Rep. Marcus Evans

Creates the Tax Preparer Consumer Bill of Rights Act. Provides that a tax preparer shall post an identification and qualification statement on his or her business premises and shall provide the customer with a receipt containing an address and phone number at which the preparer can be contacted throughout the year. Requires the Department of Revenue to publish a consumer bill of rights regarding tax preparers in a newspaper of general circulation in the State. Provides that tax preparers must provide certain disclosures concerning refund anticipation loans. Provides that tax preparers may not engage in certain practices, including, but not limited to, asking a taxpayer to sign a blank or incomplete tax return, misstating the tax preparer's qualifications, charging a fee based upon the amount of tax owed or refund due, and making deceptive statements. Sets forth certain requirements for tax preparers. Contains provisions concerning penalties. Contains other provisions. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates a deduction for individuals, trusts, and estates for certain qualified student loan payments made during the taxable year. Provides that the deduction is excluded from the Act's automatic sunset provisions. Effective immediately.

Amends various acts to remove provisions allowing or requiring licensing authorities to revoke professional licenses for defaulting on an educational loan provided by or guaranteed by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning Chicago laborers and retirement board employees.

Amends the State Housing Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Provides that by January 1, 2016, the Department of Children and Family Services shall convene a multi-disciplinary workgroup to review treatment programs for youth in the Department's care who are victims of sex trafficking and to make recommendations regarding a continuum of care for these vulnerable youth. Requires the workgroup to: (1) review existing models of treatment programs available in the State and outside the State for youth in the Department's care who are victims of sex trafficking and consider whether the programs have been subject to evaluation; (2) evaluate the need for new programs in the State; (3) review existing State laws and rules that permit children to be placed in secured therapeutic residential care; and (4) make recommendations regarding a continuum of care for children in the Department's care who are victims of sex trafficking. Contains provisions concerning the composition of the workgroup and the workgroup's access to certain records and information held by the Department. Requires the workgroup to submit a report on its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly by January 1, 2017. Requires the Department to implement the workgroup's recommendations, as feasible and appropriate, by March 1, 2017 and to submit a report to the General Assembly explaining its decision to implement or to not implement each of the workgroup's recommendations.

Urges each police department in this State to develop a plan or strategy for the use of non-lethal force on a person suspected of committing or having committed a criminal offense or resisting arrest, including the use of new technologies and alternatives to the use of firearms in both apprehending a suspect and in protecting a police officer from harm by a suspect.

Amends the Clinical Psychologist Licensing Act. Provides that the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation may contract with the Illinois Psychological Association to audit compliance with the continuing education requirements under this Section, including approving courses and verifying that licensees complete the continuing education requirements. Effective immediately.

Creates the Tax Consultant and Tax Preparer Licensure Act. Provides that tax consultants must be licensed by the Department of Revenue. Provides that a person may not prepare or advise or assist in the preparation of personal income tax returns for another for valuable consideration, or represent that the person is so engaged, unless the person is licensed as a tax consultant. Provides that a tax preparer may prepare or advise or assist in the preparation of tax returns only under the supervision of a licensed tax consultant, and provides that those tax preparers must also be licensed by the Department of Revenue. Contains provisions concerning fees, suspension or revocation of licenses, and prohibited activities. Contains provisions concerning refund anticipation loans. Effective immediately.

Amends the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the Department of Healthcare and Family Services.