Rep. David McSweeney

Amends the Counties Code. Provides that a county board may, by ordinance, declare that it will control county recorder fees. Provides that upon the adoption of such an ordinance, the county board may reduce any fee charged by the county recorder of deeds to a figure selected by the county board and transfer all or part of a county recorder of deed's budget surplus to the county general fund. Provides that county board actions under these provisions have precedence over other formulas or fee schedules used to calculate county recorder fees and any other use of a county recorder of deed's budget surplus. Effective immediately.

Declares opposition to raising the sales taxes on food and drugs.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that public funds shall not be expended by a municipality for expenses connected with a convention or gathering of municipal personnel. Provides that a State agency may not expend public funds for expenses connected with the renting or procurement of booths, hospitality suites, or other physical spaces at a convention or gathering of municipal personnel. Provides that a "convention or gathering of municipal personnel" means a gathering of employees or contractors from 2 or more separately domiciled or geographically separated municipalities in a gathering that is sponsored or co-sponsored by a league or association that includes 2 or more municipalities. Provides that the restrictions do not apply to public funds expended at a convention or gathering of public safety personnel, at a convention or gathering relating to economic development and tourism promotion, pursuant to a contract entered into before the effective date of the amendatory Act, or funds appropriated and expended by a municipality if specified procedures are followed. Effective immediately.

Amends the Local Government Debt Reform Act. Provides that no alternate bonds shall be issued if the issuance of such bonds would create or continue the accumulation of stacked alternate-bonded debt. Provides that provisions concerning stacked alternate-bonded debt do not apply to any transactions or agreements concerning debt that may be in place before the effective date of this amendatory Act. Defines "stacked alternate-bonded debt". Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that after January 1, 2018 no non-home rule unit within the counties of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, Madison, McHenry, St. Clair, and Will may enact or continue to enforce an ordinance for an automated traffic law enforcement system to enforce violations of intersection traffic control signals. Provides that an automated traffic law enforcement system is a system, in a municipality or county, not including a non-home rule unit within the designated counties on or after January 1, 2018, operated by a governmental agency, that produces a recorded image of a motor vehicle's violation of a provision of the Code or a local ordinance and is designed to obtain a clear recorded image of the vehicle and the vehicle's license plate. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement from the State.

Urges the Cook County Board to investigate Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle's six month delay in firing her chief of staff for inappropriate behavior.

Amends the School Code with respect to school districts other than the Chicago school district. Prohibits any post-retirement educator bonus not required by a valid contract entered into before the effective date of the amendatory Act, and prohibits a school district from entering into a contract on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act that provides for a post-retirement educator bonus or bonuses. Defines "post-retirement educator bonus" as any payment made by a school district to an educator licensed under the School Code who has commenced his or her retirement and is collecting a retirement annuity from the Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois, other than compensation for current employment with the school district. Requires each school district to annually report to all residents of the school district the status of all contracts requiring the payment of a post-retirement educator bonus and all post-retirement educator bonuses paid during the previous school year. Sets forth what the report must contain. Effective immediately.

Creates the Open Illinois Checkbook Act. Requires the Comptroller to establish and maintain a publicly accessible database to be known as the "Open Illinois Checkbook" for the purpose of showing all of the expenditures made from any State fund. Provides further requirements for the establishment, use, and operation of the Open Illinois Checkbook. Defines terms. Effective immediately.

Amends the General Assembly Compensation Act. Reduces the district office allowance of members of the General Assembly by 10%. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Repeals Section providing authority to use automated traffic law enforcement systems at intersections in which cameras are used to photograph or video record a motor vehicle's failure to stop and yield as required by traffic control signals. Denies home rule powers. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement from the State. Makes conforming and other technical changes.