Amends the General Assembly Compensation Act. Provides that, beginning on the second Wednesday in January, 2017, the chairmen and minority spokesmen of standing committees in the Senate and the House of Representatives shall not receive compensation for service in that capacity. Effective immediately.
Urges the Governor to formally request the assistance of the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys, Civil Division, Federal Programs Branch to look into Illinois having court appointed counselors who are engaging in unnecessary practices that create high legal bills,
Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that a taxpayer may carry forward a tax refund to the following taxable year. Provides that income tax return forms shall contain appropriate explanations and spaces to enable the taxpayer to elect to carry forward his or her refund to the following taxable year.
Amends the State Comptroller Act. Requires the Comptroller to post all contracts between the State or any State agency and another state or the federal government, or an agency thereof, on its official website in a searchable database. Provides that all such contracts must be posted at least 30 days before they become effective. Provides that such contracts may only be used for: (i) the joint administration or coordination of the administration of programs or government functions; or (ii) the joint purchase of goods or services. On and after the effective date of the amendatory Act, requires all contracts between the State or any State agency and another state or the federal government, or an agency thereof, that are valued at more than $250,000 to be approved by an Appropriations Committee.
Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Provides that the term "news media" includes any individual or entity that publishes content for public viewing, regardless of whether the individual or entity earns any income. Provides that any public body responding to a categorical request shall attach a verified statement containing the policies and protocol utilized for any search of electronically stored information, including, but not limited to, exact words, spaces, numerals, capitalization, and all filters used in the search. Provides that if the court rules against a party seeking public inspection of documents or the production of copies of documents, the court shall issue an opinion containing specific factual findings upon which the court made its decision. Provides that any action for injunctive or declaratory relief is subject to the provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure.
Urges the Governor to formally request the assistance of the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys, Civil Division, Federal Programs Branch to look into Illinois having court appointed counselors who are engaging in unnecessary practices that create high legal bills,
Amends the Property Tax Code. Increases the maximum reduction under the Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption from $5,000 to $7,000 for taxable year 2016 and indexes the reduction to the Consumer Price Index. Effective immediately.
Amends the Firearm Concealed Carry Act. Provides that notwithstanding any other provision of the Act, the fee for a new concealed carry license or non-resident license shall be waived if the applicant is an active, retired, or honorably discharged member of the Armed Forces of the United States, a reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States, or of the Army National Guard or the Air National Guard. Provides that an active, retired, or honorably discharged member of the Armed Forces of the United States, a reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States, or of the Army National Guard or the Air National Guard shall be exempt from the firearm training requirements. Eliminates provision that the Department of State Police and certified firearms instructors shall recognize 8 hours of training as completed toward the 16 hour training requirement, if the applicant is an active, retired, or honorably discharged member of the United States Armed Forces, and that any remaining hours that the applicant completes must at least cover the classroom subject matter concerning all applicable State and federal laws relating to the ownership, storage, carry, and transportation of a firearm, and the range qualification.
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.
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.
