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, 2020. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform Fund. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law in the Property Tax Code. Provides that a taxing district may, by ordinance, specify a period of time during which it will suspend its extension for nursing home purposes. Provides that, for the first levy year in which that taxing district resumes its full extension for nursing home purposes, the district's aggregate extension base shall be calculated as if the district had used its maximum extension for nursing home purposes for the levy years during which the extension was suspended. Provides that a taxing district may recapture the amount that the district could have levied for nursing home purposes during the suspension period by passing an ordinance increasing its aggregate extension base for that purpose. 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.

Urges the creation via legislation of the Illinois Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, whose purpose shall be to examine the extent to which current practices of the executive agencies either conform to or fall short of established laws, regulations and best practices, and to determine the fiscal impact which the State realizes as a result of falling short of compliance with such practices.

Amends the Illinois Highway Code. Provides that before a township may submit a referendum to abolish a road district under a provision in the Code, the township shall prepare, through an independent entity, a cost study demonstrating that the abolishment is cost efficient and that the township is capable of carrying out its required duties and responsibilities on the date of abolishment. Defines "independent entity". Repeals a provision allowing a township that is located outside of Cook County with 15 or more miles of roads to abolish a road district of that township. Effective January 1, 2018.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that the amount of credit that exceeds the taxpayer's liability 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 Rescue Squad Districts Act. Provides that a rescue squad district may, by ordinance, submit a referendum to the voters for a special annual tax for the purpose of providing funds to pay the costs of emergency and rescue crews and equipment. Provides the special annual tax rate may not exceed 0.10% of the value of all taxable property within the district. Includes the language to be used in the referendum. Provides that after approval of the referendum by the voters of the district, the board of trustees of the rescue squad district shall, by resolution, set or amend the rate of the special tax to be levied by the district at a rate not to exceed 0.10% of the value of all taxable property in the district as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law in the Property Tax Code. Provides that a taxing district may, by ordinance, specify a period of time during which it will suspend its extension for nursing home purposes. Provides that, for the first levy year in which that taxing district resumes its full extension for nursing home purposes, the district's aggregate extension base shall be calculated as if the district had used its maximum extension for nursing home purposes for the levy years during which the extension was suspended. Provides that a taxing district may recapture the amount that the district could have levied for nursing home purposes during the suspension period by passing an ordinance increasing its aggregate extension base for that purpose. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Provides that for each rule proposed to be adopted by the State Board of Education impacting the operations of any school district, any interested person may request the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules to determine whether the proposed rule is a State mandate. If the Joint Committee determines that the proposed rule is a State mandate, then the running of all periods under the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act shall be tolled, and no Certificate of No Objection may be issued for the rule, until the rule has been approved by a joint resolution of the General Assembly.

Amends the School Code. Provides that the State Superintendent of Education has the authority to initiate a suspension of or revoke the license of any educator licensed under the Educator Licensure Article of the Code if he or she negligently fails to report an instance of suspected child abuse or neglect. Provides that, except for an educator licensed under the Educator Licensure Article of the Code, if a school board determines that any school district employee has willfully or negligently failed to report an instance of suspected child abuse or neglect, as required by the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act, then the school board may dismiss that employee immediately upon that determination. Effective immediately.