Rep. Keith Farnham

Amends the General Assembly Compensation Act. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2013, the base allowance for House members is $62,460 and Senate members is $74,700. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2013, members of the General Assembly are prohibited from receiving and shall not receive any annual percentage increase in their office allowances based on a cost of living adjustment or a fixed amount. Effective immediately.

Amends the Safe Homes Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Proclaims March 30, 2013 and March 30, 2014 as "Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day" in the State of Illinois.

Amends the Gasoline Storage Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning volatile combustibles.

Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Provides that grantees and employees of grantees shall not intentionally use grant funds, or goods or services purchased with grant funds, to engage, either directly or indirectly, in a prohibited political activity. Provides that grantees and employees of grantees shall not be compensated from grant funds for time spent engaging in a prohibited political activity. Specifies that a person who violates these provisions is guilty of a business offense and is subject to a fine of up to $5,000.

Creates the Freedom from Drone Surveillance Act. Provides that a law enforcement agency may not use a drone to gather information. Permits the use of a drone by a law enforcement agency: (1) to counter a high risk of a terrorist attack by a specific individual or organization if the United States Secretary of Homeland Security determines that credible intelligence indicates that there is that risk; (2) if a law enforcement agency first obtains a search warrant signed by a judge authorizing the use of a drone; or (3) if a law enforcement agency possesses reasonable suspicion that, under particular circumstances, swift action is needed to prevent imminent harm to life or serious damage to property, or to forestall the imminent escape of a suspect or the destruction of evidence. Provides that a law enforcement agency may not own or use a drone that is equipped with any kind of lethal or non-lethal weapon. Provides that information obtained or collected in violation of the Act is not admissible as evidence in any criminal, civil, administrative, or other proceeding. Establishes certain information retention and reporting requirements concerning drone ownership and use.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Amends the offense for driving on a suspended or revoked license so that graduated penalties for repeat violations of this Section require the prior convictions of driving on a suspended or revoked driver's license to have the same underlying cause of suspension or revocation of the driver's license as the current violation.

Amends the Military Property Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning conveyance of property for military purposes.

Amends the Administration Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Establishes civil penalties ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 for any person (including a vendor, organization, agency, or other entity, but excluding a recipient) who: knowingly presents or causes to be presented a fraudulent claim for payment under the State's medical assistance program; knowingly gives or causes to be given to any person, with respect to coverage for inpatient hospital services under the medical assistance program, information that he or she knows or should know is false or misleading; arranges or contracts (by employment or otherwise) with an individual or entity that the person knows or should know is excluded from participation in a federal or state health care program, including, but not limited to, the medical assistance program, for the provision of items or services for which payment may be made under such a program; or commits other specified fraudulent acts. Provides that the Director of Healthcare and Family Services may make a determination to terminate, suspend, bar, or exclude the person from participation in the medical assistance program, but not before granting the affected individual, entity, or vendor an opportunity for a hearing after reasonable notice. Provides that a final order, decision, or other determination made by the Director is subject to review in accordance with the Administrative Review Law. Removes language allowing the Department to recover interest on the amount of an overpayment. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Electronic Fund Transfer Act. Provides that a person who sells or issues general use reloadable cards shall disclose, prior to sale or issuance of the card, any fees imposed by the issuer. Provides certain requirements for the disclosures. Makes other changes. Effective January 1, 2014.