Rep. Carol Ammons

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Requires a utility to waive the utility's initial credit and deposit requirements for a period of 60 days for a residential customer or applicant who is a victim of domestic violence. Provides that the domestic violence must be certified by treating medical personnel, law enforcement personnel, a State's Attorney, the Attorney General, or a domestic violence shelter. The certification letter must be printed on the certifying entity's letterhead or accompanied by a letter on the certifying entity's letterhead that identifies the certifying individual.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, for taxable year 2016 and thereafter, the amount of the senior citizens assessment freeze homestead exemption shall be the greater of (i) the amount of the exemption otherwise calculated under that Section of the Code or (ii) $2,000. Effective immediately.

Amends the Open Meetings Act. Provides that public bodies may hold closed meetings to consider building safety and security.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code and the Health Maintenance Organization Act. Includes breast tomosynthesis in the definition of "low-dose mammography".

Amends the Fish and Aquatic Life Code. Defines the term "drone". Makes the use of a drone an illegal method of taking fish and aquatic life. Provides that the use of a drone as a fishing device constitutes a public nuisance, making the drone subject to confiscation. Amends the Wildlife Code. Defines the term "drone". Prohibits the use of a drone in the taking of wildlife. Provides that the use of a drone as a hunting device constitutes a public nuisance, making the drone subject to confiscation. Penalizes the taking of wildlife by use of a drone as a Class A misdemeanor in addition to other statutory penalties.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the definition of "conviction".

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Prohibits the disposal of (1) Manufactured Gas Plant waste in specified levels and (2) Polychlorinated Biphenyl waste in any landfill whose run off goes into the Mahomet Aquifer.

Amends the truth in taxation Division of the Property Tax Code. Provides that if a taxing district maintains a website, the truth in taxation notice shall be published on the website in addition to a newspaper of general circulation.

Creates the Safeguard Our Children Act. Provides that any child or person in the care of the Department of Children and Family Services who is placed in a residential facility under contract with the Department shall be reported as missing to the local law enforcement agency within whose jurisdiction the facility is located, if: (1) there is no contact between an employee of the facility and the child or person within a period of 12 hours; and (2) the child or person is absent from the facility without prior approval. Requires the operator of the residential facility to inform the child's or person's caseworker that the child or person has been reported as missing to the appropriate local law enforcement agency; and to also report the child or person as missing to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and to the sheriff of the county in which the facility is located. Requires the operator of the residential facility to record a Plan of Care for any child or person who resides at the facility and who plans to leave the facility temporarily for more than 24 hours. Requires the Plan of Care to contain certain information. Defines terms. Amends the Intergovernmental Missing Child Recovery Act of 1984. Requires the Department of State Police to develop a standard missing persons alert for the LEADS network for use when a child or person in the care and legal custody of the Department of Children and Family Services is reported as missing to a local law enforcement agency. Provides that the standard missing persons alert shall contain certain information.

Creates the Smart Phone Theft Protection Act. Requires wireless communications device dealers to maintain a written record of every purchase or acquisition of a used wireless communications device for resale. Sets forth information that must be included in the written record. Provides that a law enforcement agency that has probable cause to believe a device has been stolen or is evidence of a crime may place an investigative hold on or confiscate the device. Requires the installation of video security cameras at a dealer's physical location. Provides that a violation of the Act is a Class B misdemeanor. Provides exemption from the application of the Act, including dealers who acquire devices for trade-in, or repair and refurbishment programs.