Rep. Katie Stuart

Amends the Safe Pharmaceutical Disposal Act. Provides that used, expired, or unwanted pharmaceuticals collected by a municipality under the Act may be destroyed in a drug destruction device by a law enforcement agency. Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Expands the definition of "drug evidence" in the provision for drug destruction by a law enforcement agency to include any used, expired, or unwanted pharmaceuticals collected under the Safe Pharmaceutical Disposal Act.

Amends the Wildlife Code. Defines "hunting license" as an electronic or physical license authorizing the person to take a certain type of animal during a specified period of time. Effective immediately.

Creates the Illinois Workers' Rights and Worker Safety Act. Provides that except as authorized by State law enacted after January 1, 2017, a State agency may not amend or revise its rules relating to protection of workers' rights or worker safety in a manner less stringent than specified federal laws. Provides that a State agency may establish workers' rights and worker safety standards that are more stringent than those provided in federal law in existence as of January 1, 2017. Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that in certain circumstances an action may be brought in a circuit court by a person in the public interest to enforce standards or requirements concerning air, water, drinking water, and endangered and threatened species adopted under specified provisions of the Act and the Illinois Endangered Species Protection Act. Provides that the provisions concerning public interest enforcement shall only become operative if specified events occur. Provides that the enforcement provisions of the Act are severable. Adds provisions concerning protection of the environment, natural resources, and public health. Requires various State agencies to adopt, maintain, and enforce rules concerning air, water, drinking water, and endangered and threatened species that are at least as stringent as various regulatory baselines under federal law, in addition to State law requirements. Provides that every State agency shall undertake all feasible efforts to implement and enforce these provisions. Contains reporting requirements. Deletes provisions providing that an air pollution construction or operating permit shall not be required due to emissions of greenhouse gases if certain events occur. Deletes certain language concerning exemptions from provisions concerning the Clean Air Act Permit Program.

Amends the Higher Education Veterans Service Act. Provides that a required survey and guidebook shall be made available on the homepage of a campus website or a veteran Internet link (instead of just the survey being made available on the homepage of the campus Internet link). Requires the survey to be sent to the Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, and State Comptroller. Requires each public college and university to make its best efforts to hire a veteran of the armed services as the Coordinator of Veterans and Military Personnel Student Services.

Amends the Raffles and Poker Runs Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates a deduction in an amount equal to the amount contributed by taxpayer during the taxable year to an ABLE account. Provides that the deduction shall not exceed $10,000 per taxpayer in any taxable year. Provides that the deduction is exempt from the Act's automatic sunset provision. Effective immediately.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that it is a Class 4 felony for a child sex offender to knowingly enter or remain in an area of a public library designated for children or teenagers when the library is open to the public if the designation is conspicuously posted at the entrance to the designated area. Defines "children", "public library", and "teenager".

Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971. Modifies the term "annuitant" to not include any member of the General Assembly, or any person serving as Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Treasurer, Comptroller, or Attorney General, or the surviving spouse of such a person, who is sworn into office for the first time on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act, and retires as a participating member under the General Assembly Retirement System, for the purpose of administering health benefits under the Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Fish and Aquatic Life Code and the Wildlife Code. Provides that the respective fees for resident fishing, combination sportsmen, and hunting licenses are waived for current and retired State, municipal, and local law enforcement officers.

Amends the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975. Extends the authorization for advance deposit wagering until December 31, 2021 (from December 31, 2018). Amends the Video Gaming Act. Allows for video gaming by licensed horse racing establishments (facilities operated by an organization licensee whose handle from wagering on Illinois races for 2016 was less than $32,000,000 or by an inter-track wagering location licensee that derives its license from such an organization licensee); makes conforming changes throughout the Video Gaming Act and in the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a licensed horse racing establishment that is an organization licensee may operate up to 150 video gaming terminals at its organization licensee location at any time and a licensed horse racing establishment that is an inter-track wagering location licensee may operate up to 5 video gaming terminals at the inter-track wagering location licensee's location or on the premises of the organization licensee with which it is affiliated. The provisions amending the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975 are effective immediately.