Amends the Unemployment Insurance Act. Changes employer contribution rates of each employer who has incurred liability for the payment of contributions within each of the 3 calendar years immediately preceding the calendar year for which a rate is being determined. Creates the Unemployment Insurance Task Force to study and make recommendations regarding ideas to reform unemployment insurance in Illinois in a way which encourages business growth while ensuring protection of workers who become involuntarily unemployed. Provides that reform ideas may include, but are not limited to, altering employer contribution rates to place a greater burden upon those employers with greater employment loss experience, allowing for and developing a private unemployment insurance market, and privatizing unemployment insurance through the establishment of employee-owned accounts similar to retirement accounts to be funded by contributions from the employer and employee to be used at the discretion of the employee if he or she becomes unemployed. Provides that the Task Force members shall serve voluntarily and without compensation. Provides that the Task Force shall submit a final report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly on or before December 31, 2011. Provides that the final report shall include estimated costs and savings data for the State, Illinois businesses, and Illinois workers related to any recommendations. Provides that the Task Force is abolished on January 1, 2012. Effective immediately.
Sponsored bills
Amends the Chicago Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides an early retirement incentive program for certain teachers who terminate service on or after February 1, 2010 and on or before June 30, 2010 or on or after February 1, 2011 and on or before June 30, 2011. Allows the purchase of up to 5 years of age enhancement and creditable service. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.
Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. Provides that no compensation is payable if an injury was caused primarily by the intoxication of the employee, the influence of alcohol or certain drugs not prescribed by a physician, or the combined influence of alcohol and drugs that affected the employee to the extent that the intoxication constituted a departure from employment. Contains provisions regarding evidence, admissibility, presumptions, and other matters. Requires an employee to notify the employer of the prescription of any narcotic drug that may adversely affect the employee's ability to safely perform his or her job duties before the start of any job duties. Effective immediately.
Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that a person who commences more than 10 civil actions in a calendar year seeking money damages against natural persons shall attach to the summons a specified notice that includes advising the defendant to get legal advice and, if the defendant does not have an attorney, information about lawyer referral services or legal aid organizations. Provides that if an action is based on an assigned claim, the notice shall include a statement that the assignee of a debt suing to collect the debt is required to state how and when the assignee and any prior assignee acquired the debt and quote from or include a copy of the assignment. Provides that in all actions, including small claims, the pleading of an assignee and owner of a non-negotiable chose in action shall state how and when any prior assignee acquired title to the chose in action. Provides that a judgment on an assigned claim shall include a finding that the assignee has complied with these provisions. Provides that a written assignment that is necessary to entitle the pleader to assert a claim is a document on which the claim is founded. Provides that if a written assignment is recited in the complaint, a copy must be provided to the defendant upon request and that this provision applies to all cases, including small claims.
Amends the Property Tax Code and the State Finance Act. Creates the Tax Anticipation Revolving Loan Fund. Provides that moneys in the Fund may be used by the Department of Revenue to make short-term loans to taxing districts that (i) are located within Cook County and (ii) are authorized to issue tax anticipation warrants. Provides that loans may be made if (i) any property tax proceeds are not distributed to the taxing district in a timely manner and (ii) as a result of the delay, it will be necessary for the taxing district to issue tax anticipation warrants. Contains provisions concerning repayment of the loans. Effective immediately.
Amends the Chicago Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Raises the maximum allowable service retirement pension from 75% to 80% of average salary. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.
Amends the New Vehicle Buyer Protection Act. Makes the protections that are available to buyers of new vehicles also available to buyers of new motorized wheelchairs, including replacement or return of a new motorized wheelchair that the seller, after a reasonable number of attempts, is unable to conform to any of its applicable express warranties. Provides that lien holders to whom a refund may be paid under the Act include the administrator of the medical assistance program under the Illinois Public Aid Code, the administrator of the federal Medicare program, and a private insurer. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Explosives Act. Provides for the licensure of pyrotechnic display supervisors, registration of display fireworks distributors, and regulation of displays under the Act. Adds provisions concerning exemptions, licensure, qualifications, unlicensed activity, discipline, and reporting accidents or incidents. Makes changes to provisions concerning scope, storage certificates, storage requirements, unlicensed activity, non-residents, recordkeeping, hearings, and criminal penalties. Defines "BATFE", "crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year", "display", "display fireworks", "display fireworks distributor", "display fireworks service", "disposal", "pyrotechnic display assistant", "pyrotechnic display supervisor", "transfer", and "use". Makes other changes. Amends the Pyrotechnic Distributor and Operator Licensing Act. Removes definitions for "1.3G fireworks" and "display fireworks" and changes the definition of "pyrotechnic display" or "display" and "pyrotechnic distributor". Removes a provision that required the rules of the State Fire Marshal to be based upon certain specified guidelines of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) for outdoor displays. Removes a provision that the State Fire Marshal may delegate the responsibility to train and examine pyrotechnic distributors and operators to the Department of Natural Resources. Amends the Pyrotechnic Use Act. Deletes definitions of "1.3G fireworks" and "display fireworks", and deletes other references to "display fireworks". Provides that "pyrotechnic distributor" means any person who distributes special effects fireworks or flame effects. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.
Amends the Chicago Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides for a one-time increase in certain retirement and survivor's annuities. Declares it to be the public policy of this State and the intention of the General Assembly to protect annuitants against significant decreases in the purchasing power of retirement and survivor's annuities. Directs the retirement system to review and report on significant changes in purchasing power. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Authorizes a credit to taxpayers in an amount equal to 20% of the purchase price, but not to exceed $20,000, for each qualified green dry cleaning machine placed in service by the taxpayer during the taxable year. To qualify, the dry cleaning machine must be certified by the council that manages the Illinois Drycleaner Environmental Response Trust Fund as a machine that uses environmentally friendly solvents. Provides that the credit may not reduce the taxpayer's liability to less than zero and may not be carried back, but may be carried forward and applied to the tax liability of the 3 taxable years following the excess credit year. Effective immediately.