Rep. Julie Hamos

Creates the Public Lands for Local Food Production Act. Contains only a short title provision.

Amends the Illinois Health Statistics Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Creates the Limitations on Private Military Contractors Act. Requires training to be directly supervised by, and training personnel certified by, the Illinois State Law Enforcement Standards and Training Board or the Illinois State Police. Prohibits use as an armed force except under an emergency order of the Governor. Effective immediately.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that a prisoner may be transferred to a super-maximum security institution only when, within one year of the date of the proposed transfer: (1) while incarcerated, the prisoner committed or attempted to commit acts of violence either: (i) which resulted in serious injury or death or (ii) in connection with any act of non-consensual sex; (2) the prisoner has engaged in 2 or more acts which caused serious disruption of prison operations; or (3) the prisoner has escaped or attempted to escape from within a security perimeter or custody, or both, or direct supervision. Provides that prisoners with serious mental illnesses shall not be transferred to a super-maximum security facility. Provides that the Department of Corrections shall review the status of all prisoners currently housed at a super-maximum security institution within 90 days of the effective date of the amendatory Act to determine whether they should continue to be housed at that facility. Prisoners already incarcerated for longer than one year may continue to be held at a super-maximum institution only on the basis of specified criteria and must be provided a hearing within 6 months of the effective date of the amendatory Act.

Amends the Consumer Installment Loan Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning a license required to engage in the business of making loans of money in a principal amount not exceeding $25,000.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that if a municipality, by ordinance, approves the creation of a wireless network, then any entity within that municipality that owns or co-owns above-ground utility poles, including, but not limited to, street light and traffic poles and pole arms located in the public rights-of-way within the municipality, shall be required to enter into pole access agreements with the ISP to allow access to all above-ground poles of the public utility located in the public right-of-way. Contains provisions concerning the terms and conditions of the pole access agreements. Provides that the Illinois Commerce Commission shall, within 60 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act, adopt rules concerning pole access rates, terms, and conditions and any necessary additional procedures for hearing and resolving contested cases concerning the rates, terms, and conditions. Contains provisions concerning the enforcement of decisions by the Commission regarding contested cases. Effective immediately.

Amends the Election Code. When a vacancy occurs in the office of U.S. Senator, requires that: (i) the Governor make a temporary appointment and the office be filled at the next general election at which that office is scheduled to be filled, if the vacancy occurs less than one year before that election, and (ii) the vacancy be filled by the Governor by temporary appointment and at a special election, designated by the Governor, if the vacancy occurs one year or more before the next general election at which that office is scheduled to be filled. Requires the State to reimburse each election authority for costs associated with any special election held before January 1, 2011 to fill a vacancy in the office of U.S. Senator. Effective immediately.

Creates the Crossing of Railroad Right-of-way Act. Provides that the Illinois Commerce Commission, in consultation with the Department of Transportation, shall adopt rules prescribing the terms and conditions for a crossing and that the rules shall provide that any crossing be consistent with the public convenience and necessity and reasonable service to the public. Provides that public utilities that locate their facilities within the railroad right-of-way for a crossing shall pay the railroad a one-time standard crossing fee of $1,500 for each crossing. Provides special circumstances under which the standard crossing fee is not imposed. Provides that, if the parties cannot agree that special circumstances exist, the dispute shall be submitted to non-binding arbitration. Provides procedures for the non-binding arbitration and provides that, if the parties cannot resolve their dispute based on the arbitrator's recommendation within 30 days, either party may, upon the expiration of the 30-day period, give written notice to the other party of the commencement of a binding arbitration proceeding. Effective immediately.

Amends the Payday Loan Reform Act. Changes the definition of "payday loan" to include any loan with a finance charge exceeding an annual percentage rate of 36% (instead of with a finance charge exceeding an annual percentage rate of 36% and with a term that does not exceed 120 days). Deletes a provision that a specified charge is considered fully earned as of the date on which the loan is made. Provides that no lender may make a payday loan with installment payments unless the installment payments are substantially equal term payments, and when a consumer repays a payday loan in full before its due date, the lender shall rebate the unearned finance charges to the consumer on a straight-line amortization basis as of the date of repayment. Requires the licensee, as part of the information that he or she must collect and maintain, to include the total number of lawsuits filed by the licensee or its agent against consumers to collect on payday loans from consumers during the preceding calendar year. Prohibits a licensee or a person making payday loans from evading the requirements and prohibitions of the Act by use of a device or subterfuge including, but not limited to, (i) disguising a payday loan as a different type of transaction, or (ii) characterizing a required fee as a purchase of a good or service in connection with a payday loan. Authorizes the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to develop rules to determine if any person or entity seeks to evade the applicability of this Act by any device, subterfuge, or pretense. Effective immediately.

Amends the Election Code, the General Assembly Compensation Act, and the Legislative Commission Reorganization Act of 1984. Changes the general primary election in years when a President is elected to the second Tuesday in March and in other even-numbered years to the second Tuesday in August (now, the first Tuesday in February in even numbered years). Makes conforming changes with respect to (i) filing of declarations of judicial retention and (ii) printing and mailing of legislators' newsletters and brochures.