Trampoline safety bill passes both Houses of the General Assembly

The General Assembly hasn’t made significant traction on a balanced budget before session ends, but the Illinois Senate had time May 30 to pass a bill regulating trampoline safety.

With little time left to pass a budget or debate tax hikes, the General Assembly passed a bill regulating trampoline safety May 30.

House Bill 3897, introduced by state Rep. Robyn Gabel, D-Evanston, amends the Amusement Ride and Attraction Safety Act and provides for the adoption of new Department of Labor rules and regulations, including inspection of trampoline courts. Before amended, HB 3897 was originally introduced to also give the Department of Labor the ability to establish fees for initial registration or renewal of registration of trampoline courts and deposit those fees in a “Trampoline Court Safety Fund.”

The bill first passed the House with a simple majority 64-46 April 28 before passing the Senate 43-9 May 30.

The passage of this bill — which according to its fiscal note — will force the Department of Revenue to purchase thousands of dollars worth of new inspection equipment and pay travel and overtime for the new required inspections – passed both chambers before any discussion in the House on the $5.4 billion tax hike Senate Democrats passed May 23. The priorities of lawmakers as legislative session winds down don’t seem to match up to that of taxpayers. In addition to trampoline regulation, lawmakers also passed a truth-in-labeling bill for catfish May 30 before advancing on a budget vote. Meanwhile, nearly two-thirds of Illinoisans oppose a state budget that raises taxes – which isn’t what Illinois senators have proposed.

With misguided legislative priorities like these, it’s no wonder Illinois hasn’t passed a balanced budget in 16 years. Throughout the state’s two-year budget impasse it remains deadlocked. And lawmakers have refused to adopt any substantial economic reforms that the state sorely needs. Lawmakers should set aside measures like trampoline regulation and instead jump at the idea of improving the quality of life for Illinois taxpayers, who have bared the brunt of the state’s financial mismanagement for far too long.