Chicago City Wire

Jaime M. Andrade, Jr. introduced HB1619 in the Illinois House on Jan. 23, 2025, during the general assembly session 104, according to the Illinois General Assembly.

According to the Illinois General Assembly site, the legislature summarized the bill's official text as follows: "Amends the Cemetery Care Act. Defines "average fair market value", "total return percentage", and "net income". Provides that a trustee may apply to the Comptroller to establish a master trust fund in which deposits are made. Allows a cemetery authority to take distributions from its fund either by distributing ordinary income or total return distribution. Requires an application for the implementation of the total return distribution method to be submitted to the Comptroller at least 120 days before the effective date of the election to receive total return distribution. Allows, where no receiver is available, a circuit court to order a willing local municipality, township, county, or city to take over the cemetery. Repeals a provision regarding the use of care funds. Makes other changes. Effective January 1, 2027."

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill amends the Cemetery Care Act in Illinois, modifying existing sections and adding new one to regulate cemetery care funding and management. It outlines definitions crucial to understanding the Act and revises how care funds must be managed, specifying required amounts to be set aside and deposited in trust for different cemetery services such as interment rights. New sections include provisions for creating a master trust fund, allowing for collective investment and requiring an independent trustee. The bill also introduces a total return distribution method for funds, requiring a written investment policy and periodic reports to the Comptroller. The authority of the Comptroller to investigate cemetery trust funds is reinforced, with specified conditions under which additional audits can be initiated. The changes clarify the non-assignability of trust funds in case of a cemetery authority's financial issues. Effective Jan. 1, 2027, the bill seeks to ensure the responsible management of cemetery care funds while protecting consumer interests.

Jaime M. Andrade, Jr. has proposed another four bills since the beginning of the 104th session.

Andrade graduated from DePaul University in 2014 with a BS and again in 2021 from DePaul University.

Jaime M. Andrade Jr. is currently serving in the Illinois State House, representing the state's 40th House District. He replaced previous state representative Deb Mell in 2013.

Bills in Illinois follow a multi-step legislative process, beginning with introduction in either the House or Senate, followed by committee review, floor debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching the governor for approval or veto. The General Assembly operates on a biennial schedule, and while typically thousands of bills are introduced each session, only a fraction successfully pass through the process to become law.

You can read more about bills and other measures here.

Bill Number	Date Introduced	Short Description
HB1619	01/23/2025	Amends the Cemetery Care Act. Defines "average fair market value", "total return percentage", and "net income". Provides that a trustee may apply to the Comptroller to establish a master trust fund in which deposits are made. Allows a cemetery authority to take distributions from its fund either by distributing ordinary income or total return distribution. Requires an application for the implementation of the total return distribution method to be submitted to the Comptroller at least 120 days before the effective date of the election to receive total return distribution. Allows, where no receiver is available, a circuit court to order a willing local municipality, township, county, or city to take over the cemetery. Repeals a provision regarding the use of care funds. Makes other changes. Effective January 1, 2027.
HB1617	01/23/2025	Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that the offense of possession of burglary tools includes possessing a vehicle security circumvention device and not being a: (1) mechanic; (2) licensed new or used vehicle dealer; (3) licensed locksmith; (4) repossession agent; or (5) State or local law enforcement officer. Provides that a violation is a Class C misdemeanor. Provides that the offense of unlawful sale of burglary tools includes knowingly selling or transferring a vehicle security circumvention device with knowledge that the device will be used by the person or another to commit a violation of law. Provides that a violation is a petty offense. Defines "vehicle security circumvention device".
HB1618	01/23/2025	Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Defines "relay box". Provides that no person may possess a relay box in this State except for: (1) a mechanic; (2) a new vehicle dealer or used vehicle dealer licensed under the Code; (3) a locksmith licensed under the Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Act of 2004; (4) a repossession agent; or (5) a State or local law enforcement officer. Provides that a person who commits a violation of the new provisions is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. Effective immediately.
HB1565	01/21/2025	Creates the Anti-Click Gambling Data Analytics Collection Act. Provides that no entity that operates a remote gambling platform or a subsidiary of the entity shall collect data from a participant with the intent to predict how the participant will gamble in a particular gambling or betting scenario. Effective immediately.
HB1566	01/21/2025	Amends the Uniform Crime Reporting Act. Provides that a law enforcement agency shall report all shootings connected with the subject of an incident report when the shooting resulted in any property damage or bodily injury. Provides that each incident report that reports a shooting shall, at a minimum, state whether a firearm has been identified and if a magazine, round of ammunition, expended bullet, or shell casing was found at the scene of the crime.