Amends the General Assembly Organization Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the deposit of books, bills, documents, and papers with the Secretary of State.
Amends the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013. In a provision concerning mental health system planning, provides that the Office of the Governor (instead of the Governor's Office of Health Innovation and Transformation) shall oversee a process for identifying needed services and identifying the financing strategies for developing those needed services. Makes a change in a provision concerning the purpose of the process. Adds language requiring the process to address the need and financing strategies for trauma-informed care. Requires the Office of the Governor (instead of the Governor's Office of Health Innovation and Transformation) to report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly by January 15, 2016 (instead of July 1, 2015). Makes other changes. Effective immediately.
Amends the Weights and Measures Act. Makes a technical change to the Section containing the short title.
Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Creates a new Section prohibiting all units of local government from enacting or enforcing ordinances or regulations that penalize tenants who contact police or other emergency services if (1) the contact was made with the intent to prevent the perpetration or escalation of domestic violence, sexual violence, criminal activity, or any other emergency situation; (2) the contact was made with the intent to respond to domestic violence, sexual violence, criminal activity, or other emergency situation; (3) the intervention or emergency assistance was needed to respond to the perpetration or escalation of domestic violence, sexual violence, criminal activity, or other emergency situation; or (4) the contact was concerning an individual with a disability. Requires any ordinances inconsistent with this Section to be repealed or modified. Provides that a landlord or tenant may bring a civil suit seeking to invalidate the ordinance, compensatory damages, attorney fees, court costs, and other equitable relief. Provides that the new Section is a denial and limitation of home rule powers and functions. Provides that this Section does not limit enforcement of provisions of the Emergency Telephone System Act, the Criminal Code of 2012, and the Forcible Entry and Detainer Article of the Code of Civil Procedure, or does not limit or prohibit any unit of local government from enacting or enforcing an ordinance that does not penalize landlords or tenants on the basis of contact made to police or other emergency service. Effective immediately.
Amends the Attorney Act. Deletes language providing that no person shall be entitled to receive a license to practice law unless the person is a citizen of the United States or unless the person has made a declaration of intention to become a citizen or unless, having made such declaration of intention, he or she has filed a petition for naturalization within thirty days after becoming eligible to do so and until he shall have obtained a certificate of good moral character from a circuit court. Provides instead that no person shall be prohibited from receiving a license solely because he or she is not a citizen of the United States. Provides that the Illinois Supreme Court may grant a license to a person who, in addition to fulfilling the requirements to practice law within this State, satisfies the following requirements: (1) the United States Department of Homeland Security has approved the person's request for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals; (2) the person's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals has not expired or has been properly renewed; and (3) the person has a current and valid employment authorization document issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service. Provides that the provisions concerning the issuance of a license to a person granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals is a state law for purposes of the federal statute governing the eligibility of nonresident aliens for state and local public benefits. Requests that the Illinois Supreme Court promulgate any orders or rules necessary to implement the amendatory Act.
Amends the Disposition of Remains Act. Provides that the directions a person may provide under the Act may include instructions regarding gender identity, including, but not limited to, instructions with respect to appearance, chosen name, and gender pronouns, regardless of whether the person has obtained a court-ordered name change, changed the gender marker on any identification document, or undergone any transition-related medical treatment.
Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that any insurer with less than $100,000,000 in group surplus authorized to issue workers' compensation policies with a per-occurrence deductible of $100,000 or greater shall report the outstanding obligations owed under the deductible as liabilities of the insurer, unless the obligation is fully collateralized, and limit per-occurrence deductible obligations. Effective July 1, 2015.
Amends the School Code. Adds the subjects of consumer debt, higher education student loans, and identity-theft security to the list of subjects that are required to be included in the financial literacy component of consumer education. Effective July 1, 2015.
Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that subject to federal approval if required, a household that includes an elderly, blind, or disabled person shall be considered categorically eligible for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits if the gross income of such household is at or below 200% of the nonfarm income poverty guidelines updated periodically in the Federal Register by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under the authority of 42 U.S.C. 9902(2); and a household that does not include an elderly, blind, or disabled person shall be considered categorically eligible for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits if the gross income of such household is at or below 165% of those nonfarm income poverty guidelines. Effective January 1, 2016.
Amends the State Treasurer Act. Creates the "Achieving a Better Life Experience" or "ABLE" account program to encourage and assist individuals and families in saving private funds for the purpose of supporting persons with disabilities in endeavors to maintain health, independence, and quality of life, and to provide secure funding for disability-related expenses on behalf of designated beneficiaries with disabilities that will supplement, but not supplant, benefits provided through private insurance, federal and State medical and disability insurance, the beneficiary's employment, and other sources. Provides that the State Treasurer shall be primarily responsible for the plan but shall work with the Illinois State Board of Investment. Sets forth the requirements of the plan. Requires the State Treasurer to adopt rules to implement the program. Defines required terms.
