Rep. Bill Mitchell

Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that the tax is imposed at the rate of 6.25% upon all sales of motor fuel and gasohol at a retail price of up to $2.50 per gallon, and is imposed at the rate of 1.25% upon any portion of the retail price of motor fuel or gasohol that exceeds $2.50 per gallon. Effective immediately.

Amends the Administration Article of 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), and that subject to federal approval, the Department shall require a drug test to screen each individual who applies for benefits under the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Contains provisions concerning notice; persons required to comply with the drug testing requirements; persons exempt for the drug testing requirements; reimbursements for the cost of the drug test; and other matters. Effective July 1, 2012.

Creates the Family and Personal Protection Act. Permits the Department of State Police to issue permits to carry concealed firearms to persons at least 21 years of age who meet certain requirements. Provides that the county sheriff shall evaluate the application and accompanying material, and within 30 calendar days transmit the application, accompanying material, and any objections to the application, and application fees to the Department of State Police. Requires an applicant for a permit to have completed specified training requirements developed by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board consisting of classroom instruction and live firing exercises. Preempts home rule. Amends the Illinois Police Training Act and the Criminal Code of 1961 to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that the Department of Revenue must print on its standard individual income tax form a provision that allows taxpayers to contribute to the General Revenue Fund. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code, the Higher Education Student Assistance Act, and the Illinois Youth and Young Adult Employment Act of 1986. Provides that after July 1, 2012 persons may not be nominated for General Assembly scholarships and that General Assembly scholarships may not be awarded after that date unless the nomination is made prior to that date. Prevents both second nominations for any lapsed General Assembly scholarship and nominating persons to the unused or unexpired parts of any vacated General Assembly scholarship after July 1, 2012. Beginning with the 2012-2013 academic year, requires the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to receive and consider applications for scholarship assistance from participants in the Young Adult Component of the Illinois Conservation Corps enrolled or accepted for enrollment at a public university or community college in this State. Provides that a total of 100 scholarships shall be awarded each year. Provides that recipients shall be selected from among qualified applicants based upon academic excellence and an intent to study a natural resource or environment-related major field of study. Provides that preference may be given to previous recipients of assistance. Provides that each scholarship shall be in an amount sufficient to pay the tuition and fees of the public university or community college at which the recipient is enrolled. Requires the Commission to administer the scholarship program and make all necessary and proper rules not inconsistent with these provisions for their effective implementation. Provides that an enrollee of the Illinois Conservation Corps program shall not receive payment for work performed (instead of receiving at least the standard minimum wage) if he or she is or was a recipient of a scholarship. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code to prohibit the State Charter School Commission from reversing a local school board's decision to deny, revoke, or not to renew a charter if the campus of the charter school is to be located on a public community college campus. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Prohibits specified persons, for one year immediately after termination of State employment, from knowingly (i) engaging in any activity that would require that person to register under the Lobbyist Registration Act or (ii) accepting employment or receiving compensation or fees for services from a person or entity required to register under that Act.

Creates the Illinois Ensuring Quality in the Unemployment Insurance Program (EQUIP) Act. Contains only a short title provision.

Amends the Fish and Aquatic Life Code and the Wildlife Code. Provides that an individual who turns age 65 or older during the license year shall receive a individual fishing license, a hunting license to hunt all species, or a fishing sportsmen's combination license for one-half of the current license fee. Effective April 1, 2013.

Provides that if and only if the provisions of Senate Bill 3539 of the 96th General Assembly become law, creates the First Degree Murder Litigation Act. Provides that if an indigent defendant is charged with first degree murder and the State's Attorney has not filed a certificate indicating he or she will seek a plea negotiation to reduce the charges from first degree murder to a lesser offense or stated on the record in open court that he or she will seek a plea negotiation to reduce the charges from first degree murder to a lesser offense, the trial court shall immediately appoint the Public Defender, or such other qualified attorney or attorneys as the Illinois Supreme Court shall by rule provide, to represent the defendant. If the Public Defender is appointed he or she shall immediately assign the attorney or attorneys to represent the defendant. Provides that the assigned attorneys shall meet the qualifications as the Supreme Court shall by rule provide. Provides that the assigned attorneys shall receive compensation at a rate not to exceed $125 per hour, adjusted annually for inflation. Creates the First Degree Murder Litigation Trust Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Provides that money deposited into the Trust Fund shall be used exclusively for the purposes of providing funding for the pre-trial, trial, and post-conviction review in the prosecution and defense of first degree murder cases and shall not be appropriated, loaned, or in any manner transferred to the General Revenue Fund of the State of Illinois. Amends various Acts to make conforming changes.