Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Reduces the trailer flat weight tax for maximum loads of 3,000 pounds and less from $118 to $18. Effective immediately.
Amends the Campground Licensing and Recreational Area Act. Provides that the Act does not apply to a property that is subject to a legal, signed lease that is greater than 6 months in duration.
Amends the School Code. Provides that a school board may allow the motto "In God We Trust" to be displayed in a conspicuous location inside or outside each school building.
Amends the Invest in Kids Act. Provides that the amount of the credit shall be 100% (currently, 75%) of the total amount of qualified contributions made by the taxpayer during the taxable year. Provides that the annual aggregate credit cap shall be $100,000,000 per calendar year (currently, $75,000,000). Provides that the individual credit cap shall be $1,333,333 per taxpayer (currently, $1,000,000). Removes a limitation preventing contributions from being directed to a particular subset of schools or a particular school. Provides that, in granting scholarships, first priority shall be given to eligible students who received a scholarship from a scholarship granting organization during the previous school year. Contains provisions concerning technical academies.
Amends the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. Provides that the Act may be referred to as the AJ Freund Act. Provides that any report received by the Department of Children and Family Services alleging the abuse or neglect of a child by a person who is not the child's parent, a member of the child's immediate family, a person responsible for the child's welfare, an individual residing in the same home as the child, or a paramour of the child's parent shall immediately be shared with (rather than referred to) the appropriate local law enforcement agency for consideration of criminal investigation or other action. Provides that the Department of Children and Family Services shall be the primary agency (rather than sole agency) responsible for receiving and investigating reports of child abuse or neglect made under the Act, except where investigations by other agencies may be required. In a provision requiring the Department to allow law enforcement personnel to concurrently investigate with the Department reports of suspected child abuse or neglect, provides that the Department's completed investigative report shall be shared with the office of the State's Attorney of the involved county.
States opposition to any additional excise taxes on Illinois businesses that produce beer, wine, or liquor or their related industries.
Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Changes the definition of "recurrent requester" to exclude requests made by members of the General Assembly and requests made to access and disseminate information pertaining to public policy and the administration of State government. Exempts from disclosure under the Act certain records in which opinions of a public body or its agents are expressed. Provides that the exemption does not apply if the records were produced in connection with the preparation of a report that is required to be publicly produced by an agency of the executive branch. Provides that the public body shall include with each denial of a request for public records an index that includes specified information. Provides that except in the case of a recurrent requester, a public body denying a request for public records shall place in an interest-bearing escrow account or other segregated account of the public body the sum of $7,500 for each request denied. Provides that the deposited funds shall remain in the account for a period of 60 days after the date of the public body's final denial of a request, or, if a requester has sought review of the denial or challenged the denial in court, until the review process has been completed or a final order has been entered. Provides that if a determination is made that the public body improperly denied a request to inspect or copy a public record, the deposited funds shall be awarded to the requester in addition to or as part of any other award. Makes other changes.
Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Requires specified personnel of a child care facility to be present at the open or close of the facility. Provides that early childhood teachers shall meet specified qualifications. Provides that the Department of Children and Family Services shall adopt rules on the qualifications of persons directly responsible for the care and welfare of children served in accordance with the qualifications for early childhood teachers. Effective immediately.
Amends the Lobbyist Registration Act. Provides that the term "official" as used under the Act includes specified officials of a unit of local government. Modifies the terms "lobby" and "lobbying" to include communications with units of local government for the ultimate purpose of influencing any executive, legislative, or administrative action, and further specifies such actions. Modifies the term "lobbyist" to mean a natural person who, on behalf of any person other than himself or herself, or as any part of his or her duties as an employee of another, undertakes to influence or lobby for any executive, legislative, or administrative action for State government or a unit of local government. Amends the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act to provide that no legislator may engage in lobbying as that term is defined under the Lobbyist Registration Act (currently, as defined under the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act) for compensation.
Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Provides that any (i) member of the General Assembly, (ii) person whose appointment to office is subject to the advice and consent of the Senate, or (iii) head of a department, commission, board, division, bureau, authority, or other administrative unit within the government of this State who takes office on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act shall not, within a 3-year period immediately following termination of that person's most recent term of office, register as a lobbyist and engage in lobbying with members of the General Assembly. Effective immediately.
