Rep. Thomas Morrison

Congratulates Lisa Guinan on her long service to the Illinois General Assembly.

Amends the Illinois Endangered Species Protection Act. Provides that a permit for incidental taking under the Act shall not be required if a federal conservation agreement, including, but not limited to, a candidate conservation agreement, habitat conservation plan, or safe harbor agreement that includes conservation practices conducted in the State in effect and approved by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service under the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973. Provides that incidental taking of species that are listed as endangered or threatened by the State only and not listed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service shall follow the provisions under the Act. Provides that of the remaining appointed members, one member shall be a landowner representing the State's largest general farm organization. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 520 ILCS 10/5.5 520 ILCS 10/6 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Illinois Endangered Species Protection Act. Provides that a permit for incidental taking under the Act shall not be required: (1) on land that is subject to and for activities that are implemented in compliance with a federal Candidate Conservation Agreement or Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances approved by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service under the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973; or (2) for covered conservation practices conducted in this State within a federal program authorized under a Conference Report under the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973 on land subject to that program. Provides that upon an automatic listing of a federally-listed species, the Endangered Species Protection Board shall immediately publish a notice for a public hearing and conduct a hearing within 14 days of the automatic listing. Provides that the listing, delisting, or change of listing status for any non-federally listed species shall be made only after a public hearing. Effective immediately.

Proposes to amend the General Provisions Article of the Illinois Constitution. Repeals a provision that specifies that membership in any pension or retirement system of the State, any unit of local government or school district, or any agency or instrumentality thereof shall be an enforceable contractual relationship, the benefits of which shall not be diminished or impaired. Effective upon being declared adopted.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that the Illinois Commerce Commission shall determine that proposed construction will promote the public convenience and necessity only if the utility demonstrates, among other requirements, that for construction serving a discrete area, existing customers will not be required to subsidize the cost of new facilities in excess of any refundable or nonrefundable payments by customers to be served by the new facilities. Provides that if any gas public utility connects an applicant or applicants to its gas distribution system, any costs associated with investments in plant addition in excess of any refundable payment or nonrefundable payment shall be excluded from any cost-recovery mechanism that allocates the excess cost among existing customers. Provides that no later than 60 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act, the Commission shall initiate a docketed investigation reviewing each gas public utility tariff that provides for gas main extensions without additional charge to new customers in excess of the default extensions without charge, and provides for other requirements pertaining to the investigation process. Provides that no later than 60 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act, the Commission shall initiate a rulemaking proceeding providing for rules establishing a uniform method by which natural gas public utilities determine the value of any gas main extensions provided to new customers without additional charge.

Creates the Taxpayer's Fiscal Charter Act. Provides for a discretionary spending freeze for fiscal years 2020 and 2021. Sets forth requirements to increase discretionary spending beginning in fiscal year 2022. Requires any new spending proposed by the General Assembly in addition to existing obligations shall be accompanied by a proposed source of revenue to pay for the proposed spending or specified cuts necessary to offset the proposed spending. Prohibits unfunded mandates. Requires the publishing of certain information before voting on or enacting an appropriations bill. Effective immediately.

Creates the Ultrasound Opportunity Act. Sets forth legislative findings and definitions. Provides that at any facility where abortions are performed, the physician who is to perform the abortion, the referring physician, or another qualified person working in conjunction with either physician shall offer any woman seeking an abortion after 8 weeks of gestation an opportunity to receive and view an active ultrasound of her unborn child by someone qualified to perform ultrasounds at the facility, or at a facility listed in a listing of local ultrasound providers provided by the facility, prior to the woman having any part of an abortion performed or induced and prior to the administration of any anesthesia or medication in preparation for the abortion. Provides that the requirements of the Act shall not apply when, in the medical judgment of the physician performing or inducing the abortion, there exists a medical emergency. Contains a severability provision. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the registration period and fee for electric vehicles shall be the same as the registration period and fee for non-electric motor vehicles. Deletes language limiting the registration fee for electric vehicles to $18 per registration year.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that a public utility shall demonstrate to the Illinois Commerce Commission that existing customers will not subsidize the cost of new facilities beyond what is provided for in rules and in excess of certain payments by customers for the Commission to approve new construction. Provides that the Commission's order concerning new construction shall explicitly address the economic impact on customers. Requires the Commission to annually report to the General Assembly a gas utility's projects related to a qualifying infrastructure plant, the projected timeline for the replacement of the cast iron and bare and vintage steel in the utility's system, and whether that timeline is adequate to address public safety concerns and reliability. Provides that when a gas public utility connects an applicant to its gas distribution system, certain costs associated with investments in plant additions shall be excluded from a cost-recovery mechanism that allocates the excess cost among existing customers. Requires the Commission to investigate each gas public utility tariff that provides for gas main extensions without additional charge to new customers. Requires the Commission to initiate a rulemaking proceeding providing for rules to establish a uniform method by which a natural gas public utility determines the value of a gas main extension provided to new customers without additional charge.

Creates the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act. Provides that neither the State nor any of its subdivisions may authorize the use of, appropriate, or expend funds to pay for an abortion or to cover any part of the costs of a health plan that includes coverage of abortion or to provide or refer for an abortion, unless a woman who suffers from a physical disorder, physical injury, or physical illness that would, as certified by a physician, place the woman in danger of death if an abortion is not performed. Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971 and the Illinois Public Aid Code. Excludes from the programs of health benefits and services authorized under those Acts coverage for elective abortions as provided in the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act. Prohibits a physician who has been found guilty of performing an abortion procedure in a willful and wanton manner upon a woman who was not pregnant when the abortion procedure was performed from participating in the State's Medical Assistance Program. Provides that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall require a written statement, including the required opinion of a physician, to accompany a claim for reimbursement for abortions or induced miscarriages or premature births. Makes other changes. Amends the Problem Pregnancy Health Services and Care Act. Permits the Department of Human Services to make grants to nonprofit agencies and organizations that do not use those grants to refer or counsel for, or perform, abortions. Contains provisions regarding applicability and preempts home rule. Effective June 1, 2019.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that a period of probation, a term of periodic imprisonment, or conditional discharge may not be imposed if the defendant is convicted of a Class 3 felony or higher violation of an offense involving the corruption of a public official when the offense consists of theft, fraud, extortion or a violation of the Official Misconduct or Public Contracts Article of the Criminal Code of 2012 and either: (1) the defendant was an elected official at the time of the offense, or (2) the offense involved more than $10,000 in money or property, based on either the value of any payments or the value of the item that was the object of the offense. Provides that this provision does not apply if the prosecutor certifies to the court at the time of sentencing that the defendant has provided substantial assistance in the case or another prosecution of substantial public importance.