Rep. Thomas Morrison

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that in no case shall the resource limit standards of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program exceed the standards specified in a provision of the United States Code, unless expressly required by federal law. Provides that in no case shall categorical eligibility exempting households from these resource limits be granted for any non-cash, in-kind or other benefit, unless expressly required by federal law.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a defendant who has been found guilty of first degree murder and who at the time of the commission of the offense had attained the age of 18 years or more may be sentenced to natural life imprisonment if the murder was committed against a victim who was the parent of a child under 18 years of age at the time of the commission of the offense and the defendant is: (1) the spouse or former spouse of the victim; (2) a person who shares or formerly shared a common dwelling with the victim; or (3) a person who has or allegedly had a child in common with the victim.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Beginning in taxable year 2017, increases the maximum income limitation under the Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption from $55,000 to $75,000 for applicants who have occupied the residence for 5 years or more. Indexes the maximum income limitation to the Consumer Price Index. Effective immediately.

Amends the Firearm Concealed Carry Act. Eliminates provision that a licensee under the Act shall not knowingly carry a firearm on any real property under the control of the Cook County Forest Preserve District. Effective immediately.

Creates the Limitations on Actions for Negligent Hiring Act. Provides that a cause of action may not be brought against a party solely for hiring an employee or independent contractor who has been convicted of a nonviolent, non-sexual offense. Provides that in a negligent hiring action for the acts of an employee or independent contractor, the fact that the employee or independent contractor was convicted of a nonviolent, non-sexual offense before the beginning of the employee's or independent contractor's employment or contractual obligation may not be introduced into evidence. Provides that the new provisions do not preclude any existing cause of action for failure of an employer or other person to provide adequate supervision of an employee or independent contractor, except that the fact that the employee or independent contractor has been convicted of a nonviolent, non-sexual criminal offense may be introduced into evidence in the suit only if: (1) the employer knew of the conviction or was grossly negligent in not knowing of the conviction; and (2) the conviction was directly related to the nature of the employee's or independent contractor's work and the conduct that gave rise to the alleged injury that is the basis of the suit. Provides exceptions in certain situations.

Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Authorizes units of local government to provide alternative retirement plans in lieu of or in addition to the existing plan under the applicable Article. Provides that the alternative retirement plan may include a defined-benefit component, a defined contribution component, or both, and may include disability or survivor benefits and any other benefits that are permitted under federal law. Provides that the alternative retirement plan is not required to provide any minimum level of benefits and need not provide any benefits at all, other than mandatory Social Security coverage if applicable. Provides that service credit received under an alternative retirement plan may not be transferred to any other fund and may not be used under the Retirement Systems Reciprocal Act (Article 20 of the Code). Amends the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act and the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act. Provides that employers shall not be required to bargain over the changes made by the amendatory Act.

Amends the Protective Orders Article of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that any proceeding to obtain, modify, re-open, or appeal a protective order and service of pleadings and notices shall be governed by the rules of civil procedure. Provides that the standard of proof for a protective order proceeding is proof by a preponderance of the evidence. Provides that the Code of Civil Procedure and Supreme Court and local court rules applicable to civil proceedings shall apply, except as otherwise provided by law. Provides that civil law on venue, discovery, and penalties for untrue statements shall not apply to protective orders proceedings. Provides that criminal law on discovery, venue, and on penalties for untrue statements apply to protective order proceedings. Provides that a respondent may challenge the issuance of a protective order within 30 days or if the protective order was commenced in conjunction with a delinquency petition or a criminal prosecution then within 30 days after a plea of guilty or a finding of guilty is entered. Provides that the respondent shall provide notice to the petitioner and the court. Provides that by agreement of the parties, a protective order issued may be dismissed.

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.

Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Authorizes units of local government to provide alternative retirement plans in lieu of or in addition to the existing plan under the applicable Article. Provides that the alternative retirement plan may include a defined-benefit component, a defined contribution component, or both, and may include disability or survivor benefits and any other benefits that are permitted under federal law. Provides that the alternative retirement plan is not required to provide any minimum level of benefits and need not provide any benefits at all, other than mandatory Social Security coverage if applicable. Provides that service credit received under an alternative retirement plan may not be transferred to any other fund and may not be used under the Retirement Systems Reciprocal Act (Article 20 of the Code). Amends the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act and the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act. Provides that employers shall not be required to bargain over the changes made by the amendatory Act.

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.