Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. Includes references to the reduction of thermal load in the definitions of "energy efficiency" and "renewable energy resources". Makes corresponding changes to the definition of "Energy Efficiency Project" in the Illinois Finance Authority Act. Effective immediately.
Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Provides that grantees and employees of grantees shall not intentionally use grant funds, or goods or services purchased with grant funds, to engage, either directly or indirectly, in a prohibited political activity. Provides that grantees and employees of grantees shall not be compensated from grant funds for time spent engaging in a prohibited political activity. Specifies that a person who violates these provisions is guilty of a business offense and is subject to a fine of up to $5,000.
Creates the Freedom from Drone Surveillance Act. Provides that a law enforcement agency may not use a drone to gather information. Permits the use of a drone by a law enforcement agency: (1) to counter a high risk of a terrorist attack by a specific individual or organization if the United States Secretary of Homeland Security determines that credible intelligence indicates that there is that risk; (2) if a law enforcement agency first obtains a search warrant signed by a judge authorizing the use of a drone; or (3) if a law enforcement agency possesses reasonable suspicion that, under particular circumstances, swift action is needed to prevent imminent harm to life or serious damage to property, or to forestall the imminent escape of a suspect or the destruction of evidence. Provides that a law enforcement agency may not own or use a drone that is equipped with any kind of lethal or non-lethal weapon. Provides that information obtained or collected in violation of the Act is not admissible as evidence in any criminal, civil, administrative, or other proceeding. Establishes certain information retention and reporting requirements concerning drone ownership and use.
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Amends the offense for driving on a suspended or revoked license so that graduated penalties for repeat violations of this Section require the prior convictions of driving on a suspended or revoked driver's license to have the same underlying cause of suspension or revocation of the driver's license as the current violation.
Amends the Administration Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Establishes civil penalties ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 for any person (including a vendor, organization, agency, or other entity, but excluding a recipient) who: knowingly presents or causes to be presented a fraudulent claim for payment under the State's medical assistance program; knowingly gives or causes to be given to any person, with respect to coverage for inpatient hospital services under the medical assistance program, information that he or she knows or should know is false or misleading; arranges or contracts (by employment or otherwise) with an individual or entity that the person knows or should know is excluded from participation in a federal or state health care program, including, but not limited to, the medical assistance program, for the provision of items or services for which payment may be made under such a program; or commits other specified fraudulent acts. Provides that the Director of Healthcare and Family Services may make a determination to terminate, suspend, bar, or exclude the person from participation in the medical assistance program, but not before granting the affected individual, entity, or vendor an opportunity for a hearing after reasonable notice. Provides that a final order, decision, or other determination made by the Director is subject to review in accordance with the Administrative Review Law. Removes language allowing the Department to recover interest on the amount of an overpayment. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.
Amends the Electronic Fund Transfer Act. Provides that a person who sells or issues general use reloadable cards shall disclose, prior to sale or issuance of the card, any fees imposed by the issuer. Provides certain requirements for the disclosures. Makes other changes. Effective January 1, 2014.
Amends the Civil Practice Law of the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that in any civil action involving a claim for money damages, a release must be tendered by the settling defendants to the plaintiff within 14 days of an agreement to the settlement, and in cases where the law requires court approval of the settlement, the plaintiff shall timely obtain court approval and tender to the defendant a copy of the order approving the settlement. Provides that a settling defendant shall pay all sums due to a settling plaintiff within 21 days of tender by the settling plaintiff to the settling defendant of a duly executed release (and, if required by law, a copy of the order approving the settlement), and provides that upon failure to pay, interest, calculated from the date of the release, shall accrue on the amount of the settlement and shall be payable to the settling plaintiff. Provides that the plaintiff is entitled to judgment without further notice against any settling defendant who has not timely paid. Provides that the new provisions apply to all civil actions involving a claim for money damages. Effective immediately.
Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
Amends the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Act. Provides that a local government defined as "distressed" under criteria adopted by the Department of Natural Resources through administrative rule shall be eligible for assistance up to 90% (rather than 50%) for the acquisition of open space lands and for capital development and improvement proposals, provided that no more than 10% of the amount appropriated under this Act in any fiscal year is made available as grants to distressed local governments. Effective immediately.
Amends the Property Tax Code. In a Section concerning valuation of PPV leases, provides that the term "net income" means all revenues received minus actual expenses before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (now, "net income" means all revenues received minus the lesser of (i) 42% of all revenue or (ii) actual expenses before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization). Effective January 1, 2014.
