Rep. Dwight Kay

Amends the Firearm Concealed Carry Act. Provides that the Department of State Police shall by rule allow for non-resident license applications from any state or territory of the United States that requires firearm training and a background check of an applicant for a license to carry concealed firearms (currently, the other state or territory must have laws related to firearm ownership, possession, and carrying, that are substantially similar to the requirements to obtain a license under the Act). Effective immediately.

Creates the Judicial Drug Abuse Prevention Act. Defines "drug and alcohol testing" and provides that "judge" includes Supreme Court justices, appellate judges, circuit judges, and associate judges. Provides that a person may not commence service as a judge in this State unless the person has first submitted to drug and alcohol testing, and the drug and alcohol testing has not disclosed any amount of alcohol or a drug, substance, or compound in the person's urine resulting from the unlawful use or consumption of cannabis listed in the Cannabis Control Act, a Schedule I controlled substance listed in the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, an intoxicating compound listed in the Use of Intoxicating Compounds Act, or methamphetamine as listed in the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act. Provides that presiding judges must submit to random drug and alcohol testing at least once a year, and if the drug and alcohol testing discloses a blood alcohol concentration of more than .02 or any amount of a drug, the judge shall be removed from service until he or she completes a substance abuse program. Provides if a judge is removed from service and subsequently allowed to resume serving as a judge, the judge shall consent to drug and alcohol testing at least 9 times each year for a period of 3 years or until the person is no longer serving as a judge, whichever is shorter. Contains requirements concerning the drug and alcohol testing and substance abuse program. Provides an exemption for the consumption of lawfully prescribed drugs or cannabis by a qualifying patient licensed under the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act who is in possession of a valid registry card issued under that Act. Provides that the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts shall implement the provisions of the Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act and the Election Code. Provides that any member of a board or commission whose appointment requires the advice and consent of the Senate and who is (i) confirmed by the Senate, (ii) holds office by a temporary appointment made under Section 9 of Article V of the Illinois Constitution, or (iii) is appointed by the Governor as an acting member must divest or freeze the funds in any candidate political committee and political action committee that he or she maintains or controls and may not establish a candidate political committee or political action committee for the duration of his or her term on the board or commission. Provides that the failure to divest or freeze those funds will result in their forfeiture. Provides that an appointed member of a board or commission who establishes a candidate political committee or political action committee during his or her term on the board or commission shall be subject to a $5,000 fine. Provides that a member may maintain his or her committee for the purpose of paying any debt owed by that member's committee if the debt was incurred by the committee prior to the member's appointment. Provides that the committee may make payments on the committee's outstanding debt, pay reasonable costs of maintaining the account or preparing reports, and accept certain contributions from the member and the member's spouse, parent, sibling, or child. Effective immediately.

Removes Frank J. Mautino as Auditor General.

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 Illinois Estate and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Act. Provides that, for estates of persons dying on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the amount of the Illinois estate tax shall be the product of (i) the sum of (A) 5.5% of the first $4,700,000 of the Illinois base estate and (B) 9% of the Illinois base estate in excess of $4,700,000, multiplied by the Illinois taxable percentage. Defines Illinois base estate as the federal gross estate, subject to certain modifications. Defines "Illinois taxable percentage" as the total value of transfers with situs in Illinois divided by the total value of all transferred property. Provides that the amount of the Illinois generation-skipping transfer tax shall be 7.5% of the value of the transferred property as determined for purposes of the federal generation-skipping transfer tax. Removes provisions providing for a separate marital deduction for qualified terminable interest property for Illinois estate tax purposes. Effective immediately.

Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities and community colleges in Illinois. For any State grant requested after the effective date of the amendatory Act, requires a public university or community college district to provide to the State agency awarding the grant a list of all university or district funds from this State that are invested, excluding endowment funds; the financial status of these investment funds; where the investment funds are held; the amount in fees charged by those holding the investment funds; and who audits the investment funds. Effective immediately.

Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides limitations upon a non-expert's opinion or inference testimony. Sets forth requirements regarding: qualifications, testimony, disclosure, and compensation of expert witnesses; bases of expert opinion testimony; limitations on expert testimony; pre-trial hearings and disclosures concerning expert witnesses; precedents to be followed in interpreting the new provisions; interlocutory appeals of rulings on the admissibility of expert evidence; standards to be followed by reviewing courts in determining the admissibility of expert testimony; and severability. Provides that the new provisions apply to actions commenced on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act and pending actions in which a trial has not been scheduled or in which a trial has been scheduled more than 90 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Requires every bidder, offeror, vendor, or contractor with the State to certify that they have a security policy in place that protects private and confidential information from being released without proper authorization.

Proposes to amend the Legislature Article of the Illinois Constitution. Prohibits a person from holding the office of State Senator or State Representative, or a combination of those offices, for more than 10 years. Effective upon being declared adopted.