Rep. Paul D. Froehlich

Amends the Home Rule County Retailers' Occupation Tax Law and the Home Rule County Service Occupation Tax Law in the Counties Code. Provides that, if the tax exceeds 0.75% on the effective date of this amendatory Act, then 60 calendar days after that effective date, the rate reverts to 0.75% by operation of law. Requires referendum approval for a home rule county board to increase the tax rate above 0.75%. Specifies the referendum requirements. Preempts home rule powers. Effective immediately.

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act and the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the Department of Human Services shall establish payment rates providing equal pay by July 1, 2016 for direct care workers in all programs serving individuals with developmental disabilities, including but not limited to intermediate care facilities for the developmentally disabled, services provided under the Illinois Home and Community Based Services Medicaid Waivers for adults and children with developmental disabilities, and other programs for individuals with developmental disabilities supported by State funds or by funding under Title XIX of the Social Security Act. Provides that wage rates at specified percentages of the target shall be in effect in years before 2016.

Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act and the Lobbyist Registration Act. Requires that each person required to register under the Lobbyist Registration Act, and that person's employees, annually must complete ethics training provided by the Secretary of State. Permits the Secretary to adapt ethics training required for State employees.

Amends the Fire Sprinkler Dormitory Act. Provides that fire sprinkler systems are required in the dormitories of post-secondary educational institutions by 2016 (instead of 2013). Provides that any post-secondary educational institution that installs fire sprinkler systems prior to the establishment of a fire sprinkler dormitory revolving loan program and the adoption of program rules by both the Illinois Finance Authority and the Office of the State Fire Marshal shall use generally accepted national standards, such as those of the National Fire Protection Association, for such sprinkler systems. Provides that any program rules adopted by the Illinois Finance Authority or the Office of the State Fire Marshal shall use those same standards and may not require higher standards for work already performed. Effective immediately.

Creates the Illinois Reform Commission Implementation Act of 2009. Contains only a short title provision.

Amends the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Election Code, the General Assembly Compensation Act, and the Legislative Commission Reorganization Act of 1984. Changes the 2010 general primary election from the first Tuesday in February 2010 to the second Tuesday in September 2010 (September 14). Makes conforming changes with respect to (i) filing of declarations of judicial retention, (ii) filing of campaign finance reports, and (iii) printing and mailing of legislators' newsletters and brochures. Effective immediately.

Amends the Circuit Courts Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the court seal.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code, Labor and Storage Lien Act, Labor and Storage Lien (Small Amount) Act, and Sale of Unclaimed Property Act to provide a process of providing notice to motor vehicle owners and lienholders prior to auction sale or impoundment. Provides that a towing service or person seeking to foreclose on a lien must contact the Secretary of State and request that the Secretary search the vehicle registration records of the State of Illinois for information relating to the owner of the vehicle and lienholders of record. Provides that in event the Secretary of State does not find any record of the motor vehicle, the towing service or person seeking to foreclose on a lien must search a national vehicle record information service and search the vehicle for any evidence relating to an owner or lienholder. Provides that any owner or lienholder identified by the procedures in this Act must be given notice of the motor vehicle impoundment or auction sale. Provides that the failure to perform the procedures in this Act will render any subsequent sale voidable by a court of competent jurisdiction. Reorganizes a provision of the Illinois Vehicle Code relating to record searches by deleting and adding the same language in different locations. Effective immediately.

Amends the Veterinary Medicine and Surgery Practice Act of 2004. Provides that no person may practice veterinary medicine in the State except within the context of a veterinarian-client-patient relationship. Changes the definition of "veterinarian-client-patient relationship" to include a licensed veterinarian who has access to the animal patient's records and has been designated by the veterinarian with the prior relationship with the animal patient to provide reasonable and appropriate medical care if he or she is unavailable. Adds exemptions from the Act for certain specified persons. Requires a veterinarian to maintain patient records, which shall include certain specified information, for a minimum of 5 years from the date of the last known contact with an animal patient. Increases the maximum civil penalty allowed for a violation of the Act from $5,000 to $10,000. Makes several changes to the definition of "practice of veterinary medicine". Makes changes to the definitions of "accredited program in veterinary technology", "certified veterinary technician", and "complementary, alternative, and integrative therapies". Defines "immediate supervision", "licensed veterinarian", "veterinary premises", "veterinary prescription drugs", and "veterinary specialist". Replaces all references in the Act to "Director" with "Secretary". Makes other changes. Also makes technical changes. Amends the Regulatory Sunset Act. Extends the repeal date of the Veterinary Medicine and Surgery Practice Act of 2004 from January 1, 2014 to January 1, 2020. Effective immediately.