Rep. Steve Reick

Adopts the House Rules for the 101st General Assembly.

Amends the Illinois Prison Inspection Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Firearm Concealed Carry Act. Provides that notwithstanding whether the laws of the state or territory where the non-resident resides related to firearm ownership, possession, and carrying, are substantially similar to the requirements to obtain a license under the Act, the Department of State Police shall by rule allow for a non-resident license application if the applicant is an active duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States stationed in this State or the spouse of an active duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States stationed in this State. Provides that the applicant shall pay the resident license or renewal fees (rather than the non-resident fees). Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Estate and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Act. Provides that, for persons dying on or after January 1, 2018, the exclusion amount shall be the applicable exclusion amount under the Internal Revenue Code. Effective immediately.

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. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that the Department of Revenue shall print on its individual income tax forms a county designation. Effective immediately.

Amends the Employment of Teachers Article of the School Code. Provides that if a teacher is removed or dismissed as a result of a decision of a school board to decrease the number of teachers employed by the school board, a decision of a school board to discontinue some particular type of teaching service, or a reduction in the number of programs or positions in a special education joint agreement, then written notice must be mailed and given to the teacher no more than 10 business days following the General Assembly's passage of a State budget that includes school funding for the State fiscal year in which the honorable dismissal would take effect (instead of mailed and given at least 45 days before the end of the school term). Provides that if no State budget that includes school funding for the next State fiscal year has been passed by the General Assembly by June 15 of the current State fiscal year, then the school board shall fulfill the notification requirements by June 30 of the current State fiscal year. Effective immediately.

Amends the Firearm Concealed Carry Act. Provides that a municipality, including a home rule unit, may not revoke, suspend, or refuse to renew a business license or otherwise interfere with a business license issued by the municipality to a business owner, including the holder of a retail liquor license issued under the Liquor Control Act of 1934, because the business owner lawfully permits a concealed carry licensee to carry firearms into his or her business establishment. Effective immediately.

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Requires each public university to submit to the Board of Higher Education a study of the costs of making available online 4 of the university's most popular degree programs, as determined by the university. Sets forth what must be included in the cost study. Requires the Board of Higher Education to use new and existing data to evaluate probable student outcomes for online degree plans identified by the universities; sets forth other Board requirements.

Amends the Firearm Concealed Carry Act. Provides that a municipality, including a home rule unit, may not revoke, suspend, or refuse to renew a business license or otherwise interfere with a business license issued by the municipality to a business owner, including the holder of a retail liquor license issued under the Liquor Control Act of 1934, because the business owner lawfully permits a concealed carry licensee to carry firearms into his or her business establishment. Effective immediately.