Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the court shall (rather than may) sentence the defendant to a term of natural life imprisonment when the death penalty is not imposed if the defendant is found guilty of first degree murder and the murder was accompanied by exceptionally brutal or heinous behavior indicative of wanton cruelty.
Sponsored bills
Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that if a permit is issued to control any deer that are causing a nuisance or damage, then the permittee may have any usable deer carcasses processed and may donate the processed venison to a food pantry or recognized charitable organization. Provides that any unusable deer carcasses must be disposed of in accordance with the Illinois Dead Animal Disposal Act or shall be given to a bona-fide public or State scientific, educational, or zoological institution.
Amends the Election Code. In provisions concerning petitions for constitutional amendments and statewide advisory public questions, provides that on 15th business day (now, the 10th business day) following the last day for petition filing, the State Board of Elections shall conduct a hearing at which the proponents may present arguments and evidence as to the conformity of any purported nonconforming petition signatures. In provisions concerning petition signature verification, requires that within 20 business days (now, 14 business days) following the last day for filing a petition, the State Board of Elections shall prepare and transit to each proper election authority a list of the signatures from its election jurisdiction selected for verification. Effective immediately.
Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the court shall (rather than may) sentence the defendant to a term of natural life imprisonment if the defendant is a person who, at the time of the commission of the murder, has reached the age of 18 or more and is found guilty of first degree murder and the murder was accompanied by exceptionally brutal or heinous behavior indicative of wanton cruelty.
Creates the Manufacturing Job Destination Tax Credit Act and amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides for a credit of 25% of the Illinois labor expenditures made by a manufacturing company in order to foster job creation and retention in Illinois. Authorizes the Department of Revenue to award a tax credit to taxpayer-employers who apply for the credit and meet certain Illinois labor expenditure requirements. Sets minimum requirements and procedures for certifying a taxpayer as an "accredited manufacturer" and for awarding the credit. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Funeral or Burial Funds Act. Restores a provision that allows persons holding less than $500,000 in trust funds to continue to act as the trustee after the funds are deposited. Provides that a pre-need contract must, if funded by a trust, clearly identify the trustee's name and address and the primary state or federal regulator of the trustee. Provides that a trustee may be the seller or provider of funeral services or merchandise if the seller holds sales of less than $500,000 in trust and deposits funds for which the seller is acting as trustee according in a certain manner. Provides that if a purchaser selects a trust arrangement to fund the pre-need contract, the trust must be maintained: (1) in a deposit account maintained by the seller as trustee in a bank, savings and loan association, savings bank, or credit union authorized to do business in Illinois in which accounts are insured by an agency of the federal government, (2) in a trust company authorized to do business in Illinois, or (3) with a corporate fiduciary as defined in the Corporate Fiduciary Act. Restores a provision that allows trust funds to be maintained in a financial institution located in a state adjoining Illinois if certain conditions are met. Provides that a trustee has a duty to manage the trust and, with respect to the investment of trust funds, shall exercise certain judgment and care. Provides that the trustee has a duty to manage and invest the assets pursuant to the Prudent Investor Rule under the Trusts and Trustees Act if the amount of funds to be entrusted exceeds $1,000,000. Amends the Illinois Pre-Need Cemetery Sales Act. Removes language that provides that the seller must retain a corporate fiduciary as an independent trustee for any amount of trust funds. Provides that a trust established under the Act must be maintained: (1) in a deposit account maintained by the seller as trustee in a bank, savings and loan association, or credit union authorized to do business in Illinois in which accounts are insured by an agency of the federal government, (2) in a trust company authorized to do business in Illinois, or (3) in an investment company authorized to do business in Illinois insured by the Securities Brokers Insurance Corporation.
Amends the University of Illinois Act, the Southern Illinois University Management Act, the Chicago State University Law, the Eastern Illinois University Law, the Governors State University Law, the Illinois State University Law, the Northeastern Illinois University Law, the Northern Illinois University Law, and the Western Illinois University Law. Authorizes the Board of Trustees of each university to use locally held funds for any non-appropriated need that it deems appropriate. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Funeral or Burial Funds Act. Restores a provision that allows persons holding less than $500,000 in trust funds to continue to act as the trustee after the funds are deposited. Provides that a pre-need contract must, if funded by a trust, clearly identify the trustee's name and address and the primary state or federal regulator of the trustee. Provides that a trustee may be the seller or provider of funeral services or merchandise if the seller holds sales of less than $500,000 in trust and deposits funds for which the seller is acting as trustee according in a certain manner. Provides that if a purchaser selects a trust arrangement to fund the pre-need contract, the trust must be maintained: (1) in a deposit account maintained by the seller as trustee in a bank, savings and loan association, savings bank, or credit union authorized to do business in Illinois in which accounts are insured by an agency of the federal government, (2) in a trust company authorized to do business in Illinois, or (3) with a corporate fiduciary as defined in the Corporate Fiduciary Act. Restores a provision that allows trust funds to be maintained in a financial institution located in a state adjoining Illinois if certain conditions are met. Provides that a trustee has a duty to manage the trust and, with respect to the investment of trust funds, shall exercise certain judgment and care. Provides that the trustee has a duty to manage and invest the assets pursuant to the Prudent Investor Rule under the Trusts and Trustees Act if the amount of funds to be entrusted exceeds $1,000,000. Amends the Illinois Pre-Need Cemetery Sales Act. Removes language that provides that the seller must retain a corporate fiduciary as an independent trustee for any amount of trust funds. Provides that a trust established under the Act must be maintained: (1) in a deposit account maintained by the seller as trustee in a bank, savings and loan association, or credit union authorized to do business in Illinois in which accounts are insured by an agency of the federal government, (2) in a trust company authorized to do business in Illinois, or (3) in an investment company authorized to do business in Illinois insured by the Securities Brokers Insurance Corporation. Effective immediately.
Amends the Election Code. Prohibits county clerks and members of boards of election commissioners from making public endorsements of candidates and public questions when the candidates' names and the questions appear on ballots solely in political subdivisions within their election jurisdiction. Effective immediately.
Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act. Provides that records and communications may be disclosed in a proceeding concerning child custody or child visitation, if and only to the extent the court finds, after in camera examination, that the records and communications are relevant to the safety or health of the child, and are admissible.