Rep. Dwight Kay

Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. Provides that, with respect to the computation of compensation to be paid to an employee who had previously sustained an injury resulting in payment of compensation for partial disability for injuries not involving serious and permanent disfigurement and injuries for which the Act provides a schedule of benefits, the amount of the prior award for the partial disability with respect to the same portion of the body shall be deducted. Limits cumulative awards for partial disability to 500 weeks, which shall constitute a complete loss of use of the body as a whole.

Amends the Recreational Use of Land and Water Areas Act. Makes changes to the definitions of "land", "owner", and "recreational or conservation purpose". Provides that an owner that is a not-for-profit organization which makes its land (except for residential buildings) available for entry by the general public for any activity undertaken for conservation, resource management, education, or outdoor recreational use may register with the Department of Natural Resources in order to qualify for limited liability for the land used in that manner. Provides that the Department shall create a registration page on its website to collect the following information from any 501(c)(3) entity that wishes to register its property: (i) the name and address of the owner; (ii) the 501(c)(3) organization's tax identification number; (iii) the size, address, and property identification number of the property; and (iv) the county in which the property is located. Provides that a parcel of property is deemed registered once the information is submitted to the Department. Provides that once the property is registered, the 501(c)(3) owner qualifies for the Act's limited liability until either (i) the owner notifies the Department to remove the property from the list; or (ii) the owner no longer has a possessory interest in the property. Provides that the changes to the Act apply only to causes of action accruing on or after January 1, 2014. Effective immediately.

Urges the Illinois General Assembly to work towards zero-based budgeting.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that no later than January 1, 2014, the Inspector General of the Department of Human Services shall contract with an independent certified public accountant to perform a forensic audit of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly the Food Stamp Program), and any medical programs administered by the Department. Provides that the forensic audit shall include, but not be limited to, a review of the application and enrollment process and the payment of benefits to individuals. The audit shall focus on any fraud or inefficiencies which may be eliminated to contain costs and improve the delivery of benefits to eligible individuals. Provides that the results of the audit shall be forwarded to the Secretary of the Department of Human Services. Requires the Secretary of Human Services to report the findings of the audit to the General Assembly along with recommendations to address any findings contained in the audit. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Includes disabled persons within the provisions granting an assessment freeze homestead exemption to senior citizens and changes the title of the exemption to the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that a taxpayer who owns and operates a business in Illinois shall be allowed a credit in the amount of $3,750 per employee hired by the taxpayer and retained for 2 years. Provides that the credit may be allowed in the amount of $2,500 in the year the employee is hired and in the amount of $1,250 in the second year of employment. Provides that if the amount of the credit exceeds the taxpayer's liability for the taxable year, the excess may be carried forward and applied to the tax liability of the next 5 years. Effective immediately.

Amends the Home Health, Home Services, and Home Nursing Agency Licensing Act and the Health Care Worker Background Check Act. Makes technical changes in Sections concerning (i) standards and fees in connection with home services agencies and (ii) fingerprint-based criminal history records checks, respectively.

Amends the Illinois Pension Code. In various Articles of the Code, provides that participants under those Articles are entitled only to creditable service for periods of service with a labor organization if the employee and employer contributions for the service are received by the Fund before the effective date of the amendatory Act. Amends the IMRF Article of the Illinois Pension Code to provide that the Illinois Municipal League and the Will County Governmental League are participating instrumentalities only with respect to service on or before the effective date of the amendatory Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Election Code. Requires that a person seeking to vote on election day present a government-issued photo identification card to the election judge (now, required only when voting early). Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates a deduction for expenses paid or incurred by an eligible educator in connection with certain materials used by the educator in the classroom. Provides that the deduction may not exceed $500 in any taxable year. Provides that the deduction is exempt from the Act's automatic sunset provision. Effective immediately.