Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that no later than January 1, 2016, 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.
Sponsored bills
Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning extended statutes of limitations.
Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that the Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption also applies to persons with a disability. Amends the State Mandates Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.
Proposes to amend the Judiciary Article of the Illinois Constitution. Provides that, whenever a vacancy occurs in the office of Supreme, Appellate, or Circuit Judge by death, resignation, retirement, removal, or upon the conclusion of the judge's term without retention in office, the Governor shall fill that vacancy by appointing one of 3 qualified persons who are nominated by a nonpartisan judicial commission. Creates separate nonpartisan judicial commissions for the Supreme Court, for each Judicial District, and for each Judicial Circuit. Sets forth the membership of the commissions. Effective upon being declared adopted in accordance with Section 7 of the Illinois Constitutional Amendment Act.
Amends the Private Business and Vocational Schools Act of 2012, the Private College Act, and the Academic Degree Act. Defines "religious institution" in these Acts. Provides that any religious institution (instead of any institution devoted entirely to the teaching of religion or theology) shall not be considered to be a private business and vocational school; makes related changes. Provides that no religious institution shall be subject to the educational requirements, standards, or demands contained in the Private College Act or the Academic Degree Act or in those Acts' administrative rules.
Amends the Firearm Concealed Carry Act. Provides that if a sign is posted stating that the carrying of firearms is prohibited on private real property, the owner of the private real property is civilly liable for damages for any death or injury that occurs on his or her property as a result of prohibiting firearms on the property. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall use a cloud-based repository to store the protected health information of all persons enrolled in a medical assistance program administered by the Department. Provides that access to the repository shall be limited to State employees based in Illinois and that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services may not permit an entity located outside the United States to have access to the information stored in the cloud-based repository. Provides that a violation of this Section is a business offense punishable by a fine of $5,000 for each incident.
Amends the General Assembly and Judges Articles of the Pension Code. Provides that no participant may accrue service credit and no benefits may be paid to any retiree or survivor. Provides that the Court of Claims shall direct the refund of participant pension contributions. Repeals the General Assembly and Judges Articles 2 years after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Effective immediately.
Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Expresses legislative intent. Provides that each executive, administrative, or advisory body of this State shall either comply with or deny a request of a member of the General Assembly for public records within 3 business days after its receipt of the request and makes corresponding changes. Provides that "voluminous request" does not include a request made by a member of the General Assembly, among other entities, if the principal purpose of the request is for carrying out the duties of the member of the General Assembly. Provides that if the Public Access Counselor determines that an alleged violation with respect to a requester who is a member of the General Assembly is not unfounded, the Public Access Counselor shall forward a copy of the request for review to the public body within 5 (instead of 7) business days and the public body shall furnish the records or otherwise comply with the instructions of the Public Access Counselor within 5 (instead of 7) business days. Provides that if the requester is a member of the General Assembly, the Public Access Counselor shall issue a binding opinion within 30 (instead of 60) days and can extend the time for issuance of a binding opinion by no more than 15 (instead of 30) business days.
Reenacts and changes provisions of the Premises Liability Act 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. Includes findings. The reenacted provisions describe the duty of reasonable care owed to invited entrants by an owner or occupier of premises, and provide that an owner or occupier of land owes no duty of care to an adult trespasser other than to refrain from willful and wanton conduct that would endanger the safety of a known trespasser from a condition of the property or an activity conducted on the property. Provides that the reenacted provisions apply to causes of action accruing on or after the effective date of reenactment.