Rep. Katie Stuart

Amends the Downstate Public Transportation Act, the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, the Use Tax Act, and the Service Use Tax Act. Beginning July 1, 2018, instead of use and occupation tax collections being deposited into the General Revenue Fund and then transferred monthly by the Comptroller from the General Revenue Fund to the Downstate Public Transportation Fund, requires the Department of Revenue to deposit the designated fraction of the net revenue realized from those collections directly into the Downstate Public Transportation Fund. Effective July 1, 2018.

Amends the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act. Provides that any individual who serves as either emergency medical services personnel on a volunteer basis or as a firefighter on a volunteer basis may not be disciplined or terminated by his or her employer for responding to an emergency call or emergency text message during work hours that requests the individual's volunteer emergency medical services or volunteer firefighter services.

Amends the Vital Records Act. Provides that the death certificate for an individual with a history of military service may include or may be amended to include the deceased individual's veteran status, the branch of the military that he or she served in, and the period of time that he or she served in the military. Effective immediately.

Amends the Line of Duty Compensation Act. Changes the definition of "killed in the line of duty" to include losing one's life while on active duty in connection with, among other operations, Operation Freedom's Sentinel, Operation New Dawn, and Operation Inherent Resolve. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Provides that for an applicant seeking a professional educator license who is enrolled in a program of study in an area of career or technical education defined as an area of identified staff shortages, as defined in the Higher Education Student Assistance Act, or a career and technical educator endorsement on an educator license with stipulations, the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, shall adopt a test of work proficiency.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to make application to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services by July 1, 2017 for a State plan amendment to implement the Community First Choice Option pursuant to the Social Security Act. Requires the Department, beginning on July 1, 2017, but no later than July 1, 2018, to submit applications to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for all Medicaid funding options available for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including a research and demonstration waiver application pursuant to the Social Security Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that when the victim is under 18 years of age at the time of the offense, a prosecution for criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual assault, predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, aggravated criminal sexual abuse, or criminal sexual abuse may be commenced at any time regardless as to whether corroborating physical evidence is available or an individual who is required to report an alleged or suspected commission of any of these offenses under the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act fails to do so. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the General Assembly Compensation Act. Establishes the fiscal year 2018 mileage reimbursement rate and allowance for lodging and meals. Amends the Compensation Review Act. Prohibits cost-of-living adjustments for or during the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2017 for State government legislative and executive elected officers and appointees in positions for which the Compensation Review Board previously recommended or determined compensation. Effective immediately.

Amends the Personnel Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Recognizes the 125th anniversary of Glen Carbon.