Springfield, Ill. – During the week, several bills were signed into law said State Sen. Pamela Althoff (R-McHenry) including legislation that targets telephone scams, a measure that permits Illinois to issue federal bonds for capital construction projects and a bill that cracks down on illegal gun possession by a member of a street gang.

On Dec. 2, legislation was signed into law that will allow Illinois to issue Build America Bonds and Qualified School Construction Bonds. The measure is a funding component of the state’s capital construction measure, which was signed into law this summer. Senate Bill 1514/PA 96-0828, provides the tools necessary to finance the capital projects by permitting procurement and payment of federal Build America Bonds and Qualified School Construction Bonds, which are programs initiated through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

The Qualified School Construction Bonds are to be used for construction and repairs or rehabilitation of public school buildings, or to purchase land where a school facility will be built. The Build America Bonds allow both the state and local governments to issue Build America Bonds as taxable bonds to finance capital expenditures.

Telephone consumers will benefit from additional protections advanced by SB 1421/PA 96-0827, which protects customers from a deceptive practice called “cramming.”

Third-party telecommunication providers are now prohibited from adding unauthorized charges to a consumer’s telephone bill. Sen. Althoff said that “cramming” is a scam that has been on the rise in Illinois, and the new law is intended to deter the practice.

Now, third-party service providers can’t charge consumers on their telephone bills unless they have clearly disclosed all charges and terms of service, an independent party must confirm that the consumer agrees to the service or product, and the service provider must have given the consumer a toll-free contact number that they can call with questions or complaints. Those found in violation of the law may be subject to a $50,000 fine.

Under another new law, HB 4124/PA 96-0829, a street gang member who is found in a court of law to have possessed a loaded gun in a public area would receive mandatory prison time. Previously, the law simply stated that gang members who have a loaded gun in their possession could be sentenced to probation.

The law took effect immediately upon being signed. Now, gang members convicted of having a loaded gun in their possession in a public place would face a prison sentence of three to 10 years.

The legislation was introduced after Chicago police officer was shot and killed by assumed gang members, one of whom was on probation for an unlawful use of a weapons violation.