Rep. Kelly Burke

Mourns the death of Thomas J. McAvoy of Chicago.

Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning background investigations.

Creates the Right to Know Act. Provides that an operator of a commercial website or online service that collects personally identifiable information through the internet about individual customers residing in Illinois who use or visit its commercial website or online service shall notify those customers of certain specified information pertaining to its personal information sharing practices. Requires an operator to make available certain specified information upon disclosing a customer's personal information to a third party, and to provide an e-mail address or toll-free telephone number whereby customers may request or obtain that information. Provides for a right of action to customers whose rights are violated under the Act. Provides that any waiver of the provisions of the Act or any agreement that does not comply with the applicable provisions of the Act shall be void and unenforceable. Provides that no provision of the Act shall be construed to conflict with or apply to certain specified provisions of federal law or certain interactions with State or local government. Provides findings and purpose. Defines terms.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Makes structural changes concerning homestead exemptions by creating separate divisions for homestead exemptions in counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants and counties with fewer than 3,000,000 inhabitants. Effective January 1, 2018.

Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. In the provision governing the graduation incentive grant program, removes the requirement that the Board of Higher Education annually submit to the Governor and the General Assembly a budgetary recommendation for the grants and the requirement that the Board notify applicants that the award of grants is contingent upon the availability of appropriated funds.

Creates the Educational Credit for Military Experience Act. Provides that before June 1, 2018, each institution of higher education shall adopt a policy regarding its awarding of academic credit for military training considered applicable to the requirements of the student's certificate or degree program. Requires the policy to apply to any individual who is enrolled in the institution of higher education and who has completed a military training course that meets certain requirements. Provides that institutions of higher education shall develop procedures for evaluating courses and awarding credit. Requires institutions of higher education to submit their policies for awarding credit to the Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board for review before June 30, 2018 and before June 30 of every other year thereafter. Requires the Board of Higher Education to collect data in the Illinois Higher Education Information System on students who are veterans or have military service to assess enrollment and completions outcomes.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, for the 2016 taxable year and thereafter, the exemption for veterans with disabilities carries over to the surviving spouse of a veteran who was killed in the line of duty in the current taxable year or any preceding taxable year. Provides that, for the 2015 taxable year and thereafter, the exemption for veterans with disabilities carries over to the surviving spouse of a veteran who did not obtain the exemption before death, but who would have qualified for the exemption in the current taxable year if he or she had survived. Effective immediately.

Creates the Illinois Workers' Rights and Worker Safety Act. Provides that except as authorized by State law enacted after January 1, 2017, a State agency may not amend or revise its rules relating to protection of workers' rights or worker safety in a manner less stringent than specified federal laws. Provides that a State agency may establish workers' rights and worker safety standards that are more stringent than those provided in federal law in existence as of January 1, 2017. Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that in certain circumstances an action may be brought in a circuit court by a person in the public interest to enforce standards or requirements concerning air, water, drinking water, and endangered and threatened species adopted under specified provisions of the Act and the Illinois Endangered Species Protection Act. Provides that the provisions concerning public interest enforcement shall only become operative if specified events occur. Provides that the enforcement provisions of the Act are severable. Adds provisions concerning protection of the environment, natural resources, and public health. Requires various State agencies to adopt, maintain, and enforce rules concerning air, water, drinking water, and endangered and threatened species that are at least as stringent as various regulatory baselines under federal law, in addition to State law requirements. Provides that every State agency shall undertake all feasible efforts to implement and enforce these provisions. Contains reporting requirements. Deletes provisions providing that an air pollution construction or operating permit shall not be required due to emissions of greenhouse gases if certain events occur. Deletes certain language concerning exemptions from provisions concerning the Clean Air Act Permit Program.

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.