Rep. Lisa Hernandez

Amends the Election Code. Provides that no candidate for President or Vice-President of the United States shall appear on the official ballot for the general election if that candidate has not released his or her tax returns at least 5 days prior to the date set for certification of the ballot for the general election. Defines "released his or her tax returns" to mean that the tax returns filed with the federal Internal Revenue Service for the 5 most recent years in which tax returns have been filed by the candidates for President and Vice-President of the United States have been filed with the Secretary of State. Requires the Secretary of State to post the tax returns on the Secretary of State's website and to certify that the tax returns have been filed to the State Board of Elections. Allows the Secretary of State to adopt rules to implement the provisions.

Amends the School Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2018-2019 school year, every public high school shall include in its curriculum a unit of instruction on media literacy; defines "media literacy". Provides requirements for the unit of instruction. Provides that the State Superintendent of Education may prepare and make available to school boards instructional materials that may be used as guidelines for the unit of instruction. Effective immediately.

Creates the Insurance Premium Tax Act. Imposes a tax on each authorized domestic, foreign, or alien insurer engaged in the business of entering into contracts of insurance or annuity in the State in an amount equal to 1.3% of the premiums and fees charged for those insurance policies. Provides that the proceeds from the tax shall be deposited into the Flood Catastrophe Fund and shall be used by the Department of Insurance for the purpose of providing reimbursement to insurers for a portion of their catastrophic losses due to flooding. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Flood Catastrophe Fund. Effective immediately.

Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the State Board of Education for its FY18 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2017.

Amends the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. Provides that for purposes of the Section concerning child support, "high school" means the types of schools contained in the School Code or a similar statute in the state where the student resides and includes: a public school; a charter school; a private school, including a parochial or home-based school; an alternative school; and any other program providing instruction in grades 9 through 12. Provides that the court may determine if any other type of program is included in the definition of "high school". Effective immediately.

Appropriates $3,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the State Board of Education for English language learner support software for school district instruction. Effective July 1, 201 7 .

Amends the Business Enterprise for Minorities, Females, and Persons with Disabilities Act. Defines "not-for-profit business organization". Effective immediately.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall not adopt any rule or enter into any contract that prohibits reimbursement under the medical assistance program to an eligible clinic for a dental encounter for services performed by an individual licensed to practice dentistry or dental hygiene under the Illinois Dental Practice Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Repeals a Section requiring instruction in all public elementary and secondary schools to be in the English language. Effective July 1, 2017.

Amends the Department of Professional Regulation Law. Provides that the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation shall not prohibit a person from receiving a license solely because the person is not a citizen of the United States. Provides that the Department may grant a license to a person who satisfies specific requirements regarding immigration status and fulfills other necessary requirements to obtain a license. Effective immediately.