Gov. J.B. Pritzker is again trying to give teeth to his unilateral regulations for face coverings and social distancing that he says are important to slow the spread of COVID-19. The fines could be as much as $2,500 for businesses. Pritzker on Friday morning said the Illinois Department of Public Health is submitting administrative rules to allow for a progression of enforceable actions ranging from an enforcement officer educating an establishment about the rules, to a warning and then to a monetary fine between $75 and $2,500.
State Sen. Paul Schimpf, who’s on the Joint Commission on Administrative Rules that meets Tuesday to address the proposed mask rule, told the Illinois Radio Network that the governor is going about it wrong and should call a special session.
JCAR is made up of elected representatives of the legislature. The committee doesn’t approve rules, but can block them. It meets Tuesday in Springfield.