Amends the Election Code. Provides that each complaint about specified violations of the Act shall be accompanied by a $50 filing fee. Provides that if the filing fee is not tendered at the time the complainant presents the complaint, the complaint shall not be accepted. Provides that if the complaint is received between 31 and 15 days before an election about which the complaint is filed, then the State Board of Elections shall, at a minimum, hold the closed preliminary hearing and make the determination of whether the complaint was filed upon justifiable grounds, prior to the election. Provides that the complaint must be personally served on the respondent by the complainant and proof of service must be included with the complaint filed with the Board. Provides that complaints involving any conduct that relates to an upcoming election shall not be accepted 14 or fewer business days before that election. Provides that, in other cases, the Board shall render its final judgment within 60 days of the date the complaint is filed. Effective immediately.
Sponsored bills
Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Allows participants in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) to elect to participate in a self-managed program of retirement benefits instead of the program of traditional or reformed retirement benefits currently offered. Provides that the self-managed plan shall authorize a participant to accumulate assets for retirement through a combination of employer and employee contributions that may be invested at the participant's direction in mutual funds, collective investment funds, or other investment products and used to purchase annuity contracts. Requires the Fund to make the self-managed plan available within 6 months after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Makes conforming changes in the Retirement Systems Reciprocal Act. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.
Amends the Election Code. Provides that an employer may not require an employee to use earned vacation time or any form of paid leave time to serve as an election judge. Effective immediately.
Amends the Election Code. With respect to nomination petitions for independent candidates to appear on the general election ballot, (i) makes the minimum signature requirement the same as that for an established party candidate seeking the same office (now, a higher minimum), (ii) permits circulation not more than 75 (now, 90) days before the filing deadline, and (iii) makes the filing deadline 75 days after the general primary (now, between 141 and 134 days before the general election). Effective immediately.
Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that no construction shall commence on any new commercial scale nuclear power plants (rather than new nuclear power plants) that are to be located in the State, and no certificate of public convenience and necessity or other authorization shall be issued therefor by the Commission unless the Director of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency finds that the United States Government, through its authorized agency, has identified and approved a demonstrable technology or means for the disposal of high level nuclear waste, or until such construction has been specifically approved by a statute enacted by the General Assembly. Provides that the Illinois Commerce Commission may issue a certificate of public convenience and necessity and provide any other authorizations necessary to allow operating nuclear power plants to install pilot-scale projects and technologies designed to reduce waste and increase safety and having an output not exceeding 160 megawatts. Effective immediately.
Amends the Election Code. Requires each election authority to transmit to the principal office of the State Board of Elections maps in electronic portable document format (.PDF) showing the current boundaries of all the precincts within its jurisdiction. Further requires the county board or board of election commissioners to prepare maps in electronic portable document format (.PDF) showing election precinct boundaries that has been redivided or readjusted no later than 45 days before the next scheduled election. Sets forth requirements for forwarding these copies.
Amends the Budget Stabilization Act. Makes changes concerning transfers from the General Revenue Fund to the Pension Stabilization Fund. Amends the State Universities and Downstate Teachers Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. Requires the Teachers' Retirement System to establish and maintain a self-managed plan. Authorizes participants to irrevocably elect to participate in such a plan. Provides that, for the purpose of calculating traditional benefit package benefits and contributions, the annual salary of a participant may not, except under certain circumstances, exceed certain limits. Requires participation in the self-managed plan to the extent that a participant's salary exceeds the salary cap. Revises the schedule of contributions for participants. Shifts a portion of the employer contributions for downstate teachers and university employees from the State to the actual employer. Authorizes the boards of trustees of each of these retirement systems to triennially recalculate the normal cost of benefit plans that they offer. Defines "traditional benefit package" and "self-managed plan". Changes the formula for calculating the minimum required State contribution to these systems. Provides that the State is contractually obligated to pay the annual required State contribution to these retirement systems. Contains provisions requiring these retirement systems to bring a mandamus action to compel payment of the required State contribution. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.
Amends the Open Meetings Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
Amends the Election Code. Requires each election authority to transmit to the principal office of the State Board of Elections maps in electronic portable document format (.PDF) showing the current boundaries of all the precincts within its jurisdiction. Further requires the county board or board of election commissioners to prepare maps in electronic portable document format (.PDF) showing election precinct boundaries that has been redivided or readjusted no later than 45 days before the next scheduled election. Sets forth requirements for forwarding these copies.
Amends the School Code. Provides that as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma, each pupil entering the 9th grade in the 2014-2015 school year or a subsequent school year must successfully complete (i) 4 (instead of 3) years of mathematics, which may include math-intensive courses outside of traditional mathematics courses (instead of one of which must be Algebra I and one of which must include geometry content), and (ii) 3 (instead of 2) years of science, one of which must be a laboratory science. Provides that, when applicable, math-intensive courses may be counted towards the fulfillment of other graduation requirements.