Rep. Cynthia Soto

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning a school building code.

Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Provides that a person who is not a federally licensed importer, manufacturer, or dealer and who desires to sell or transfer a firearm of a size that may be concealed upon the person to another person, who is not a federally licensed importer, manufacturer, or dealer, shall do so only at the place of business of a federally licensed firearm dealer. Provides that the federally licensed firearm dealer shall conduct a background check on the prospective recipient of the firearm and follow all other applicable federal, State, and local laws as if he or she were the seller of the firearm. Provides that the purchaser or transferee may be required by the federally licensed firearm dealer to pay a fee not to exceed $10 per firearm, plus other authorized fees. Makes exceptions for (i) the transfer of a firearm between spouses, a parent and child, or other family members, (ii) transfers by persons acting pursuant to operation of law or a court order, or (iii) transfers on the grounds of a gun show. Provides that the Department of State Police shall develop an Internet based system for individuals to request the Department of State Police to conduct an instant criminal background check prior to the sale or transfer of a handgun. Provides that the Department of State Police shall have the system completed and available for use by July 1, 2013.

Amends the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act in the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that a municipality may pay from tax increment revenues up to 100% of the cost of construction of new housing units to be occupied by very low-income households. Provides that a municipality may incur project redevelopment costs and reimburse developers who incur redevelopment project costs, or reimburse an affiliate of a developer, including an entity that controls a developer that is a limited partnership or limited liability company, authorized by a redevelopment agreement, and the reimbursement may take the form of a loan to the developer. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Housing Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the Act's purpose.

Amends the Housing Authorities Act. Requires every Housing Authority located in a municipality of less than 1,000,000 inhabitants (rather than every Housing Authority) to present as part of its annual report specified financial statements detailing expenditures and disbursements for each housing project. Requires housing authorities located in municipalities of more than 1,000,000 inhabitants to compile information required under the Act under regulations prescribed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development and to make such information available to the public upon request. Repeals a provision requiring the housing authorities to submit these statements to their respective city councils not later than 3 months following the close of the preceding fiscal year of the authorities. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Eastern Illinois Economic Development Authority Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Criminal Identification Act and the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the Prisoner Review Board, upon a petition by a person who has been convicted of a Class 3 or 4 felony and who meets other eligibility requirements, shall hear by a panel of at least 3 members and, with the unanimous vote of 3 members, issue a certificate of eligibility recommending that the court order the sealing of all official records of the arresting authority, the circuit court clerk, and the Department of State Police concerning the arrest and conviction of the person for the Class 3 or 4 felony. Excludes from eligibility persons convicted of violent crimes, sex offenses, or DUI.

Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the licensing requirements.

Creates the Illinois Service Member Civil Relief Act. Provides that nothing in the Act is intended to impair any existing right or benefit available to any service member. Provides that certain legal protections afforded to service members (and family members where specified) are subject to stated provisions of law. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to set forth a provision concerning stays of contested case hearings for service members. Amends the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois to set forth a provision concerning deadline extensions for service members. Amends the Department of Central Management Services Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois to make changes to the provision concerning bulk long distance telephone services for military personnel in military service (now on active duty). Amends the Military Code of Illinois, Illinois Municipal Code, Illinois Insurance Code, Public Utilities Act, Service Member's Employment Tenure Act, Code of Civil Procedure, Landlord and Tenant Act, Uniform Commercial Code, Interest Act, Retail Installment Sales Act, Military Personnel Cellular Phone Contract Termination Act, and Motor Vehicle Leasing Act to make changes in certain provisions concerning military personnel. Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act to provide that a violation of specified provisions regarding legal protections for military personnel constitutes a civil rights violation under the Illinois Human Rights Act.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that, except as otherwise provided in the Act, no person other than the State of Illinois, its agencies and institutions, or a unit of local government shall own or operate (rather than conduct) any waste disposal operation on or after March 1, 1985, which requires a specified permit, unless that person has posted with the Agency a performance bond or other security. Provides that, on and after the effective date established by the USEPA for MSWLF units to provide financial assurance under Subtitle D of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, no person, other than the State of Illinois, its agencies and institutions, shall own or operate (rather than conduct) any disposal operation at a MSWLF unit that requires a specified permit, unless that person has posted with the Agency a performance bond or other security. Effective immediately.