Vote YES on HB 4724

Support the Public Service Accountability Act

 Agencies at all levels of government in Illinois are seeking to reduce the cost of providing services by contracting with pricate entities. Last year, the Illinois General Assembly enacted legislation establishing safeguards for all school districts engaged in private contracting. HB 4724 would create the same standards and public protections when the State of Illinois pursues private contracts for public service. The Illinois State Federation of Labor, which SEIU Local 73 is a part of, urges your support of this Act.
    The Act is necessary because in recent years agencies and departments of the State of Illinois have repeatedly sought to subcontract out public service work currently provided by public employees. Some of these private contractors have produced faulty work, such as inaccurate DNA tests making it more difficult to apprehend criminals. 
    This Act would allow such subcontracting but only if the savings accrued were from genuine efficiencies instead of deceptive bidding, shoddy services, reductions in employee benefits, or use of unqualified or inappropriate personnel. The Act would not affect contracts currently in effect.
    This legislation would allow agencies and departments under the executive branch to utilize private contractors for services currently provided by public employees only if certain conditions are met.