Rep. Steve Reick

Creates the Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform Act. Provides that the Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform shall consist of 18 voting members. Provides for the appointment of the members. Provides that the Commission shall undertake a review of executive branch State agencies and provide recommendations for improvement. Provides that the Commission shall submit a report to the Governor and the General Assembly. Creates the Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform Fund, which may receive gifts, grants, and donations from any lawful source. Provides that moneys in the Fund shall be used by the Commission exclusively for public purposes. Provides that the Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform shall operate as a 501(c)(4) entity under the federal Internal Revenue Code. Repeals the Act on October 1, 2022. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform Fund. Effective immediately.

Amends the Article regarding records required to be kept by dealers, transporters, wreckers, and rebuilders of the Illinois Vehicle Code. Deletes various requirements regarding records that every person licensed under specific provisions of the Code are required to keep. Provides that the record requirements for essential parts apply only to essential parts that are 3 (rather than 6) model years of age or newer. Provides that all entries relating to the disposition of a vehicle or an essential part shall be made no later than the close of business on the seventh calendar day following (rather than at the time of) the disposition. Deletes language requiring every person licensed as a transporter to maintain a record of every vehicle transported by him for 3 years. Deletes language providing that each violation of various provisions regarding recordkeeping constitutes a separate and distinct offense and a separate count may be brought in the same indictment or information for each vehicle or essential party of a vehicle for which a record was not kept. Makes other changes.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that, if the amount of the credit for residential real property taxes exceeds the taxpayer's liability, that amount shall be refunded if the taxpayer is 65 years or older and has a federal adjusted gross income of not more than $50,000. Provides that the credit is exempt from the Act's automatic sunset provision. Effective immediately.

Creates the Pembroke Township Natural Gas Investment Pilot Program Act. Directs the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to create a pilot program for the distribution of grants for the construction of new natural gas pipelines and infrastructure in Pembroke Township. Requires applicants for grants to demonstrate that the grants will result in the construction of a new natural gas pipeline to provide natural gas to the residents of the township. Provides that grantees are subject to audit by the State. Provides that the Department may accept private and public funds in furtherance of the purposes of the Pilot Program. Imposes data collection and reporting requirements. Provides that the Department shall report annually to the Governor and General Assembly beginning in 2022 regarding cost estimates for the Pilot Program, recommendations for improvement to the Pilot Program, and a recommendation as to whether the Pilot Program should be continued. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Pembroke Township Natural Gas Investment Pilot Program Fund.

Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act and the Firearm Concealed Carry Act. Provides that if a Firearm Owner's Identification Card of a licensee under the Firearm Concealed Carry Act expires during the term of a concealed carry license, the Firearm Owner's Identification Card and the license remain valid and the licensee does not have to renew his or her Firearm Owner's Identification Card. Provides that the Illinois State Police shall automatically renew the licensee's Firearm Owner's Identification Card and send a renewed Firearm Owner's Identification Card to the licensee unless the Illinois State Police has reason to believe the person is no longer eligible for the Card.

Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Requires specified personnel of a child care facility to be present at the open or close of the facility. Provides that early childhood teachers shall meet specified qualifications. Provides that the Department of Children and Family Services shall adopt rules on the qualifications of persons directly responsible for the care and welfare of children served in accordance with the qualifications for early childhood teachers. Effective immediately.

Amends the Firefighters' Pension Investment Fund Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Adds a member, to be appointed by the Governor, who is recommended by a statewide association representing fire protection districts to the transition board of trustees of the investment fund and the permanent board of trustees of the investment fund. Provides that at least one of the 3 elected members who are mayors, presidents, chief executive officers, chief financial officers, or other officers, executives, or department heads of municipalities or fire protection districts that have participating pension funds must be from a fire protection district. Provides that if the candidate or candidates receiving the highest number of votes would result in there being no trustee who is from a fire protection district, then the candidate receiving the highest number of votes who is from a fire protection district shall be elected. Provides that 7 members (instead of 6 members) of the board shall constitute a quorum. Provides that all actions taken by the transition board and the permanent board shall require a vote of at least 6 (instead of 5) trustees, except that certain actions shall require a vote of at least 7 (instead of 6) trustees. Effective immediately.

Amends the Sex Offender Registration Act. Provides for registration under the Act of a person who committed a violation or attempted violation of the unauthorized video recording and live video transmission offense if the court: (1) finds that the offense was sexually motivated as defined in the Sex Offender Management Board Act; and (2) in its discretion requires the person to register under the Act.

Amends the Illinois Estate and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Act. Provides that, for persons dying on or after January 1, 2021, the exclusion amount shall be the applicable exclusion amount calculated under Section 2010 of the Internal Revenue Code, including any deceased spousal unused exclusion amount (currently, the exclusion amount for Illinois estate tax purposes is $4,000,000). Effective immediately.

Amends the Downstate Teacher and Chicago Teacher Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that none of the benefits provided for in either Article shall be paid to a person if the person first becomes a member after the effective date of the amendatory Act and a board, after an administrative hearing, determines that the person sexually abused a student. Provides that an employer must notify a board if a retiring member has been accused of sexually abusing a student. Provides that a board may, through an administrative hearing, review the claim of sexual abuse and may order that benefits be forfeited. Provides that the changes made by the amendatory Act shall not operate to impair any contract or vested right acquired before the effective date of the amendatory Act nor to preclude the right to a refund. Provides that all teachers entering service after the effective date of the amendatory Act shall be deemed to have consented to the provisions of the amendatory Act as a condition of membership. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.