New County and State Laws Effective Today

By Amy Mikel in News on Jul 1, 2008 6:03PM

Those who know the exact price of their morning coffee received a gentle reminder this morning: the Cook County sales tax hike to 10.25% is effective today. Statewide, other new laws taking effect July 1:

Illinois employers must pay minimum-wage employees $7.50 an hour. Yearly increases of 25 cents will follow until the year 2010, when the minimum wage for the state will have reached $8.25.
The new Illinois Commercial Safety Towing Law requires registered towing companies to "notify the customer with a written disclosure providing the business name, address, information about where the vehicle will be towed and a reliable telephone contact number," as well as "advise customers of the full cost of all services prior to towing a vehicle, and return the vehicle upon request during regular business hours after prompt payment of all reasonable fees." The Illinois Commerce Commission Transportation Police in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Will and Winnebago counties.
Labeling requirements for motor fuel dispensing devices containing at least 2-percent MTBE (Methyl tertiary-butyl ether) have been updated. Biodiesel and biodiesel blends must be identified by the capital letter “B” followed by the numerical value of the volume percentage of fuel.
Amendments to the State Mandates Act that requires any personal information disclosed to school professionals remain confidential, for students over the age of 12.
Amendments to the definition of a "potentially dangerous dog." An unsupervised dog or a dog running with three or more dogs must be spayed or neutered and microchipped within 14 days of reclaim.
Students who are younger than 18, and are classified as "habitually truant" or do not maintain attendance in school, are prohibited from receiving a driver’s license from the Secretary of State.
New regulations for the Illinois Department of Public Health to evaluate sanitary standards in tattoo and body piercing facilities.