Rep. Mike Fortner

Creates the Local Government Voting Rights Act. Provides that neither an at-large method of election nor a district-based method of election may be imposed or applied in a manner that impairs the ability of a protected group or class to elect candidates of its choice as a result of the dilution or the abridgment of the rights of voters who are members of a protected group or class. Sets forth procedures and evidentiary burdens for proving a violation of the Act. Sets forth certain remedies for violations of the Act and provisions concerning standing and notice. Allows the recovery of attorney's fees. Contains a severability provision.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that write-in votes shall be counted only for persons who have filed notarized declarations of intent to be write-in candidates with the proper election authority, authorities, or State Board of Elections no earlier than 120 days prior to the primary or general election, but no later than 70 (rather than 61) days prior to the primary or general election. Provides that declarations of intent to be a write-in candidate shall include specified information. Provides that declarations of intent to be a write-in candidate that do not include the specified information shall not be accepted. Provides that persons intending to become write-in candidates for the Offices of President and Vice President or Governor and Lieutenant Governor shall file one joint declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate with the State Board of Elections. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Township Code. Provides that the corporate authorities of a home rule municipality may, by resolution, provide that the municipality is organized as a coterminous city (currently, only a county board may organize territory into a coterminous city). Effective immediately.

Proposes to amend The Legislature Article of the Illinois Constitution. Limits a person's total service in the office of Speaker of the House of Representatives, President of the Senate, Minority Leader of the House, or Minority Leader of the Senate to a total of 8 years in any one office and 12 years combined in 2 or more offices. Effective upon being declared adopted and applies to service on or after the second Wednesday in January, 2019.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that a subdivider who has been assessed and paid impact fees on real estate in a municipality may not be assessed or charged real estate transfer taxes or fees on that same real estate. Limits home rule powers.

Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning definitions.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, whenever an election authority is required to publish or post information to the public, the election authority may satisfy that requirement by publishing via a newspaper or on its website. Amends the Counties Code. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, whenever a county clerk is required to publish or post election information to the public, the clerk may satisfy that requirement by publishing via a newspaper or on its website. Effective immediately.

Creates the Pension Buyout Act. Authorizes the Department of Central Management Services to enter into contracts with approved vendors to provide pension buyout payments to eligible persons in the State Universities and Downstate Teachers Articles. Requires the Illinois Finance Authority to issue bonds if the amount appropriated to implement the pension buyout option is less than the amount necessary for the Department to pay the approved vendor the amount required under a contract between the Department and the approved vendor for any fiscal year. Amends the State Universities and Downstate Teachers Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that an eligible person may relinquish his or her right to receive any benefits from the System in exchange for a lump sum payment made by an approved vendor that is equal to the present value of the retirement annuity. Contains provisions concerning the form of the contract; rulemaking; notice to the system; certification to the Department of the amount of lump sum payments made; and qualified plan status. Establishes optional defined contribution plans. Provides that a person who participates in the pension buyout option or the defined contribution plan shall be entitled to any benefits under the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971 that he or she would have otherwise been entitled to. Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, the Department of Central Management Services Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, the Illinois Procurement Code, and the Illinois Finance Authority Act to make related changes. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Drycleaner Environmental Response Trust Fund Act. Makes a technical change in the Section creating the Fund.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Authorizes a credit to individual taxpayers who are residents of Illinois for expenditures made by the taxpayer during the taxable year for qualified college tuition expenses paid for the taxpayer or a dependent of the taxpayer, as determined under the Act, for up to 4 years of college education for each eligible student attending an institution of higher education. Provides that the amount of the credit is equal to 25% of the qualified college tuition expenses, but not to exceed $2,500 per student per taxable year. Provides that, if a taxpayer claims a credit for a dependent, then that dependent may not claim a credit on the dependent's return for that taxable year. Defines "qualified college tuition expenses" as the tuition required for the enrollment or attendance of an eligible student at an institution of higher education who is eligible to receive grants from the Monetary Award Program, except that tuition payments made through scholarships or other financial aid are excluded and tuition payments for post-baccalaureate or other graduate degrees are excluded. Provides that the credit may not reduce the taxpayer's liability to less than zero and may not be carried back or carried forward. Exempts the credit from the Act's sunset provisions. Effective immediately.