Rep. Jack D. Franks

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Requires a utility to waive the utility's initial credit and deposit requirements for a period of 60 days for a residential customer or applicant who is a victim of domestic violence. Provides that the domestic violence must be certified by treating medical personnel, law enforcement personnel, a State's Attorney, the Attorney General, or a domestic violence shelter. The certification letter must be printed on the certifying entity's letterhead or accompanied by a letter on the certifying entity's letterhead that identifies the certifying individual.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, for taxable year 2016 and thereafter, the amount of the senior citizens assessment freeze homestead exemption shall be the greater of (i) the amount of the exemption otherwise calculated under that Section of the Code or (ii) $2,000. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code and the Health Maintenance Organization Act. Includes breast tomosynthesis in the definition of "low-dose mammography".

Amends the Fish and Aquatic Life Code. Defines the term "drone". Makes the use of a drone an illegal method of taking fish and aquatic life. Provides that the use of a drone as a fishing device constitutes a public nuisance, making the drone subject to confiscation. Amends the Wildlife Code. Defines the term "drone". Prohibits the use of a drone in the taking of wildlife. Provides that the use of a drone as a hunting device constitutes a public nuisance, making the drone subject to confiscation. Penalizes the taking of wildlife by use of a drone as a Class A misdemeanor in addition to other statutory penalties.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that accessibility improvements made to residential property shall not increase the assessed valuation of the property. Provides that the term "accessibility improvement" means a modification or addition to residential property that is designed to make the property more accessible to a disabled person, including, but not limited to, the installation of ramps, lifts, or fixtures or the removal of architectural barriers on the property. Effective immediately.

Amends the truth in taxation Division of the Property Tax Code. Provides that if a taxing district maintains a website, the truth in taxation notice shall be published on the website in addition to a newspaper of general circulation.

Amends the General Assembly Organization Act. Provides that until 4 years after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the General Assembly shall not enact any law creating any new unit of local government, including, but not limited to, the division of existing units of local government. Provides that the amendatory Act does not apply to the creation of a new unit of local government from the consolidation of 2 or more pre-existing units of local government.

Creates the Safeguard Our Children Act. Provides that any child or person in the care of the Department of Children and Family Services who is placed in a residential facility under contract with the Department shall be reported as missing to the local law enforcement agency within whose jurisdiction the facility is located, if: (1) there is no contact between an employee of the facility and the child or person within a period of 12 hours; and (2) the child or person is absent from the facility without prior approval. Requires the operator of the residential facility to inform the child's or person's caseworker that the child or person has been reported as missing to the appropriate local law enforcement agency; and to also report the child or person as missing to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and to the sheriff of the county in which the facility is located. Requires the operator of the residential facility to record a Plan of Care for any child or person who resides at the facility and who plans to leave the facility temporarily for more than 24 hours. Requires the Plan of Care to contain certain information. Defines terms. Amends the Intergovernmental Missing Child Recovery Act of 1984. Requires the Department of State Police to develop a standard missing persons alert for the LEADS network for use when a child or person in the care and legal custody of the Department of Children and Family Services is reported as missing to a local law enforcement agency. Provides that the standard missing persons alert shall contain certain information.

Creates the Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act. Provides that a public community college student who earns an associate degree for transfer granted pursuant to the Act is deemed eligible for transfer into the baccalaureate program of a State university if the student (1) completes 60 semester units or 90 quarter units that are eligible for transfer to a State university and (2) obtains a minimum grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale. Requires a community college district to develop and grant associate degrees for transfer that meet the requirements of the Act. Requires a State university to guarantee admission with junior status to any community college student who meets all of the requirements of the Act. Provides that a State university shall grant a local community college student priority admission and admission to a program or major that is similar to his or her community college major or area of emphasis. Provides that a student admitted under the Act shall receive priority over all other community college transfer students. Sets forth provisions concerning coursework, reviews and reports by the Board of Higher Education, and implementation of the Act. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement.

Amends the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. Provides that no board member may receive more than one per diem, stipend, or other similar form of compensation for meetings that are held on consecutive days unless: (i) each meeting is more than 4 hours long, or (ii) in the case of an emergency. Defines "board" to include a board, commission, authority, task force, or other similar body to which one or more members are appointed by the Governor.