Rep. Bill Mitchell

Amends the Oil and Gas Wells on Public Lands Act. Provides that, upon application to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for a permit to drill or otherwise operate an oil or gas well with respect to a drilling unit that includes certain highway lands, those lands shall be deemed leased for the purpose of enabling the permittee to obtain a drilling permit, without action by the Illinois Department of Transportation, if certain conditions are met. Prohibits the State of Illinois from receiving any compensation or royalty interest in the production from the subject well in exchange for the highway lands deemed leased.

Amends the Union Employee Health and Benefits Protection Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that, for vacancies in the office of a county board member or commissioner, the vacancy shall be filled within 60 days by appointment of the county central committee of the same political party of which the person the appointee succeeds was a member at the time of his or her election or appointment. Effective immediately.

Amends the Firearm Concealed Carry Act. Eliminates the 3 hours of firearms training required for renewal of a license to carry a concealed handgun. Reduces the firearms training requirement for an applicant for a new license from 16 hours to 8 hours. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to establish a Public Benefits Fraud Prevention Unit. Provides that the Unit shall investigate the misuse of State and federal funds distributed by the Department. Provides that money saved by the Department through its investigations shall be used to fund the Unit's activities. Effective immediately.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that eligibility criteria for voluntary populations to receive medical assistance approved under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, including previously ineligible individuals with incomes up to 133% of the federal poverty level, shall not be expanded. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that subject to federal approval, applicants for or recipients of benefits under the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or the State's medical assistance program shall prepare and submit a personal plan for achieving employment and self-sufficiency at the time of application or redetermination of eligibility for such benefits. Provides that in order to receive SNAP benefits or benefits under the State's medical assistance program, a single parent who heads an assistance unit and who is able to work shall be required to work or participate in a work activity for at least 30 hours per week; 2 parents who head an assistance unit shall be required to work a combined 35 hours per week. Requires the Department of Human Services and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to seek any necessary waiver from the federal government in order to implement these provisions.

Amends the Election Code. Requires substance abuse testing as a condition for filing nomination papers for the office of State Representative or State Senator. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the Department of Human Services shall require a drug test to screen each individual who applies for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Provides that the cost of drug testing shall be the responsibility of the individual tested and that an individual who tests positive for controlled substances shall be ineligible to receive TANF benefits for one year after the date of the positive drug test, unless the individual meets certain requirements. Contains provisions concerning notice; persons required to comply with the drug testing requirements; persons exempted from the drug testing requirements; circumstances under which an applicant who fails a drug test has the right to take one or more additional tests; and other matters. Effective January 1, 2014.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates a deduction in an amount equal to workers' compensation costs incurred by the taxpayer that are attributable to employees of the taxpayer who are employed at a location in a county with high unemployment. Creates a credit for taxpayers who (i) are not otherwise entitled to a tax credit under the Economic Development for a Growing Economy Tax Credit Act and (ii) employ at least 5 new employees at a project location in a county with high unemployment. Provides that the amount of the credit shall be determined by multiplying the taxpayer's income tax rate by the average wage of the new employees and then multiplying the result by the number of new employees.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that in an effort to control the epidemic of childhood obesity, the Secretary of Human Services may seek a waiver from the United States Department of Agriculture to allow the State to specify certain foods that may and may not be purchased in Illinois with the benefits funded by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (formerly the Food Stamp Program). Requires the Secretary to consult with members of the General Assembly in developing the waiver and to obtain approval from the General Assembly before implementing the waiver.