Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that a taxing district may abate any portion of its taxes on urban agricultural property located in the taxing district. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that notwithstanding any other provision of law or administrative rule to the contrary, beginning in fiscal year 2018, the specified threshold for working families must be no less than 185% of the then-current federal poverty level for each family size. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that local authorities, with respect to highways under their jurisdiction, may limit the operation of trucks or other commercial vehicles in areas with poor air quality. Defines "poor air quality".
Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the members of the State Board of Education.
Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that a municipality may create urban agricultural zones composed of organizations or persons who grow produce or other agricultural products; who raise livestock or poultry; who process livestock or poultry; or that sell a minimum of 75% locally grown food. Provides for the creation of an urban agricultural zone board to advise the corporate authorities of a municipality on urban agricultural zones. Provides for urban agricultural zone application requirements, including the number of jobs to be created, the types of products to be produced, and, if applying for a vending urban agricultural zone, the ability to accept food stamps under the provisions of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program if selling products to consumers, the geographic description of the area that will be included in the urban agricultural zone, and other requirements. Provides for public hearing and notice requirements before adoption of an ordinance to establish an urban agricultural zone. Provides that property taxes on property that is used for growing or raising of agricultural products located within an urban agricultural zone shall not be increased, if authorized in the urban agricultural zone ordinance, for a period of up to 25 years. Provides that sales tax amounts received from the sale of agricultural products grown or produced in an urban agricultural zone shall be deposited in the Urban Agricultural Zone Fund and specifies distribution to the municipality or school districts under specified circumstances. Allows for wholesale water rates and a reduction in water connection charges for water users who grow or raise agricultural products in the zone. Amends the State Finance Act by making conforming changes. Effective July 1, 2017.
Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides a credit for the head of a single parent household that operates a business from his or her residential property for each dependent under the age of 18 living in that household. Defines terms. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that subject to appropriation, each municipality with a community or geographical area that is identified as a food desert by the Department of Public Health shall be eligible for grants from the Healthy Local Food Incentives Fund. Provides that the grants shall not exceed $500,000 for each municipality and that municipalities that receive grants shall distribute the grant money to persons or entities seeking to establish a business within the community or geographical area that is identified as a food desert for the purpose of selling or distributing fresh fruits and vegetables. Permits the Department of Human Services to adopt any rules necessary to implement the grant program. Effective immediately.
Creates the Employee Background Fairness Act. Provides that an employer may not refuse to hire an individual and may not discharge an individual because of the individual's criminal history unless the individual has one or more convictions and there is a direct relationship between one of more of an individual's convictions and the specific employment sought. Prohibits retaliation for exercising rights under the Act. Provides that an individual denied or discharged from employment because of his or her criminal history in violation of the Act may recover from the employer in a civil action: (1) damages in the amount of $2,000 or actual damages, whichever is greater; (2) costs and such reasonable attorney fees as may be allowed by the Court; and (3) any other relief as may be appropriate, including punitive damages. Defines terms. Effective immediately.
Amends the School Code. Provides that an approved waiver from or modification to a physical education mandate may remain in effect for a period not to exceed 2 school years (rather than 5 school years like other mandate waivers) and may be renewed no more than 2 times upon application by an eligible applicant. Provides that an approved waiver from or modification to a physical education mandate may be changed within the 2-year period by the school board or regional superintendent of schools, whichever is applicable, following the procedure set forth in the Code for the initial waiver or modification request. Provides that a school board may determine the schedule or frequency of physical education courses, provided that an elementary school pupil engage in a course of physical education for a minimum of 150 minutes per week and a high school pupil engage in a course of physical education for a minimum of 225 minutes per week (rather than engaging in a course of physical education for a minimum of 3 days per 5-day week). Effective July 1, 2018.
