Rep. Karen May

Amends the Military Leave of Absence Act. Requires that a full-time employee of the State, a unit of local government, or a school district who is a member of a reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces or the Illinois State Militia must be given a leave of absence for any training or duty required by the U.S. Armed Forces not otherwise covered by the Act. If the employee's military pay for that training or duty is less than his or her compensation from the public employer, requires that during the leave the employee receive his or her public employment compensation, minus the amount of the military pay.

Amends the Cigarette Tax Act and the Cigarette Use Tax Act. Provides that an additional tax of 50 mills per cigarette shall be imposed on retailers of cigarettes. Provides that, of the proceeds of the tax, 0.57% shall be deposited into the Tax Compliance and Administration Fund and 99.43% shall be deposited into the Healthcare Provider Relief Fund. Changes the definition of "cigarette" to exclude those with wrappers made of "whole tobacco leaf" (instead of "tobacco"). Amends the State Finance Act to create the Healthcare Provider Relief Fund. Provides that moneys in the Fund may be used by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services for the purpose of making reimbursements to providers who participate in certain medical assistance programs. Effective immediately.

Amends the Drug Paraphernalia Control Act. Provides that "drug paraphernalia" includes individual tobacco wrappers, known as blunt wraps, whether in the form of a single tobacco leaf, sheet or tube, that typically consists of reconstituted tobacco leaf or flavored tobacco leaf; Provides that "blunt wrap" does not include a tobacco leaf wrap that is used in the manufacturing of a cigar with a pre-tax retail price of $3 or more. Effective immediately.

Creates the Emerging Technology Industries Act. Requires the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to establish and maintain a program to award grants to emerging-technology enterprises in the State. Sets forth eligibility requirements and funding priorities for awarding the grants, and sets forth procedures for awarding the grants. Requires written contracts in which the emerging-technology enterprise guarantees that it will perform the actions expected to be performed. Sets dollar limits on matching funds for federal Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) grants and total grant matching funds per year. Limits total credits to $15,000,000 in any one State fiscal year. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Emerging Technology Grant Fund. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit for qualified investors who make an investment in an emerging technology enterprise in the State. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity must certify the amount of the credit and sets forth the procedures for the application and certification of the credit. Sets forth provisions for the revocation and recapture of the tax credit. Contains other provisions. Effective immediately.

Creates the Taxpayer Transparency Act. Provides that a bill making an appropriation may not be considered for final passage by either the House of Representatives or the Senate unless a copy of that bill, in its final form, has been made conveniently available on the General Assembly's Internet website for at least 4 days before the bill is considered for final passage by that chamber and provides that a motion adopted by a record vote of at least three-fifths of the members elected, the House of Representatives or the Senate may provide that this restriction does not apply to that chamber with respect to any one or more bills specified in the motion by bill number. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971. Provides that small businesses may be provided group health coverage under the Act. Limits small businesses to those with 50 or fewer employees. Specifically allows for payment for coverage by the employees. Provides that employees that have other coverage do not have to enroll in the coverage. Authorizes the use of State funds, pursuant to appropriation, in operating the plan. Provides for the utilization of insurance producers in the marketing of the plans. Makes other changes concerning domestic violence shelters and services. Amends the State Finance Act to provide for payments made on behalf of the small business employees to be deposited into the Small Employers Health Insurance Reserve Fund.

Amends the Illinois Pension Code. In provisions concerning permitted investments for pension funds with net assets of $5,000,000 or more, (i) increases the amount of net assets that the pension fund must have for the provisions to apply from $5,000,000 or more to $10,000,000 or more, (ii) removes provisions requiring that securities are of a corporation created or existing under the laws of the United States or any state, district, or territory thereof and that the issuer of the stocks has been subject to the requirements of Section 12 of the federal Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and has been current with the filing requirements of specified Sections of that Act during the preceding 3 years, and (iii) increases the maximum percentage of the market value of the pension fund's net present assets in certain investments. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Makes changes in the Section concerning the "time of payment of claims" provision required in each accident and health policy. With respect to the requirement that all claims and indemnities payable under the terms of a policy of accident and health insurance be paid within 30 days following receipt by the insurer of due proof of loss, provides that the policy of accident and health insurance includes both individual and group insurance against disablement or loss of time. Makes a change concerning application to a group policy of dental insurance. In the Section concerning a delay in payment of claims, provides that periodic payments of accrued indemnities for disablement or for loss-of-time coverage under both individual and group accident and health policies, as well as payment of accrued indemnity under any individual or group life or accidental death policy (instead of periodic payments of accrued indemnities for loss-of-time coverage under accident and health policies), shall commence not later than 30 days after the receipt by the company of the required written proof of loss.

Amends the Township Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the use of terms.

Creates the Illinois Clean Car Act. Establishes a new motor vehicle emission standard for nonattainment areas in the State as authorized under Section 177 of the federal Clean Air Act. Incorporates emission standards and other provisions of the California Low Emission Vehicle Program into the Illinois Clean Vehicles Program, as is required by Section 177 of the federal Clean Air Act. Requires that all new passenger cars and light-duty trucks sold, leased, or offered for sale or lease, imported, delivered, purchased, rented, acquired, received, titled, or registered in the State beginning with the 2012 model year meet the requirements of the Illinois Clean Vehicles Program. Exempts certain new vehicles from the program. Requires certain types of compliance testing. Requires manufacturers of new motor vehicles subject to the Illinois Clean Vehicles Program to warrant compliance with Illinois Clean Vehicles Program requirements and to comply with certain rules related to the recall of vehicles. Prohibits motor vehicle dealers from selling, offering for sale or lease, or delivering a new motor vehicle subject to these requirements unless the vehicle has received the required certification. Contains other provisions. Requires the Illinois Pollution Control Board to adopt amendments necessary to ensure that the Illinois Clean Vehicle Program is kept identical in substance with the California Low Emission Vehicle Program. Contains other administrative and reporting provisions. Effective immediately.