Rep. Michael J. Zalewski

Amends the Election Code. Provides that an application for absentee ballot must be received by the election authority not less than 7 days (now, 5 days) prior to the election. Provides that a proper application to vote on the premises of a licensed nursing home must be made to the election authority not later than 7 days (now, 5 days) prior to the election. Provides that a special application by a non-registered resident temporarily absent from the county for an absentee ballot to vote for president and vice-president only must be made to the election authority not less than 7 days (now, 5 days) before the election. Effective immediately.

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

Amends the Residential Mortgage License Act of 1987. From the definition of "exempt person or entity", deletes pension trusts, bank trusts, and bank trust companies. Provides that an applicant for a residential mortgage license that is a subsidiary may submit audited consolidated financial statements of its parent, intermediary parent, or ultimate parent as long as the consolidated statements are supported by consolidating statements. Provides that the applicant's chief financial officer shall attest to the applicant's financial statements disclosed in the consolidating statements. Makes changes concerning which financial statements are required under the Act. Makes other changes. Amends the Residential Real Property Disclosure Act. Throughout the Act, changes references to "HUD-certified counseling" to "HUD-approved counseling". Provides that certain deadlines are counted by business days rather than calendar days. Provides that it is the borrower's responsibility to (rather than "the borrower shall") select a HUD-approved counseling agency. Provides that the selection must take place and the appointment for the interview must be set within 10 business days, although the interview may take place beyond the 10 business day period. Provides that if a lis pendens is recorded, it may be filed with the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation either electronically or by filing a hard copy. Provides that all information entered into the predatory lending database must be true and correct to the best of the originator's knowledge. Provides that the originator shall, prior to closing, correct, update, or amend the data as necessary. Provides that if any corrections become necessary after the file has been accessed by the closing agent or housing counselor, a new file must be entered. Changes the predatory lending database pilot program to the predatory lending database program. Provides if certain exemptions to certain filing and reporting requirements apply, a certificate of exemption is required. Adds to the list of exemptions to the predatory lending database program mortgages secured by certain types of property and mortgages originated by an exempt person or entity. Effective immediately.

Recognizes the Brookfield Historical Society as it celebrates the 125th anniversary of the Grossdale Station.

Amends the Division of Banking Act. Authorizes the Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation to establish a Commercial Bank Regulatory Section and a Savings Bank Regulatory Section within the Division. Amends the State Finance Act. Changes the name of the Savings and Residential Finance Regulatory Fund to the Residential Finance Regulatory Fund. Provides for expenditures from the Savings Institution Regulatory Fund and the Residential Finance Regulatory Fund related to the disposition of unclaimed property. Amends the Savings Bank Act. Provides that the Secretary may charter mutual and stock holding companies in connection with a mutual savings bank reorganization. Establishes the effect of the repeal of the Illinois Savings and Loan Act of 1985, including the regulation of entities formerly under the Illinois Savings and Loan Act as savings banks under the Savings Bank Act. Changes references from "member or shareholder" to "customer". Changes references from "Commissioner" to "Secretary". Makes changes to provisions concerning articles of incorporation, proxies, directors, access to books and records, regulations, investment in loans, loans to one borrower, mergers, conversion of an existing depository institution to a savings bank, powers of the Secretary, regulatory fees, and disclosure of reports of examinations and confidential supervisory information. Repeals the Illinois Savings and Loan Act of 1985. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Public Accounting Act. Provides that the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation shall convene a task force in order to prepare a report that determines the appropriate scope of a program for regulating tax return preparers, addresses the appropriate qualifications for tax return preparers, and considers any other matters that the task force determines to be necessary or appropriate. Requires that the report be submitted no later than September 1, 2015 to the Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation, the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the President of the Senate. Effective immediately.

Creates the Long Term Care Rebalancing Note Act. Provides that every bill, except those bills making a direct appropriation, the purpose or effect of which is (i) to expend any State funds for long term care services or (ii) to expend any State funds for community or home-based alternatives to long term care services, shall have prepared for it prior to second reading in the house of introduction a brief explanatory statement or note which shall include a reliable estimate of the anticipated change in State funding or revenues under its provisions. Provides that for purposes of the Act, revenues include, but are not limited to, changes to revenue received from Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP). Contains provisions concerning preparation of the note; confidentiality requirements; and other matters. Effective immediately.

Creates the Smoke-Free Campus Act. Sets forth the General Assembly's findings. Provides that beginning on July 1, 2014, smoking is prohibited on each campus of a State-supported institution of higher education. Provides that on or before December 31, 2013, each State-supported institution of higher education shall establish a community task force for the purpose of coordinating with community and campus leaders for the implementation of the Act. Provides that the governing board of each State-supported institution of higher education shall implement the Act and shall promulgate all policies and regulations necessary for this purpose, including, but not limited to, disciplinary action, fines, and an appeals process. Effective immediately.

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. In provision on obtaining a search warrant by oral testimony, deletes use of telephone, fax, or other appropriate means to communicate sworn testimony supporting a search warrant request on a terrorism or terrorism-related offense to a judge when the circumstances make it reasonable to dispense with a sworn affidavit. Replaces the deleted provision with a general provision applicable to any offense allowing a search warrant request to be made by electronic means that has a simultaneous video and audio transmission between the requestor and a judge. The judge may issue a search warrant based upon sworn testimony communicated in the transmission. Deletes provision that made search warrant upon oral testimony subsection inoperative on January 1, 2005 and the savings clause for admissibility of evidence obtained by a search warrant issued under the subsection prior to it becoming inoperative. Adds provision requiring the Chief Judge of the circuit court or presiding judge issuing a search warrant to create a standard practice for the filing or other retention of documents or recordings produced under the search warrant.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that with respect to damages and the coverage regarding uninsured and hit and run motor vehicle coverage, any decision made by the arbitrators shall be binding (now, any decision made by the arbitrators shall be binding for the amount of damages not exceeding $50,000 for bodily injury to or death of any one person, $100,000 for bodily injury to or death of 2 or more persons in any one motor vehicle accident, or the corresponding policy limits for bodily injury or death, whichever is less). Provides the changes made by the amendatory Act apply to all policies of insurance amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on and after the effective date of the amendatory Act.