Congratulates the Mother McAuley High School Volleyball Team, the Mighty Macs, on winning the 2016 Illinois High School Association Class 4A State Championship.
Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Drycleaner Environmental Response Trust Fund Council for its FY16 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2015.
Amends the Unemployment Insurance Act. Provides that an employer shall not be subject to benefit charges resulting from payments made to a claimant unless the claimant was employed for 60 (rather than 30) days.
Amends the Retail Electric Competition Article of the Public Utilities Act. Renames the Article the Retail Electric and Natural Gas Competition Act. Adds findings related to the development and evolution of an effectively competitive retail natural gas market. Provides that solutions proposed by the Office of Retail Market Development of the Illinois Commerce Commission to promote retail competition must also promote safe, reliable, and affordable natural gas service (in addition to electric service), and makes conforming changes in an annual report to the General Assembly and the Governor. Provides that the Commission shall consult with natural gas utilities and suppliers to expand access to natural gas suppliers for residential and small business consumers.
Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Illinois Youth Wrestling Fund. Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Allows the Secretary of State to issue Illinois Youth Wrestling Plates. Charges $40 for the issuance of these plates, $25 of which will go to the Illinois Youth Wrestling Fund and $15 of which will go to the Secretary of State Special License Plate Fund. Charges $27 for renewal, $25 of which will go to the Illinois Youth Wrestling Fund and $2 of which will go to the Secretary of State Special License Plate Fund. Allows distribution of money in the Illinois Youth Wrestling Fund for wrestling-related programming grants and scholarships.
Designates December 1, 2015 as Giving Tuesday in the State of Illinois.
Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the production of books and writings.
Creates the Rail Crossing Blocking Act. Requires the Illinois Commerce Commission and the Department of Transportation to annually study railroad crossings in municipalities of 100,000 or more to identify crossings which if blocked for longer than 10 minutes would pose significant public safety concerns by impeding emergency, fire, and police. A municipality, under 100,000, may petition to have a crossing included in the study. The Commission shall use the study to designate Essential Rail Crossings. Provides a person or entity may not physically block an Essential Rail Crossing in a manner which obstructs traffic for a period longer than 10 minutes or in excess of a total of 10 minutes during a 30 minute period in a municipality in a county of more than 1,000,000, unless the blocking of the crossing is by reason of circumstances over which the person or entity has no reasonable control, is necessary for maintenance of the crossing, or is otherwise allowed or required under State or federal law, rule, or regulation. Provides exemptions and a petty offense penalty for blocking 15 minutes or less and a business offense penalty for blocking exceeding 15 minutes. Provides graduated fines and that all fines collected shall be deposited into the Rail Crossing Blocking Fund. Amends the Department of Transportation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Allows the Department to grant funds to any railroad, rail user, or owner or lessee of a railroad right-of-way for improvement or construction of railroad crossings, but only those not in violation of the Rail Crossing Blocking Act or those agreeing to reduce violations of the Act. Amends the State Finance Act and the Illinois Vehicle Code to make conforming changes.
Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Law Enforcement Training Standards Board for its FY16 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2015.
Amends the Chicago Firefighter Article of the Illinois Pension Code. In a Section relating to a person who first becomes a fireman on or after January 1, 2011, provides for payment of an ordinary death benefit. Effective immediately.
