Rep. Elaine Nekritz

Amends the Legislative Information System Act. Provides that within one-year after the effective date of this amendatory Act, the Legislative Information System shall create a Spanish-language version of its website to provide legislative information. Specifies the legislative information to be placed on the Spanish-language website, and allows for the placement of additional unspecified information. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax checkoff for the Thriving Youth Income Tax Checkoff Fund. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Fund. Provides that moneys in the Fund shall be used by the Department of Human Services for the purpose of making grants to providers delivering non-Medicaid services for community-based youth programs in the State. Effective immediately.

Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Local Government Reduction and Efficiency Division of the Counties Code. Provides that the Division applies to all counties (currently, only applies to DuPage, Lake, and McHenry Counties). Excludes specified boards from the definition of "unit of local government". Provides how the status and rights of employees, including those represented by an exclusive bargaining representatives, are affected by the dissolution of a unit of local government under the Division. Provides for the assumption of obligations of the dissolving unit of local government by the entity absorbing the dissolving unit as they relate to representation rights and collective bargaining agreements. Amends the Township Code. Removes a restriction limiting townships to 126 square miles. Provides for the consolidation of 2 or more townships which share a boundary, the merging of one township into 2 other townships, and the dissolution of all townships (currently, only allowed in specified townships) within a coterminous, or substantially coterminous, municipality. Makes other changes. Amends the Election Code. Specifies procedures for township consolidation, merger, and discontinuance referenda. Amends the Illinois Drainage Code. Provides that specified counties may, by resolution, dissolve drainage districts wholly within their borders and drainage districts only partially within its borders under specified circumstances. Amends the Illinois Highway Code. Provides that specified township road districts may be abolished by public referendum. Effective on January 1, 2018, but this Act does not take effect at all unless Senate Bills 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 of the 100th General Assembly become law.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to make application to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services by July 1, 2017 for a State plan amendment to implement the Community First Choice Option pursuant to the Social Security Act. Requires the Department, beginning on July 1, 2017, but no later than July 1, 2018, to submit applications to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for all Medicaid funding options available for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including a research and demonstration waiver application pursuant to the Social Security Act. Effective immediately.

Declares the week of April 8-14, 2018 as Healthy Pet Week in the State of Illinois.

Congratulates the Hellenic Bar Association's newly elected officers and board of director.

Mourns the death of Darlene Ahlstedt of Prospect Heights.

Congratulates Miriam "Mimi" Cooper on her retirement from the Board of Education of Township High School District 214, and recognizes her dedication as the longest-serving Board member in the District's history.

Declares March 15, 2017 as "Adult Down Syndrome Awareness Day" in the State of Illinois.