Rep. Keith R. Wheeler

Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Creates an exemption for qualified tangible personal property used in the construction or operation of a data center that has been granted a certificate of exemption by the Department of Revenue. Amends the Department of Revenue Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois to add provisions concerning those certificates of exemption. Effective immediately.

Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Blue Collar Jobs Act. Amends the Illinois Enterprise Zone Act. Creates a High Impact Business construction jobs credit and an Enterprise Zone construction jobs credit against the taxpayer's Illinois income taxes based on the incremental income tax attributable to laborers or workers employed at certain construction sites located in Enterprise Zones. Amends the Economic Development for a Growing Economy Tax Credit Act. Creates a New Construction EDGE Credit based on the incremental income tax attributable to laborers or workers employed at construction sites associated with EDGE projects. Amends the River Edge Redevelopment Zone Act. Creates a River Edge construction jobs credit based on the incremental income tax attributable to laborers or workers employed at certain construction sites in a River Edge Redevelopment Zone. Requires contractors and subcontractors associated with projects that receive credits under the amendatory Act to file certified payroll information with the Department of Labor and the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that the exemption for the use or sale of tangible personal property purchased from an Illinois retailer by a taxpayer engaged in centralized purchasing activities in Illinois who will temporarily store the property in Illinois (i) for the purpose of subsequently transporting it outside this State for use or consumption solely outside this State or (ii) for the purpose of being processed, fabricated, or manufactured into, attached to, or incorporated into other tangible personal property to be transported outside this State and used or consumed solely outside this State sunsets on June 30, 2022 (currently, June 30, 2016). Effective immediately.

Creates the Ethics in Public Contracting Act. Provides that whenever any State agency or chief procurement officer has taken an action to issue a suspension, debarment, or limit the ability of a business or person to enter into a public contract as otherwise provided by law, the public body or the chief procurement officer shall provide a report to the Executive Ethics Commission identifying specified items. Provides that whenever any unit of local government has taken an action to issue a suspension, debarment, or limit the ability of a business or person to enter into a public contract as otherwise provided by law, the unit of local government may provide a report to the Executive Ethics Commission identifying specified items. Provides that the Executive Ethics Commission, within 12 months after the effective date of the Act, shall establish and maintain a website, known as the Ethics in Public Contracting Portal, with information received from all State agencies and units of local government. Provides that a State agency or unit of local government may reciprocate another public body's suspension, debarment, or other limitation on the ability of a business or person to enter into a public contract. Provides that the Executive Ethics Commission shall adopt rules to carry out the intent of the Act, and to provide a review process for persons to petition for removal from the Ethics in Public Contracting Portal. Defines terms.

Creates the Blockchain Technology Act. Contains only a short title provision.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Creates the Pharmacy Benefits Managers Article. Provides that a pharmacy or pharmacist shall have the right to provide an insured information regarding the amount of the insured's cost share for a prescription drug and that neither a pharmacy nor a pharmacist shall be penalized by a pharmacy benefits manager for discussing certain information or for selling a lower-priced drug to the insured if one is available. Provides that a pharmacy benefits manager shall not, through contract, prohibit a pharmacy from offering and providing direct and limited delivery services to an insured as an ancillary service of the pharmacy, as delineated in the contract between the pharmacy benefits manager and the pharmacy. Provides that a pharmacy benefits manager shall not charge, or attempt to collect from, an insured a copayment that exceeds the total charges submitted by the network pharmacy.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that the penalty for theft in which the offense is committed against a not-for-profit organization that is exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is one class higher than the penalty for theft committed against other persons. Provides that if the penalty for theft otherwise provided for is a Class X felony, the penalty under this provision is the penalty for a Class X felony with a minimum term of imprisonment of 7 years. Effective immediately.

Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that a unit of local government may not seek damages in connection with a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction based upon a constitutional challenge to a tax. Provides that if a petition is filed in violation of the new provisions, the court shall award the respondent reasonable attorney's fees and costs incurred in connection with the petition. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit in an amount equal to 1% of the expenses claimed by the taxpayer as a federal income tax deduction pursuant to Section 179 of the Internal Revenue Code for the tax year. Provides that the taxpayer may sell, assign, or transfer the credit. Provides that the maximum aggregate amount of credits awarded for those purposes may not exceed $45,000,000 in any calendar year. Amends the Uniform Penalty and Interest Act to provide that, if the amount of the credit is reduced because the claims for credit exceed the maximum aggregate amount of the credit, then no underpayment penalty or interest shall accrue on the additional tax so long as the additional tax is paid within 60 days after the notice of reduction. Effective immediately.

Amends the Election Code. Prohibits a person from knowingly maintaining more than one registration to vote. Provides that a violation involving multiple registrations within the State is a Class A misdemeanor. Provides that a violation involving multiple registrations in this State and another state is a Class 4 felony. Provides an affirmative defense to the violation.