Rep. Keith R. Wheeler

Urges that the General Assembly adopt an FY 2018 revenue estimate that is inclusive of the figures provided by the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability and the Governor's Office of Management and Budget and outlines the funds that will be available during the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2017, for the purposes of meeting the constitutional obligation set forth in subsection (b) of Section 2 of Article VIII of the Illinois Constitution.

Amends the General Assembly Operations Act. Provides that on and after the effective date of this amendatory Act, the General Assembly shall, by joint resolution, establish a revenue estimate for the following State fiscal year by April 30th of each year. Effective immediately.

Amends the Firearm Concealed Carry Act. Provides that the regulation, licensing, possession, registration, and transportation of components and accessories for handguns by concealed carry licensees are exclusive powers and functions of the State. Provides that any ordinance or regulation, or portion thereof, enacted on or before the effective date of the bill that purports to impose regulations or restrictions on components and accessories for handguns in a manner inconsistent with the Act shall be invalid in its application to licensees under the Act on the effective date of the bill. Effective immediately.

Creates the Representative Special District Act. Provides that all members of a governing board of a special district with the authority to levy any tax or assessment must be elected and not appointed except due to death, disability, resignation, or other inability of a member to perform his or her duties. Provides for election procedures to elect members to replace appointed members. Further provides that an appointed member's term will terminate after his or her successor is elected and qualified. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that the research and development applies on a permanent basis. Provides that the credit may be carried forward for a period of 20 years (instead of 5 years). Makes changes concerning the calculation of the credit. Reinstates the training expense credit. Provides that the credit shall be 2.5% of such training expenses. Creates an apprenticeship income tax credit. Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that the manufacturing and assembling machinery and equipment exemption includes production related tangible personal property. Provides that the exemption for coal and aggregate exploration, mining, off-highway hauling, processing, maintenance, and reclamation equipment applies on a permanent basis. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Optometric Practice Act of 1987. Provides requirements for the rules that the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation shall adopt concerning educational requirements for advanced optometric procedures. Defines "surgery" and "advanced optometric procedures". Provides that an optometrist may not perform advanced optometric procedures on a patient under 18 years of age.

Creates the Ethics in Patent Litigation Act. Prohibits an attorney from receiving any compensation directly or indirectly for legal services related to litigation derived from a patent owned by the attorney, either individually or through an entity owned or controlled by the attorney. Provides, however, that an attorney may receive compensation for patent litigation derived from a patent owned by the attorney if the attorney or an entity owned or controlled by the attorney is actively engaged in producing a product or service for marketing and sale from the invention claimed by the patent.

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 Residential Real Property Disclosure Act. Provides that notwithstanding any other provision of a Section requiring a seller to deliver the disclosure statement to the buyer, upon signing and dating the disclosure report, the prospective buyer accepts and acknowledges that the prospective buyer has received the residential real property disclosure report form in its entirety, including the disclosure report and a copy of the Act.

Creates the Revenue Estimate Act. Provides that the General Assembly shall not enact any bill to appropriate funds within any fiscal year prior to its adoption of a joint resolution reflecting the estimate of funds available for that fiscal year as required under the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability Act. Effective immediately.