Rep. Brad Halbrook

Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Provides that the Code does not apply to contracts between the Department of Agriculture and a non-profit service organization for the purpose of providing goods or services on the Illinois State Fairgrounds during the Illinois State Fair or on the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds during the DuQuoin State Fair. Effective immediately.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a contractor or subcontractor under a contract or subcontract for the development and supply of rifles, shotguns, weapons, or ammunition to the United States government or any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States, when the activities are necessary and incident to fulfilling the terms of the contract, may transport these weapons even if they are not broken down in a non-functioning state, or are immediately accessible. Permits the transportation of a rifle with a barrel or barrels less than 16 inches in length that is not broken down in a non-functioning state, or are immediately accessible by a person: (1) who has been issued a Curios and Relics license from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; or (2) who is an active member of a bona fide, nationally recognized military re-enacting group and the modification is required and necessary to accurately portray the weapon for historical re-enactment purposes; the re-enactor is in possession of a valid and current re-enacting group membership credential; and the overall length of the weapon as modified is not less than 26 inches. Effective immediately.

Amends the Open Meetings Act. Deletes a provision which provided that if a notice or agenda is not continuously available for the required period due to actions outside of the control of the public body, then that lack of availability does not invalidate any meeting or action taken at a meeting. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides for the issuance of In God We Trust license plates, for an additional charge of $20 at initial issuance and at renewal. Provides that $15 of the original issuance fee and $2 of the renewal fee shall be deposited into the Secretary of State Special License Plate Fund. Provides that $5 of the original issuance fee and $18 of the renewal fee shall be deposited into the Illinois Military Family Relief Fund.

Amends the State Budget Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. With respect to fiscal year appropriations, beginning in State fiscal year 2015, requires the General Assembly to take into account (i) whether the previous fiscal year's revenues were sufficient to pay for all obligations incurred during that fiscal year or whether those obligations were shifted to future years and (ii) whether revenues for the budgeted fiscal year can be reasonably projected to meet appropriations for the budgeted fiscal year. For State fiscal year 2015 and each fiscal year thereafter, requires the General Assembly, by the same joint resolution adopted by record vote, to declare that the budget is balanced.

Amends the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law in the Property Tax Code. Provides that, for tax years 2014 through 2016, the extension limitation is (a) 0% or (b) the rate of increase approved by voters (instead of the lesser of 5% or the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index during the 12-month calendar year preceding the levy year or (b) the rate of increase approved by voters). Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that an applicant for a school bus driver permit must have no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of diabetes mellitus currently requiring insulin for control.

Amends the Wildlife Code. Changes the definition of "bow and arrow" to mean a longbow, recurve bow, compound bow, crossbow, or other archery device that pulls 40 pounds within a 28 inch draw (instead of "a longbow, recurve bow, compound bow, or crossbow").

Amends the State Comptroller Act. Requires the Comptroller to draw warrants for the payment of delinquent obligations according to the date at which the obligation first became due, with the oldest debts to be paid first. Effective immediately.

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Requires each public university to submit to the Board of Higher Education a study of the costs of making available online 4 of the university's most popular degree programs, as determined by the university. Sets forth what must be included in the cost study. Requires the Board of Higher Education to use new and existing data to evaluate probable student outcomes for online degree plans identified by the universities; sets forth other Board requirements.