Rep. Cynthia Soto

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that a person also commits robbery when he or she withdraws, takes, or transfers funds from the financial account of another or obtains the account number, personal identification number, or other information used to access the financial account of another by the use of force or by threatening the imminent use of force, by, or for the purpose of, accessing any financial account through the use of an automatic teller machine. Provides that a person convicted of such robbery is not eligible to receive a sentence of probation or conditional discharge. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that relief from an order for a tax deed may be had under certain provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure concerning motions after judgment in nonjury cases. Provides that notice of the expiration of the period of redemption must be served upon certain owners and parties interested in the property in the manner set forth under certain provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure (now, personal service). Requires the court to enter orders to place the tax-deed grantee's successor in interest in possession of the property and authorizes the court to grant other relief to maintain the successor in interest in possession. Provides that the notice of the expiration of the period of redemption may not be served more than 6 months (now, 5 months) before the expiration of the period of redemption. Provides that the changes concerning post-judgment motions and the changes concerning the possession by the tax-deed grantee's successor in interest must be construed as being declarative of existing law and not as a new enactment.

Amends the Illinois Clean Indoor Air Act. Provides that a home rule unit of local government or any municipality in this State may regulate smoking in public places. Provides that this regulation must be no less restrictive than the regulation in the Act. Changes the home rule limitation from an absolute preemption to a limitation on the concurrent exercise of home rule power. Maintains the exemption from home rule requirements for home rule units that passed ordinances regulating smoking before October 1, 1989. Limits the concurrent exercise of home rule powers.

Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Deletes language allowing civilian personnel to serve process in counties with a population of less than 1,000,000. Provides that process may be served in any county without special appointment by a person who is licensed or registered as a private detective under the Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, and Locksmith Act of 2004 or by a registered employee of a private detective agency certified under that Act (instead of just in counties with a population of less than 1,000,000).

Amends the School Code. For competitive bids for service contracts involving an expenditure in excess of $10,000, provides that the bidder must disclose, before the public bid opening, in an affidavit that becomes part of the bid, (1) any charges filed against the bidder within the past 10 years pursuant to the National Labor Relations Act, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, or the Illinois Human Rights Act, (2) any charges filed against the bidder within the past 10 years related to bid-rigging or bid manipulation, (3) any legal claims pending against the bidder, (4) all workplace injuries reported by employees within the past year, (5) all employee turnover, (6) any units of government that have barred the bidder or its affiliates from future bidding, (7) any contributions given to the political campaigns of school board members or any political action committee created with the purpose of affecting policies related to a particular school district or its students, (8) any gifts given to a prohibited recipient under the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act, and (9) any gifts or contributions given to non-profit organizations established with the purpose of affecting a particular school district or its students. Provides that if the affidavit contains false or incomplete information, the school district does not have to consider the bid. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code and the Illinois Anatomical Gift Act. Provides that the Secretary of State may establish a First Person Consent organ and tissue donor registry. Provides that the Secretary may offer, to each applicant for reissuance or renewal of a driver's license or identification card who is 18 or older, the opportunity to have his or her name included on the registry. Provides that the Secretary must advise the person that he or she is under no compulsion to have his or her name included. Establishes additional procedures for creating the registry. Provides that the Secretary must continue, until the registry has been established, to provide, on the reverse side of each driver's license issued, a format that the licensee may use to execute an anatomical gift. Provides that a person may make an anatomical gift by consenting to having his or her name included in the registry. Provides that in the absence of gross negligence, willful misconduct, the Secretary of State and his or her employees are immune from criminal or civil liability in connection with a person's consent to be listed in the registry.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that in a court action to enforce support under the Code, the Department of Public Aid may appoint an individual to accompany the process server for the purpose of locating or identifying the respondent. The individual may include, but need not be limited to, a member of the family of the respondent responsible relative from whom support is sought. Effective immediately.

Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Makes a technical change in a Section regarding the place of trial.

Amends the Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act. Repeals a provision that repeals the Act on July 1, 2007.

Creates the Supreme Court Campaign Reform Act. Provides that candidates for the Supreme Court may apply for a public financing benefit in connection with their campaign. Sets the amount of the public financing benefit at $750,000 for the general primary and general election cycle. Sets requirements for qualifying for the public financing benefits. Limits the amount of private contributions qualified candidates may accept. Limits the amounts that non-participating candidates may accept from private sources during campaign periods to $1,000 in the aggregate. Provides that qualified candidates must be distributed a line of credit from the Illinois Supreme Court Democracy Trust Fund to be used for lawful political expenditures. Provides for the increase of the line of credit if non-complying candidates make certain expenditures. Sets penalties for violations of the Act. Provides that the Illinois Supreme Court may require attorneys to contribute money to the Fund not to exceed $25 annually. Contains other provisions. Amends the Election Code. Provides that a payment for electioneering communications is an "expenditure". Provides that a group that "accepts contributions or makes expenditures during any 12-month period in an aggregate amount exceeding $3,000 for the purpose of electioneering communications" is a political committee. Allows the Board of Elections to impose a fine against a committee that fails to report expenditures that could trigger matching funds under the Supreme Court Campaign Reform Act. Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Illinois Supreme Court Democracy Trust Fund. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Requires the Department of Revenue to print on its standard individual income tax form a provision by which the taxpayer may make a contribution (not less than $1) to the Illinois Supreme Court Democracy Trust Fund. Amends the Clerk of the Courts Act. Requires circuit court clerks to transfer $1 from each appearance fee paid to the State Treasurer for deposit into the Supreme Court Democracy Trust Fund and, to defray that expense, the county board may, by resolution, require the clerk of the circuit court in the county to charge and collect a Supreme Court Democracy Trust Fund fee of not more than $1, which shall be paid at the time that any appearance fee is paid. Effective immediately.