Rep. Dave Severin

Amends the Notice by Publication Act. When a unit of local government or school district is required by law to give notice by publication in a newspaper, provides that: if there is no secular newspaper having a general circulation within the unit of local government or school district, the local government or school district may publish the notice on an official government website of a local government or school district, or if there is no official government website of a local government or school district, the local government or school district shall post copies of the printed notice in 5 of the most public places within that local government or school district; and if a local government or school district publishes notices on an official website or posts copies of the printed notice, whom would otherwise would be required by law, order of court, or contract to publish the notice within a newspaper, the local government or school district shall cause such notices to be placed on a statewide website established and maintained as a joint venture of a majority of State newspapers as a repository for such notices. Effective immediately.

Amends the General Provisions and Downstate Teacher Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that a teacher may establish one additional day of service credit for each day of service credit that was earned between March 16, 2020 and June 30, 2021 in which the teacher provided in-person instruction if he or she pays certain contributions and supplies satisfactory evidence. For a Tier 1 member, provides that the System shall waive the reduction in retirement annuity for persons who retire before age 60 if the member has attained age 59 and earned service credit in the 2020-2021 school. For a Tier 2 member, provides that the reduction in retirement annuity for persons who retire before age 67 shall be waived if the member has attained age 66 and earned service credit in the 2020-2021 school year. For a Tier 1 member who earned service credit in the 2020-2021 school year and has not attained age 59 or a Tier 2 member who earned service credit in the 2020-2021 school year and has not attained age 66, provides that the member shall be deemed to be one year older than his or her actual age for purposes of provisions concerning a reduction in retirement annuity due to a member's age. Provides that any benefit increase that results from the amendatory Act is excluded from the definition of "new benefit increase". Effective immediately.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law or rule, the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts and the Department of Juvenile Justice shall permit the hiring of county juvenile detention center personnel that possess less than a bachelor's degree, including, but not limited to, the hiring of an applicant who possesses an associate's degree or has completed at least 60 credit hours at an accredited institution of higher education. Effective immediately.

Amends the Business Assistance and Regulatory Reform Act. Modifies requirements concerning the Office of Business Permits and Regulatory Assistance. Provides that the Office shall implement reforms to improve interagency coordination and encourage expeditious permit issuance. Provides that the Office shall use information technology tools to track project schedules and metrics in order to improve transparency and accountability of the permitting process, reduce uncertainty and delays, and reduce costs and risks to taxpayers. Modifies and adds requirements concerning the expediting of permit reviews. Provides for the creation of an Interagency Permitting Advisory Committee. Provides additional requirements to improve the coordination of permit reviews. Defines terms. Makes other changes.

Amends the Firearm Concealed Carry Act. Includes a stun gun or taser in the definition of "handgun".

Creates the Illinois Regional Generation Reliability Task Force Act. Sets forth findings of the General Assembly Creates the Illinois Regional Generation Reliability Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall monitor the reliability of the Illinois power grid. Contains provisions concerning: the membership of the Task Force; duties of the Task Force; administrative support; and an annual report. Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. Provides that the Carbon Capture Infrastructure Fund is created as a special fund in the State treasury and shall be administered by the Illinois Power Agency. Provides that $10,000,000 shall be transferred from the Illinois Power Agency Renewable Energy Resources Fund to the Carbon Capture Infrastructure Fund. Provides that the Agency shall award grants from the fund to carbon producing power plants for the construction of new carbon capture storage systems. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Carbon Capture Infrastructure Fund. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Revenue Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that if an in-State retailer or serviceman bids on a purchase order or contract to provide materials, equipment, or supplies to a municipality with a population under 1,000,000, and that purchase order or contract involves an amount in excess of $25,000, then the municipality may apply to the Department of Revenue for a certificate of exemption from the taxes imposed under specified local provisions of the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act for the in-State retailer or serviceman, or a third-party supplier of the retailer or serviceman, with respect to the materials, equipment, or supplies covered by the bid if: at least one other bid is received from an out-of-State retailer or serviceman; the in-State retailer or serviceman demonstrates the necessity of the exemption in order to submit the lowest responsible bid, including substantive proof furnished by the retailer or serviceman to the municipality or the Department of Revenue; and the in-State retailer provides an itemized estimate of cost to the corporate authorities of the municipality. Defines terms. Makes confirming changes in the following Acts and Codes: the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act, the Counties Code, the Illinois Municipal Code, the Salem Civic Center Law of 1997 of the Civic Center Code, the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority Act, the Flood Prevention District Act, the Metro-East Park and Recreation District Act, the Local Mass Transit District Act, the Regional Transportation Authority Act, and the Water Commission Act of 1985. Effective immediately.

Amends the Downstate Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that a teacher who served as a teacher during the public health emergency declared by the Governor related to the COVID-19 pandemic shall receive one additional day of service credit for each day of service credit earned during that period, notwithstanding any limitation on the amount of service credit that may be earned in a single year. Provides that the service credit shall be granted without any additional employee or employer contribution. Provides that any benefit increase that results from the amendatory Act is excluded from the definition of "new benefit increase". Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Highway Code. Provides that the requirements for appointing a highway commissioner who is a non-resident or who has not resided in the district for one year also apply to the appointment of a district clerk. Removes the requirement that a township have a population of less than 500 residents for a board of trustees to appoint a non-resident or a person who has not resided in the district for one year.

Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that resident and nonresident landowners shall complete a landowner permit application and submit proof of eligible land ownership to the Department of Natural Resources once every 5 years.