Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code and the State Finance Act. Provides for the issuance of Choose Life license plates. Provides that, in addition to the appropriate registration fees, an applicant for the special plate shall be charged a fee of $25 at original issuance and $25 at renewal. Provides that $15 of the original issuance fee and $2 of the renewal fee shall be deposited into the Secretary of State Special License Plate Fund. Provides that $10 of the additional original issuance fee and $23 of the renewal fee shall be deposited into the Choose Life Fund, a new special fund in the State treasury. Provides that all money in the Choose Life Fund shall be distributed in accordance with a specified formula to all applying qualified non-governmental, not-for-profit agencies whose services include counseling and meeting the material needs of pregnant women who are planning to place their children for adoption and contains other provisions regarding the distribution of money from the Choose Life Fund.
Sponsored bills
Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning children with disabilities.
Amends the Ambulatory Surgical Treatment Center Act. Provides that notwithstanding any other statute, rule, or regulation to the contrary, beginning on January 1, 2015, an ambulatory surgical treatment center where abortions are performed, and any other facility where 50 or more abortions are performed in any calendar year, must comply with all of the statutes, rules, and regulations applicable to ambulatory surgical treatment centers generally. Provides that if any such ambulatory surgical treatment center commences any construction or major alteration on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act but before January 1, 2015, then the requirements prescribed by the amendatory Act shall apply.
Amends the School Code. Allows a school board to discontinue, by publicly adopted resolution, any instructional mandate in the Courses of Study Article of the School Code for which the school district does not receive a separate State appropriation through the State Board of Education or reimbursement by the State to extend the school day or year (with exceptions). Provides that if a student requests information on any instructional mandate that has been discontinued, then the school district shall provide the student with the requested information. Effective immediately.
Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that a copy of the notice of foreclosure of residential real estate shall be sent to the municipality or county in which the property is located by first class mail (instead of sent pursuant to the Code of Civil Procedure). Provides that the mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lien holder shall furnish the confirmation order to the last-known insurer of a residential building in writing by first-class mail after the mortgagee, judgment creditor, or lien holder becomes the mortgagee-in-possession. Provides that the failure to send or receive a copy of the order does not affect the rights of the mortgagee or purchaser or affect the foreclosure proceedings. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.
Creates the Plastic Bulk Merchandise Container Act. Provides that a person who is in the business of recycling, shredding, or destroying plastic bulk merchandise containers, before purchasing 5 or more plastic bulk merchandise containers from the same person, shall obtain a proof of ownership, create a record of the sale, and verify the identity of the seller. Provides that a person who is in the business of recycling, shredding, or destroying plastic bulk merchandise containers shall not pay for the containers in cash and shall record the method of payment used to purchase the containers. Requires the purchaser to keep a record of the sale for one year. Provides that a person who violates the Act is liable to this State for a civil penalty not to exceed $10,000 for each violation. Provides that the Attorney General may inspect records, investigate an alleged violation, and take action to collect civil penalties.
Amends the Election Code. Prohibits campaign contributions to the Cook County Assessor, a Cook County Board of Review Commissioner, or a declared candidate for either of those offices from a property owner with a tax assessment appeal currently or previously before the Assessor or the Board or from a person or entity representing the property owner in the appeal. Makes the prohibition effective from the initiation of the appeal through the longer of (i) 2 years after the assessment year in which the appeal was disposed of or (ii) the conclusion of the term of office of the Assessor or Commissioner during which the appeal was disposed of. Requires the Assessor and the Board to report to the State Board of Elections the names of property owners with pending appeals and their representatives. Requires payment to the State Board of Elections of contributions received in violation of the prohibition. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that a taxpayer who owns and operates a business in Illinois shall be allowed a credit against the tax imposed by subsections (a) and (b) of Section 201 in the amount of $3,750 per employee hired by the taxpayer and retained for 2 years. Provides that the credit may be allowed in the amount of $2,500 in the year the employee is hired and in the amount of $1,250 in the second year of employment. Provides that if the amount of the credit exceeds the taxpayer's liability for the taxable year, the excess may be carried forward and applied to the tax liability of the next 5 years. Effective immediately.
Urges the Governor to take immediate action to comprehensively lower the price of motor fuel in all geographic regions of Illinois on a time frame adequate to prevent Illinois falling into renewed recessionary conditions. Urges the Governor and the President to take immediate steps to reverse their current policies regarding the price of motor fuel and cooperate on new policies to increase motor fuel supplies in Illinois. Directs the Illinois Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability to conduct an objective, non-political examination of our policy of charging "ad valorem" Illinois sales taxes on motor fuel.
Shows support for the Illinois laws reserving the institution of marriage to one man and one woman. States the General Assembly's opposition to any efforts to extend the institution of marriage to 2 individuals of the same sex, whether by statute or by court decision. Urges the members of the General Assembly to adopt HJRCA 50, an amendment to the Illinois Constitution stating that "Only a marriage between a man and a woman shall be valid or recognized in Illinois".