kit intended for use in requiting young people into the profession of surveying.  A special thanks to the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying for funding the development of the kit and Topcon for funding the initial production.  Thanks also to POB magazine (especially Lieca Brown) for their assistance in coordination with Topcon.  

The theme of the kit is “Measuring the World Around Us, A High-Tech Career in Professional Surveying”.  It is specifically targeted toward students from middle school age to college age. The kit can also be used to present the surveying profession to individual citizens, civic groups, clients, realtors, attorneys, or any others to whom the message would be of interest.

IPLSA has been given permission to copy the CD which contains all of the kit’s materials (contains speaker’s guide text and digital materials such as a Power Point practice video and a narrated 15 minute movie.)   Anyone wanting a copy of the CD should contact the IPLSA office.

ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY ACTION - LEGISLATION

SB0075 – Original bill- The recorder shall collect a $10.00 Rental Support Program State surcharge for recordation of any real estate-related document.  The payment of the Housing Support Program State surcharge shall be evidenced by a receipt that shall be marked upon of otherwise affixed to the real estate-related document by the recorder. The form of this receipt shall be prescribed by the Department of Revenue and the receipt shall be issued by the Department of Revenue to each county recorder.

The recorder shall not collect the Rental Housing Support Program surcharge from any unit of local government or any school district.

One dollar of each surcharge shall be retained by the county in which it was collected.  This dollar shall be deposited into the count’s general revenue fund.  Fifty cents of that amount shall be used for the costs off administering the Rental Housing Support Program State surcharge and any other lawful expenditures for the operation of the office of the recorder and may not be appropriated or expended for any other purpose. The amounts available to the recorder for expenditure from the surcharge shall not offset or reduce any other county appropriations or funding for the office of the recorder.

Amendment #1 – One dollar of each surcharge shall be retained by the county in which it is collected.  This dollar shall be deposited into the county’s general revenue fund.  Fifth cents of that amount shall be transferred to a special account of the county in which it was collected, to be known as the Count Housing Surcharge Account.  All amounts in that account shall be used for the costs of administering the Rental Housing Support Program State surcharge and any other legal expenditures for the operation of the recorder.  The amounts  available to the recorder for expenditure from that amount shall not offset or reduce any other county appropriations or funding of the office of recorder. 

Amendment #2 - The recorder shall not collect the Rental Housing Support Program surcharge from any unit of local government or any school district. 

Amendment #3 – Deletes everything. 

Amendment #4 – Inserts the original language. IPLSA opposes the bill.
 

SB0245, as amended – Good Samaritan for the Design Professions. Professional engineers, architects, land surveyors, and structural engineers; exemption from civil liability for professional services in response to disasters or catastrophic events. Any  professional engineer, architect, land surveyor, and structural engineer who in good faith, without fee, provides professional services in response to a disaster or other catastrophic event shall not be liable for civil damage or other catastrophic event shall not be liable for civil damages as a result of his or her acts or omissions in providing the professional services, except for willful and wanton misconduct.  This immunity applies to services that are provided without fee during or within 60 days following the end of a disaster or a  catastrophic event.  Passed the House Judiciary I Committee and should pass the Senate.  The Trial Lawyers are in support. IPLSA supports the bill.

HB0900, as amended – Land Surveyor – Retired. Amends the IDFPR Law of Civil Administrative Code of Illinois for all of the professions licensed by IDFPR by creating a definition of “Retiree” to mean a person who has been duly licensed, registered, or certified in a profession  regulated by the Department and who chooses to relinquish or not renew his or her license, registration, or certification. It further adds: The Department may grant the title “Retired” to be used immediately adjacent to the title of a profession regulated by the Department, to eligible retirees. The use of the title “Retired” shall not constitute representation of current licensure, registration, or certification.  Any person without an active license, registration, or certification shall not be permitted to practice that profession. No opposition so far.  IPLSA supports the bill.

HB1318 as amended – Same as SB0245.  HB1318 has the same language and amendment as SB0245 shown above.  IPLSA supports the bill. 

2006 ANNUAL IPLSA CONFERENCE PLANNING UNDERWAY

Planning has started with the IPLSA Heart of Illinois Chapter for the 49^th IPLSA Annual Conference, which will be held February 15-19, 2006 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

2007 ANNUAL IPLSA CONFERENCE IN CONJUNCTION WITH ACSM/NSPS & MSPS

Planning has started for the ACSM/NSPS/IPLSA/MSPS Spring Conference in St. Louis, MO.  IPLSA along with the Missouri Society of Professional Surveyors will be hosting the event March 2007. 

LINCOLN STATUE PROJECT WINS NSPS AWARD