Rep. Bob Rita

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that each business that (i) is primarily engaged in manufacturing and (ii) hires and retains employees to work at a facility in a high-crime area, as defined by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity by rule, shall be entitled to a credit against its Illinois income tax liability. Provides that the amount of the credit shall be equal to 30% of the gross wages paid to each full-time permanent employee located at the qualified facility who has been employed by the taxpayer at that facility for exactly 12 months at any point during the taxable year. Provides that the credit shall be administered by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Effective immediately.

Authorizes the Department of Transportation to commence a procurement process for a project to provide additional highway capacity along Interstate 55 from Interstate 355 to Interstate 90/Interstate 94 in DuPage, Cook, and Will Counties, and toll the additional capacity pursuant to the authority provided under the Public-Private Partnerships for Transportation Act.

Amends the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Special Care Disclosure Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Toll Highway Act. Makes a technical change in a Section regarding the filing of bonds by the board of directors.

Amends the Illinois Public Accounting Act. Allows a certified public accountant (CPA) firm whose principal place of business is not in this State to have all the privileges of a CPA firm licensed under the Act without the need to obtain a license from the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation or to file notice with the Department if the CPA firm complies with specified substantial equivalency requirements; makes conforming changes. Provides that firms that do not meet certain requirements but offer or render services in the State must hold a license issued under the Act. Provides for the appointment of a CPA Coordinator and provides the duties and responsibilities for the role. Provides that every application for renewal of a license by a licensed CPA who has been licensed under the Act for 3 years or more shall be accompanied or supported by evidence showing the completion of professional education as prescribed by Department rule (rather than showing the completion of 120 hours of continuing professional education each 3 years as prescribed by Department rule). Provides that a CPA firm or sole practitioner shall comply with Department rules and notify the Peer Review Administrator within 30 days after accepting an engagement for services requiring a license and to undergo a peer review within 18 months after the end of the period covered by the engagement (rather than undergo its first peer review during the first full renewal cycle after it is granted its initial license). Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that any contract with a third party to provide claim services for a property and casualty company must contain specified language that provides that upon liquidation or rehabilitation of the insurer, the files and related data become the sole property of the estate with the administrator having reasonable access and right to copy files; provides that the requirement shall apply to all contracts entered into after the effective date, and any existing contracts shall have one year to comply with the requirement. In provisions concerning the distribution of general assets of a company's estate that is undergoing liquidation, rehabilitation, or conservation proceedings: Prioritizes costs and expenses of administration, including the reasonable expenses of certain funds and associations, but excluding certain other expenses, and the expenses expressly approved or ratified by the Director of Insurance as liquidator or rehabilitator, including specified costs and expenses, over all other claims. Provides that claims of obligees under surety bonds and undertakings, claims by principals under surety bonds and surety undertakings for wrongful dissipation of collateral by the insurer or its agents, and claims incurred during certain extensions of coverage are granted the same priority level as claims by policyholders, beneficiaries, and insureds, under insurance policies, annuity contracts, and funding agreements. Provides that these changes apply to all pending and future liquidation, rehabilitation, or conservation proceedings. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the Illinois Standardbred Breeders Fund.

Amends the Payday Loan Reform Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Provides that the amendatory Act may be referred to as the Commitment to Justice Act and includes legislative findings. Amends the Court of Claims Act. Removes the $100,000 limit on awards in tort cases. Provides that the changes apply to cases filed on or after July 1, 2015. Effective immediately.

Amends the Election Code. Requires that the trustees for the Fox Metro Water Reclamation District be elected at consolidated elections. Provides that where a nomination for election is to be made for a trustee of the Fox Metro Water Reclamation District, then the petition shall be filed in the office of the county clerk not more than 113 nor less than 106 days prior to the date of the primary. Amends the Sanitary District Act of 1917. Provides that the board of trustees of the Fox Metro Water Reclamation District shall be elected (rather than appointed) beginning with the 2019 election. Sets forth requirements concerning the number of trustees to be elected and length of terms. Effective immediately.