Rep. Margo McDermed

Amends the School Code. Provides that, before making any decisions on a school closure, a school board (other than the Chicago Board of Education) shall appoint a district advisory committee to advise and make recommendations to the school board about the school closure. Sets forth provisions concerning committee membership, information the committee must gather, and public hearings. Requires the committee to make a recommendation to the school board on school closure, and requires the school board to take into account the committee's recommendation on school closure when making a final decision.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax checkoff to allow taxpayers to make contributions to Special Olympics Illinois and Special Children's Charities. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Lottery Law. Requires that the winning numbers for all in-State draw games be selected using an electromechanical draw system and be either televised or streamed live on the Internet, at the discretion of the Director of the Lottery. Provides that the selection of winning numbers shall be open to the public in a manner consistent with game security and facilities requirements. Requires implementation of the requirements no later than 90 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Administrative Review Law of the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that, as used in a Section concerning required parties in an action for administrative review, "parties of record" does not include a private citizen who was not acting in an official capacity or whose participation in the agency proceedings was limited to his or her attendance or testimony at a public hearing.

Amends the Residential Mortgage License Act of 1987. Provides that an entity engaged solely in independent loan processing or underwriting is exempted from certain licensing requirements. Provides that those entities engaged solely in independent loan processing or underwriting shall submit an annual application for registration as an exempt entity with the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation through the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry and comply with specific requirements. Adds those entities to the definition of "exempt person or entity". Excludes independent loan processing or underwriting from the definition of "loan brokering", "brokering", or "brokerage services". Excludes independent loan processing or underwriting from the definition of "originating". Defines "independent loan processing or underwriting". Effective immediately.

Creates the Research Dogs and Cats Adoption Act. Requires (i) an institution of higher education located in this State that receives public funds for scientific, educational, or research purposes or (ii) a facility that provides research in collaboration with an institution of higher education with the use of public funds and that confines dogs or cats for scientific, educational, or research purposes and plans on euthanizing the dog or cat for other than scientific, educational, or research purposes must first offer the dog or cat to an animal rescue organization. Provides exceptions. Sets forth provisions concerning an agreement with an animal rescue organization and immunity.

Amends the Park District Code. Requires park districts to determine if an applicant for employment has been convicted of (rather than convicted of or adjudicated a delinquent minor for) specified criminal or drug offenses listed in the Section within 5 years of the application for employment, or convicted of a felony within 2 years (rather than 7 years) of the application for employment. Removes several offenses from the specified criminal or drug offenses listed in the Section. Amends the Chicago Park District Act making the same changes. Effective immediately.

Creates the Child Bereavement Leave Act and amends the State Finance Act. Provides that an employee may use specified amounts of bereavement leave to grieve the death of the employee's child, attend services in relation to the death of the employee's child, or make arrangements necessitated by the death of the employee's child. Provides for enforcement by the Department of Labor. Provides for civil penalties. Authorizes the Attorney General to collect penalties. Creates the Child Bereavement Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Library System Act. Indefinitely extends a waiver of a grant eligibility requirement which expired after the State Fiscal Year 2015. Repeals a section allowing the State Librarian to designate Research and Reference Centers and Special Resource Centers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the Chicago Public Library, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, and the Illinois State Library. Effective immediately.

Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.