Rep. Jack D. Franks

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Increases the amount of the credit for wages paid by the taxpayer to a qualified veteran to 20%, but in no event to exceed $5,000, of the gross wages paid by the taxpayer to a qualified veteran if the veteran (A) was hired by the taxpayer on or after January 1, 2012 and (B) was unemployed at the time he or she was hired by the taxpayer. Exempts the credit from the Act's automatic sunset provisions. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Revenue Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Creates the Economic Incentive Committee within the Department for the purpose of approving Agreements entered into under the Economic Development for a Growing Economy Tax Credit Act. Sets forth the membership of the Committee. Provides that the Department of Revenue shall post the terms of each Agreement entered into under the Economic Development for a Growing Economy Tax Credit Act on its website. Amends the Economic Development for a Growing Economy Tax Credit Act to provide that each Agreement is subject to final approval by the Economic Incentive Committee. Effective July 1, 2012.

Amends the Department of Central Management Services Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Illinois Transparency and Accountability Portal (ITAP) shall also include a searchable database of all county, township, and municipal employees sorted by the employing unit of local government, employment position title, and current pay rate and year-to-date pay. Amends the Counties Code, the Township Code, and the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that counties, townships, and municipalities must comply with the requirements established by the Department of Central Management Services concerning ITAP. Limits home rule powers.

Amends the Illinois Identification Card Act and Illinois Vehicle Code to provide that: the Secretary of State must inquire as to whether an applicant for a State identification card or driver's license is a veteran for purposes of issuing a State identification card or driver's license with a veteran designation; the Secretary shall determine by rule what forms of proof of a person's status as a veteran are acceptable; and the Secretary may disclose an individual's social security number or associated information to the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs for the purpose of confirming veteran status. Defines "veteran" and other terms. Effective January 1, 2013.

Amends the Township Code. Provides that compensation of township officers shall be for time served, and no officer may receive compensation for any future or anticipated days of duty. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Sets forth provisions concerning health care cooperatives. Provides that in addition to all other provisions of the Article concerning domestic mutual companies, a company seeking to organize as a health care cooperative shall meet certain requirements. Sets forth provisions concerning the naming of and applications for entities seeking to organize as health care cooperatives. Amends the Co-operative Act. Exempts domestic mutual insurance companies licensed as health care cooperatives by the Director of Insurance from the prohibition against using the term "Co-operative" as part of a corporate or other business name or title without complying with the provisions of the Co-operative Act. Sets forth provisions concerning health benefit purchasing cooperatives. Provides that the purpose of a health benefit purchasing cooperative is to provide health care benefits for certain eligible individuals under a single group health care policy or plan through a contract between the health benefit purchasing cooperative and an insurer authorized to do health insurance business in the State. Sets forth provisions concerning the design, the articles, the membership basis and capital stock, the membership criteria, the health care benefits, and the annual progress report of health benefit purchasing cooperatives. Effective immediately.

Amends the Counties Code and the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that no county or municipality may prohibit a charitable organization from soliciting for charitable purposes, including solicitations taking place on public roadways from passing motorists, if certain requirements are met. Sets forth requirements regarding the groups involved, applications and liability insurance. Defines "local agency" to mean a municipality, county, special district, fire district, joint powers of authority, or other political subdivision of the State of Illinois. Limits the concurrent exercise of home rule powers. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. In a Section concerning the applicability of the Code to public institutions of higher education, includes the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy in the definition of "public institution of higher education". Effective immediately.

Supports the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in its efforts to establish a new national wildlife refuge on the Illinois-Wisconsin border to be named the Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge. Urges the Governor to represent the State of Illinois as a supporter of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service's efforts to establish the Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge. Urges the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to work in partnership with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to make the Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge a reality.

Proposes to amend the Suffrage and Elections Article of the Illinois Constitution. Provides for elections to recall State executive branch officers and members of the General Assembly. Effective upon being declared adopted.