AARP IN YOUR STATE

July 2008

Keep cool — The House and Senate passed legislation (HB 5086) in May that would protect consumers from having their electricity shut off during extreme summer weather. Gov. Rod Blagojevich, D, was expected to sign the bill into law. Previous state law prohibited utilities from shutting off service during cold winter months but failed to protect consumers during heat waves—which can be just as dangerous to older people. AARP Illinois worked on amendments that led to the bill’s unanimous passage in the House. To learn more about the issue, go to www.aarp.org/il and click on “Read the Latest Illinois News.”

June 2008

Two roads to safety — AARP Illinois is backing legislation (HB 5731/SB 2502) that would require insurance companies to offer the same discount on auto insurance to all policyholders age 55 and older who complete a driver safety course, whether they take the course in a classroom or online.  Online classes such as the one offered by the AARP Driver Safety Program allow motorists to complete the requirements at their own pace and provide a convenient alternative in rural areas where classroom options are scarce.  “Insurance discounts already provide an incentive to complete the classroom course,” says Jack Reynolds, AARP state coordinator for driver safety. “The more we can encourage people to enroll in either version, the safer our roads will be.” To urge legislators to pass the measure, go to www.aarp.org/il.

April 2008

Cost-conscious choices — State programs that can help older Illinoisans continue to live independently in their own homes and avoid more costly nursing home care received a boost in February, when Gov. Rod Blagojevich, D, released his 2009 budget proposal. As submitted to the legislature, the governor’s budget would increase funding for home- and community-based services such as Meals on Wheels and adult day care. The governor’s budget also includes a provision that would encourage doctors to share health care records electronically, which could reduce duplicative testing, unnecessary prescriptions and medication errors. AARP Illinois is urging lawmakers to include both items in the final budget, scheduled for a vote in May. For more information or to sign up for legislative updates, go to www.aarp.org/il.

March 2008

Relief work – Illinois utilities Ameren and ComEd have proposed a service fee hike that would stick consumers with hundreds of millions of dollars in new charges and wipe away most of the billion-dollar rate relief package AARP Illinois helped win last year. As the two utility companies present their case before the Illinois Commerce Commission, AARP has entered the proceedings as a consumer advocate. When commission hearings across the state end in April or May, regulators will go into closed session to make a decision. AARP Illinois encourages members to voice their opposition to service charge increases. Call the AARP advocacy hotline at 1-800-719-3020 or visit www.aarp.org/il.

January/February 2008

Mend the gap – AARP Illinois has teamed up with a coalition that aims to strengthen lifelong financial security for women and minorities, two groups that tend to be underprepared for retirement.The coalition—which includes the U.S. Department of Labor Women's Bureau and a diverse group of state agencies, nonprofit organizations and community leaders—supports automatic enrollment in 401(k) plans. With auto-enrollment, workers don’t have to sign up for 401(k)s; they are assumed to be participants unless they opt out.   For more information, visit http://www.retirementmadesimpler.org call 1-866-448-3613 toll free.