Rep. Dwight Kay

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 Income Tax Act. Reduces the corporate income tax rate to (i) 6% for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2014 and ending prior to January 1, 2015 and (ii) 4.8% for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2015. Requires the Department of Revenue to monitor each month the seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate reported by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, for the previous calendar month. Provides that, if the Department finds that (i) the average unemployment rate for the previous calendar month exceeds the average unemployment rate for any of the 3 calendar months immediately preceding the previous calendar month by more than 0.3% and (ii) the unemployment rate during the previous calendar month was 5.05% or higher, then the Department shall, by rule, decrease the rate of tax imposed on corporations by 0.25% for each 0.3% increase in the unemployment rate. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that vehicles designed to transport multiple vehicles may have a height of 14 feet rather than 13 feet 6 inches.

Creates the Employ Illinois Job Renewal Act. Requires the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to develop application procedures to certify certain areas in the State as Job Renewal Zones. Sets forth the qualifications for certification as a Job Renewal Zone. Sets forth tax incentives for businesses located inside Job Renewal Zones. Requires the Department to certify all Job Renewal Zones by July 1, 2015 and provides that all zones expire on June 30, 2026. Requires the Department to report to the General Assembly and Governor no later than January 1, 2025 concerning the program. Effective immediately.

Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that asbestos trust claims are presumed to be authentic, relevant to, and discoverable in an asbestos tort action, and that notwithstanding any agreement or confidentiality provision, trust claims material are presumed to be not privileged. Provides that within 30 days after the commencement of discovery in an asbestos tort action that is not otherwise barred or deferred under applicable law or within 30 days of the effective date of this Section with respect to an asbestos tort action that is pending on that effective date and in which discovery has commenced, a claimant shall provide to all of the parties in the action a sworn statement by the claimant, under penalty of perjury, identifying all existing asbestos trust claims made by or on behalf of the claimant and all trust claims material pertaining to each identified asbestos trust claim. Provides that the statement shall disclose certain facts. Provides that the submission of the sworn statement shall be in addition to any disclosure requirements otherwise imposed by law, civil rule, court order or ruling, applicable agreement or stipulation, local rule, or case management order. Contains requirements concerning updating of the sworn statement. Provides sanctions for noncompliance with the new provisions. Defines terms.

Amends the School Code. With respect to a school district other than the Chicago school district, provides that through June 30, 2017 (instead of June 30, 2016), surplus life safety taxes and interest earnings thereon may be transferred to the Operations and Maintenance Fund for building repair work if a public hearing has been held. Extends the time period during which a school district other than the Chicago school district may transfer moneys from specified funds for any purpose from June 30, 2016 to June 30, 2017. Effective immediately.

Re-enacts and changes various provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure relating to product liability actions that were added by Public Act 89-7, which was held to be void in its entirety by the Illinois Supreme Court in Best v. Taylor Machine Works, 179 Ill. 2d 367 (1997). Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that no later than January 1, 2015, 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 (SNAP; formerly the Food Stamp program), and any medical programs administered by the Department. Provides that the forensic audit shall include, but need not be limited to, a review of the application and enrollment process and the payment of benefits to individuals. Provides that 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 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 Limited Liability Company Act. Reduces the fee collected by the Secretary of State for the filing of articles of organization, applications for admission, and restated articles of organization from $500 to $39 and reduces those fees in connection with a limited liability company with ability to establish series from $750 to $59. Effective immediately.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Eliminates the provision that if the defendant possessed more than one of the same film, videotape, or visual reproduction or depiction by computer in which child pornography is depicted, then the trier of fact may infer that the defendant possessed such materials with the intent to disseminate them. Provides that possession of more than one of the same film, videotape, or visual reproduction or depiction by computer in which child pornography is depicted is a Class X felony for which the defendant shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than 9 years and not more than 40 years.