Rep. Jaime Andrade

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that no person shall discharge oil or hazardous substances from a pipeline into, upon, or so as to threaten waters of the State. Provides that any person who is the owner or operator of any facility, vessel, or pipeline from which oil or a hazardous substance is discharged in violation a specified provision of the Act, shall be subject to a civil penalty in an amount up to $25,000 per day of violation or an amount up to $1,000 per barrel (42 gallons) of oil or unit of reportable quantity of hazardous substances discharged. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that in any municipality having a population in excess of 1,000,000 that has more than one inspector general, a public officer may choose to be subject to any of the inspectors general in that municipality by signing and having notarized an affidavit stating that the public officer wishes to be subject to the authority of an inspector general that does not presently have jurisdiction over that public officer. Further provides that the public officer will be subject to the inspector general, as well as the rules and ordinances relating to that inspector general, indicated in the affidavit upon the filing of the affidavit with the county clerk. Limits home rule powers.

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that the State Treasurer shall offer a no-interest loan to each student awarded a grant by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission under the Monetary Award Program who has not received the award under the Program due to a lack of appropriations. Provides that the loan shall be equal in size to the award offered by the Commission. Requires the loan to be repaid within 60 days of the student receiving the grant money from the Commission. Repeals the provisions one year after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Video Gaming Act. Provides that a public officer or public employee may not, with the intent to obtain any money, fee, commission, credit, gift, gratuity, thing of value, or compensation for the award of the contract or operation of the video gaming, solicit, intimidate, or coerce the owner or agent of the owner of a licensed establishment, licensed veterans establishment, licensed truck stop establishment, or licensed fraternal establishment to enter into any contract with another person for the operation of a video gaming terminal under the Act. Provides that a violation is a Class 3 felony. Provides that it is not a defense to a violation of this provision that the public officer or public employee did not receive any monetary consideration or other thing of value from the operator or proposed operator of the video gaming terminal or from the owner or agent of the owner of the licensed establishment, licensed veterans establishment, licensed truck stop establishment, or licensed fraternal establishment for the solicitation, intimidation, or coercion of the owner or agent of the licensed establishment, licensed veterans establishment, licensed truck stop establishment, or licensed fraternal establishment. Provides that any contract entered into in violation of this provision is null and void. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that insurers that issue individual and group accident and health policies that provides coverage for prescription drugs shall ensure that any required copayment or coinsurance applicable to drugs and rated as platinum, gold, or silver under federal regulations does not exceed $100 per month for up to a 30-day supply of any single drug, and $200 for plans rated as bronze level under federal regulations, and a beneficiary's annual out-of-pocket expenditures for prescription drugs are limited to no more than fifty percent of the dollar amounts in effect under specified provisions of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Provides that policies that provide coverage for prescription drugs and use a tiered formulary shall implement an exceptions process that allows enrollees to request an exception to the tiered cost-sharing structure. Effective January 1, 2016.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates a deduction for individual taxpayers who: (1) had health insurance coverage through a nonprofit cooperative established under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; (2) lost that coverage because the nonprofit cooperative has ceased doing business in the State; and (3) after the taxpayer's last day of coverage under the nonprofit cooperative plan but prior to January 1, 2017, are covered under a health insurance plan that does not allow the taxpayer to apply expenses incurred while the taxpayer was covered under the nonprofit cooperative plan to the deductible under the new plan. Provides that the deduction is in an amount equal to the difference between the medical expenses actually incurred by the taxpayer during the taxable year and the taxpayer's deductible under the nonprofit cooperative plan. Provides that the deduction applies for taxable years ending on or after January 1, 2016 and ending on or before December 31, 2016. Effective immediately.

Amends the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Provides that the Director of Labor shall adopt rules necessary to implement the Act, including, but not limited to, rules dealing with the inspection of an employer's establishment. Authorizes the Director to require the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of evidence under oath during inspections and investigations. Effective immediately.

Amends the Park District Code. Requires volunteers to complete an application prior to beginning work as a volunteer including disclosing whether they have been convicted of or found to be a perpetrator of a sex offense. Provides that if a current volunteer is convicted of or found to be the perpetrator of a sex offense, the volunteer shall immediately disclose the conviction or finding to the park district and resign. Provides for penalties for a volunteer who fails to disclose his or her sex offender status. Defines "volunteer" to mean any individual who without compensation or benefits reports to, and is under the direct supervision of, a park district's administrative staff and provides personal services to a park district recreational program that is offered to children. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title of the Act.

Amends the Property Tax Code. In a Section concerning the Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption, provides that in all counties (now, in counties with less than 3,000,000 inhabitants), the county board may by resolution provide that if a person has been granted a senior citizens homestead exemption, the person qualifying need not reapply for the exemption. Provides that the county recorder of deeds shall alert the assessor whenever the transfer of ownership of any property receiving a Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption has occurred. Provides that, if such a transfer occurs, the assessor shall remove the exemption and provide the new property owner with information concerning reapplication. Effective immediately.