Rep. Dwight Kay

Amends the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act. Provides that arbitration panels hearing security employee, peace officer, firefighter, and paramedic disputes must not take into consideration the ability of a unit of government to raise taxes or impose new taxes when determining the financial ability of that unit of government to pay the costs associated with those employees' wages and other conditions of employment. Effective immediately.

Amends the Navigator Certification Act. Provides that a navigator applying for the renewal of a certificate must undergo a Federal Bureau of Investigation criminal history record check before being recertified.

Creates the Baccalaureate Degree Pilot Program Act. Establishes the Baccalaureate Degree Pilot Program, to be implemented and administered by the Board of Higher Education, in conjunction with the State Board of Education and the Illinois Community College Board, with the goal of creating a model of articulation and coordination among grade K-12 schools, community colleges, and public universities that will allow students to earn a baccalaureate degree for a total cost not exceeding $10,000, including textbooks. Provides that the Board of Higher Education, in conjunction with the State Board of Education and the Illinois Community College Board, shall determine which public universities, public community colleges, and school districts are to participate in the pilot program (in 3 areas of this State). Requires the universities, community colleges, and school districts participating in the pilot program to coordinate their efforts to expedite the progress of participating students from high school to community college to university to earn their baccalaureate degrees for a total cost not exceeding $10,000, including textbooks. Sets forth the components of the pilot program.

Amends the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act by changing the criminal penalties for persons who knowingly and willfully violate certain reporting requirements and provisions concerning privileged communications. Provides that a first violation is a Class 4 felony (rather than a Class A misdemeanor) and a second or subsequent violation is a Class 3 felony (rather than a Class 4 felony), except that if the person acted as part of a plan or scheme having as its object the prevention of discovery of an abused or neglected child by lawful authorities for the purpose of protecting or insulating any person or entity from arrest or prosecution, a first violation is a Class 3 felony (rather than a Class 4 felony) and a second or subsequent violation is a Class 2 felony (rather than a Class 3 felony).

Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Authorizes the Illinois Supreme Court to adopt rules to promote the prompt, efficient, and cost-effective resolution of civil actions in which the amount in controversy is more than $10,000 but does not exceed $100,000. Provides that, if a limitation period that applies to a plaintiff's cause of action has expired, then a defendant may not, after the expiration of that period, designate a third-party defendant with respect to that cause of action. Provides that, if a circuit court grants or denies, in whole or in part, a motion to dismiss due to the absence of a basis in law or fact for the action, then the court may award costs and reasonable and necessary attorney's fees to the prevailing party in amounts that the court determines are equitable and just. Authorizes reasonable deposition fees to be recovered as costs.

Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Provides that a public body that willfully and intentionally failed to comply with the Act, or otherwise acted in bad faith, is guilty of a business offense (rather than being subject to a civil penalty) and subject to a fine of not less than $2,500 nor more than $5,000 for each occurrence. Provides that an individual acting on behalf of a public body who willfully and intentionally fails to comply with the Act is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor and subject to a term of imprisonment not to exceed 60 days.

Amends the Department of Central Management Services Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Central Management Services shall charge the employing State agency for workers' compensation payments for medical expenses and temporary total disability benefits (now, just for temporary total disability) paid to any employee (now, the Department shall charge the State agency only after the employee has received temporary total disability payments for 120 days if the employee's physician has issued a release to return to work but the employing State agency does not return the employee to work).

Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. Defines the terms "accident" and "injury". Provides that "injury" includes the aggravation of a pre-existing condition by an accident arising out of and in the course of the employment, but only for so long as the aggravation of the pre-existing condition continues to be the major contributing cause of the disability. Provides that an injury resulting directly or indirectly from idiopathic causes is not compensable.

Mourns the death of Jordan Lewis of Carterville.

Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. Requires written, signed, and verified notice of an accident to be given to the employer. Provides that, with respect to repetitive trauma or cumulative trauma, notice shall be given within 45 days of the date the condition manifests itself. Specifies contents of the notice. Provides that no defect or inaccuracy in a notice shall be a bar to a proceeding unless the employee proves the defect or inaccuracy was not knowingly and willfully provided or there was good cause for the failure to provide an accurate or non-defective notice.