Rep. Jeanne M Ives

Amends the Special Service Area Tax Law in the Property Tax Code. Provides that a list of the names and addresses of the individuals and entities receiving a mailed notice of the public hearing concerning the establishment of a special service area shall be published at the time notice is given and shall be available at the public hearing. Provides that no special service area may be created or enlarged; no special service area tax may be levied, imposed, or increased; and no bonds may be issued in connection with a special service area, unless an authorization petition is filed with the municipal clerk or county clerk. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act and the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act. Provides that, once an agreement is reached between a public or educational employer and its employees regarding all of the terms of a collective bargaining agreement, the agreement shall be reduced to writing and published on the website of the public or educational employer. Requires the public or educational employer, not less than 14 days after publishing such an agreement, to hold an open public meeting on the ratification of that agreement. Provides that any contract between a public employer and an employee where the total compensation exceeds $150,000 shall be published on the employer's website for a period of not less than 14 days prior to being signed by both the employer and the employee. Requires the public employer to hold an open public meeting on the contract in addition to posting it for 14 days if that contract is subject to board approval. Makes conforming changes in the Open Meetings Act and the Freedom of Information Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Increases the maximum amount of the education expense credit to $1,500 (currently, $500). Adds athletic fees, driver's education fees, and fees and costs associated with certain out-of-school activities to the list of qualified education expenses.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the definition of "33 1/3%".

Amends the Downstate Teachers Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Prohibits an employer from making employee contributions on behalf of an employee, except for the sole purpose of allowing an employee to make pre-tax contributions. Provides that employment contracts or collective bargaining agreements in effect on the effective date of the amendatory Act are not subject to the prohibition, but any such contract or collective bargaining agreement that is subsequently modified, amended, or renewed or that is in effect 3 or more years after the effective date of the amendatory Act shall be subject to the prohibition. Effective immediately.

Pledges our eagerness to work tirelessly here in Springfield during the third full week of May 2015 to complete the work of the people of Illinois prior to Memorial Day. Urges the Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives to recess the House for the duration of Memorial Day, May 25, 2015, and not to call us back into session until the completion of this day of American remembrance.

Amends the Open Meetings Act. Requires a unit of local government or school district with an operating budget of $1 million or more to maintain an Internet website and post to that website, for the current calendar or fiscal year, the following information: (1) information about elected and appointed officials; (2) notice of and materials prepared for meetings; (3) procedures for requesting information from the unit of local government or school district; (4) annual budget; (5) ordinances; (6) procedures to apply for building permits and zoning variances; (7) financial reports and audits; (8) information concerning employee compensation; (9) contracts with lobbying firms; (10) taxes and fees imposed by the unit of local government or school district; (11) rules governing the award of contracts; (12) bids and contracts worth $25,000 or more; (13) a debt disclosure report; and (14) public notices. Provides that any citizen who is a resident of the unit of local government or school district may bring a mandamus or injunction action to compel the unit of local government or school district to comply with the Internet posting requirements. Limits home rule powers. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Provides for a statutory exemption for any electronic copy of a record or information maintained on specified websites. Amends the Department of Central Management Services Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois to make conforming changes. Amends the Notice By Publication Act. Provides that whenever an officer of a court, unit of local government, or school district is required to provide notice by publication in a newspaper, publishing website address to the document will be sufficient. Effective immediately.

Amends the Public Community College Act. With respect to the election of members of a board of trustees of a community college district, requires a nominating petition to be filed with the county clerk or the county board of election commissioners, as the case may be, of the county in which the principal office of the community college district is located (instead of with the secretary of the board of trustees). Makes related changes. Effective immediately.

Creates the College Safety Act. Provides that if an institution of higher education receives an allegation of sexual violence, along with written consent to proceed from the alleged victim, the institution shall immediately report and refer the allegation to the law enforcement agency of the unit of local government with jurisdiction to respond to such allegations in the location of the institution, but not later than 48 hours after receiving written consent from the alleged victim, unless the alleged victim provides a written notification to the institution that the individual does not want the allegation to be investigated by a law enforcement agency, in which case the institution may not initiate or otherwise carry out any institutional disciplinary proceeding with respect to the allegation if the individual includes in the notification a statement that the individual understands the effects of providing the notification. Sets forth provisions concerning restrictions on institutional disciplinary proceedings during the period of the law enforcement investigation, an institution's imposition of interim sanctions, a safe harbor for students who report an allegation, and civil remedies.

Amends the Election Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.