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 Open Meetings Act. Provides that no public body may refuse to allow any of its members to attend any open or closed meeting of the public body. Provides that a court shall (rather than may) assess against any party, except a State's Attorney, reasonable attorney's fees and other litigation costs reasonably incurred by any other party who substantially prevails in any action for non-compliance with the Open Meetings Act. Provides that the attorney's fees and other litigation costs assessed by the court shall be awarded directly to the Office of the Attorney General. Provides that upon a request to review whether a public body committed a violation under the Open Meetings Act, the Attorney General shall issue to the requester and the public body an opinion within 20 days (rather than 60 days) after initiating review.

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 Firearm Concealed Carry Act. Defines "substantially similar". Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975. Includes wagering on the outcome of historical previously run horse races in the definition of "pari-mutuel system of wagering". Effective immediately.

Amends the Election Code. Beginning 90 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 99th General Assembly, the East St. Louis Board of Election Commissioners is abolished, and all of its functions and responsibilities shall thereafter be exercised by the St. Clair County Clerk.

Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. In provisions making certain defendants severally liable or jointly and severally liable for specified damages, includes any third party defendants who could have been sued by the plaintiff (rather than any third party defendants except the plaintiff's employer).

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, if a person turns 70 years of age or older during the taxable year and he or she qualified for a Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption or a Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption in the previous taxable year, then the person qualifying need not reapply for the exemption. Effective immediately.

Designates the Centennial Bridge in Rock Island as the "Master Sgt. Stanley W. Talbot Memorial Bridge".

Amends the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act. Provides that the packaging of medical cannabis infused products shall contain a warning label concerning potential side effects. Requires cultivation centers to place the warning label on all harvested cannabis intended for distribution to a dispensing organization. Provides that dispensing organizations shall not sell any product that contains medical cannabis if the container holding the product does not contain the warning label. Requires the Department of Public Health to determine the wording of the warning through administrative rulemaking. Effective January 1, 2017.