Creates the Metro East Development Act. States legislative findings for the need to create a Metro East Development Authority, including the need to develop and revitalize depressed areas of the Metro East. Defines "Metro East" as Madison, Monroe, Randolph, and St. Clair counties. Provides for the creation of the Authority, including the appointment of 12 members by the chairperson of each Metro East county; by the directors of the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Illinois Housing Development Authority, and the Illinois Development Finance Authority; and by the Governor. Allows the Authority to hire an executive director. Lists the rights, powers, and duties of the Authority, including the power to borrow money and to issue bonds. Provides that the Authority shall perform an initial study and survey to determine what areas will be considered depressed areas that contain a commercially, industrially, residentially, recreationally, educationally, or other blighted area. Provides for requirements related to meetings, public hearings, and administrative and judicial review of Authority projects. Provides for limitations on the Authority's powers. Describes procedures for procurement of debt and bonds, execution of deeds, demolition and removal of buildings, purchase of property, contracts, and costs of projects. Gives the Authority the power to investigate the conditions of any project in which it has an interest. Effective immediately.
Sponsored bills
Amends the Departments of State Government Law. Provides that expedited temporary occupational or professional licenses issued to service members and the spouses of service members meeting specified requirements shall be valid for 3 years (currently, valid 6 months) after the date of issuance or until a license is granted or a notice to deny a license is issued in accordance with rules adopted by the department issuing the license, whichever occurs first. Provides that the required fee paid in the application process for an expedited temporary occupational or professional license issued to service members and the spouses of service members shall be refundable (currently, not refundable).
Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Reduces the rate of tax on diapers and baby wipes to 1% (currently, 6.25%). Makes changes concerning the distribution of the proceeds from the tax imposed on diapers and baby wipes.
Declares March 11 to 17, 2018 as "Girl Scout Week in the State of Illinois".
Amends the School Code. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2018, an individual who has not been entitled to teach in this State by an Illinois-approved educator preparation program and obtains an educator license under the Code may apply for a refund of the required application fee after 12 months of issuance and shall be issued a refund from the State Board of Education if the individual provides evidence that he or she has taught at a school district for at least 12 months. Effective immediately.
Amends the Nursing Home Care Act, MC/DD Act, ID/DD Community Care Act, and Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013. Provides that a facility must not enter into a pre-dispute agreement for binding arbitration with any resident or consumer, or the resident's representative or consumer's guardian, nor require that a resident or consumer sign an arbitration agreement as a condition of admission to the facility. Provides that after a dispute arises, a facility may ask a resident or consumer, or his or her representative or guardian, to enter into an agreement for binding arbitration if the facility and agreement meets specified requirements.
Congratulates Sen. James Clayborne on his retirement.
Amends the Transportation Article of the School Code. Provides that each school board may provide free transportation for any pupil residing within 1 1/2 miles from the school attended where conditions are such that walking, either to or from the school to which a pupil is assigned for attendance or to or from a pick-up point or bus stop, constitutes a serious hazard to the safety of the pupil due to a course or pattern of criminal activity, as defined in the Illinois Streetgang Terrorism Omnibus Prevention Act. Provides for the adoption of guidelines by the local law enforcement agency as to what constitutes a serious safety hazard due to a course or pattern of criminal activity. Provides that the State Board of Education, in consultation with the local law enforcement agency, shall review the findings of the school board concerning a course or pattern of criminal activity and shall approve or disapprove the school board's determination that a serious safety hazard exists within 30 days after the school board submits its findings to the State Board. Authorizes the local law enforcement agency to determine what constitutes a course or pattern of criminal activity. Makes related changes. Provides that the changes made by the amendatory Act do not apply to the Chicago school district. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Insurance Code in provisions concerning credit allowed a domestic ceding insurer. Provides that the assuming insurer shall provide or make certain information to be reported to the Director of Insurance available to the ceding insurer and that the assuming insurer may decline to release trade secrets or commercially sensitive information that would qualify as exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. With regard to an assuming insurer's trust fund, provides that not later than February 28 of each year, the assuming insurer's chief executive officer or chief financial officer shall certify to the Director that the trust fund contains funds in an amount not less than the assuming insurer's liabilities attributable to reinsurance ceded by U.S. ceding insurers, and in addition, a trusteed surplus of not less than $20,000,000. Permits a reduction in the required trusteed surplus in specified circumstances. Provides that in the event that the provision concerning the reduction in the required trusteed surplus applies to the trust, the assuming insurer's chief executive officer or chief financial officer shall then certify to the Director that the trust fund contains funds in an amount not less than the assuming insurer's liabilities attributable to reinsurance ceded by U.S. ceding insurers, and in addition, a reduced trusteed surplus of not less than the amount that has been authorized by the regulatory authority having principal regulatory oversight of the trust. Makes changes to provisions concerning financial strength ratings. Sets forth provisions concerning downgrades by rating agencies, the Director's authority, upgrading the rating of a certified reinsurer, and the revocation of the certification of a certified reinsurer. Makes other changes.
Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Creates an advisory council within the Department of Insurance to review and make recommendations to the Department regarding rules to be adopted by the Department concerning continuing education courses, course materials, curriculum, and credentials of instructors. Provides that the members shall be appointed by the Director of Insurance. Provides criteria for membership, length of terms, term limits, and quorum. Provides that a member of the advisory council or a designee of the Director shall be permitted access to any classroom or any educational offering while instruction is in progress to monitor the instruction for any class that has been submitted to the Department for continuing education credit under the provisions of the Code. Effective immediately.