Rep. Barbara Wheeler

Amends the Illinois Dental Practice Act. Allows a dental assistant, after being authorized by a dentist, to remove loose, broken, or irritating orthodontic appliances on a patient of record for the purpose of eliminating pain or discomfort. Provides that dental assistants who have undergone certain training may hold themselves out as expanded function dental assistants. Sets forth the training requirements for expanded function dental assistants and the services that may be provided. Provides that any procedure completed by an expanded function dental assistant must be approved by the supervising dentist and examined prior to dismissal of the patient. Sets forth certain limits on expanded function dental assistants.

Amends the Local Government Reduction and Efficiency Division of the Counties Code. Provides that the Division applies to all counties (currently, only applies to DuPage, Lake, and McHenry Counties). Excludes specified boards from the definition of "unit of local government". Provides how the status and rights of employees, including those represented by an exclusive bargaining representatives, are affected by the dissolution of a unit of local government under the Division. Provides for the assumption of obligations of the dissolving unit of local government by the entity absorbing the dissolving unit as they relate to representation rights and collective bargaining agreements. Amends the Township Code. Removes a restriction limiting townships to 126 square miles. Provides for the consolidation of 2 or more townships which share a boundary, the merging of one township into 2 other townships, and the dissolution of all townships (currently, only allowed in specified townships) within a coterminous, or substantially coterminous, municipality. Makes other changes. Amends the Election Code. Specifies procedures for township consolidation, merger, and discontinuance referenda. Amends the Illinois Drainage Code. Provides that specified counties may, by resolution, dissolve drainage districts wholly within their borders and drainage districts only partially within its borders under specified circumstances. Amends the Illinois Highway Code. Provides that specified township road districts may be abolished by public referendum. Effective on January 1, 2018, but this Act does not take effect at all unless Senate Bills 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 of the 100th General Assembly become law.

Amends the Illinois Highway Code. Provides that a county board of a county that contracts with a person growing row crops on land adjacent to county highways to buy standing strips of the crops to remain in place to act as snow breaks along the highway may pay the grower an additional sum of money equal to at least 10% of the contract price (rather than a sum of money equal to 10% of the contract price) as an inconvenience fee.

Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Provides that the Executive Ethics Commission may (rather than shall) appoint procurement compliance monitors. Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Exempts certain contracts from the Code. Requires certain contracts concerning trade shows to be published in the Illinois Procurement Bulletin. Exempts certain processes used by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. Re-enacts and makes changes to provisions concerning higher education and artistic and musical services procurement. Requires all State agencies to respond promptly in writing to the Procurement Policy Board. Provides that State purchasing officers owe a fiduciary duty to the State. Removes various duties of the procurement compliance monitors. Makes changes to provisions concerning multiple awards and bidding processes. Allows for the use of a pool of competitively-selected vendors. Creates certain provisions concerning best value procurement. Allows departments and institutions to purchase and equip off-road construction equipment utilizing the best value procurement process. Increases the limit of small purchases from $10,000 to $100,000. Allows a chief procurement officer to provide a bidder or offeror 5 days to comply with certain provisions of the Code concerning certification and registration with the State Board of Elections. Makes changes to provisions concerning prohibited bidders and reporting. Repeals provisions of the Code concerning exceptions to the Code and procurement communications reporting requirements. Makes other changes. Amends the Small Business Contracts Act, Governmental Joint Purchasing Act, and Illinois Human Rights Act to make other changes. Effective July 1, 2017, but this Act does not take effect at all unless Senate Bills 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 of the 100th General Assembly become law.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Deletes a provision that requires Department of Juvenile Justice personnel who are hired by the Department and who participate or assist in the rehabilitative and vocational training of delinquent youths, supervise the daily activities involving direct and continuing responsibility for the youth's security, welfare and development, or participate in the personal rehabilitation of delinquent youth by training, supervising, and assisting lower level personnel who perform these duties to have a bachelor's or advanced degree from an accredited college or university with a specialization in criminal justice, education, psychology, social work, or a closely related social science or other bachelor's or advanced degree with at least 2 years' experience in the field of juvenile matters. Requires those persons to only have any bachelor's or advanced degree from an accredited college or university. Provides that the Department shall, by regular (rather than certified) mail and telephone or electronic message, notify the parent, guardian, or nearest relative of any person committed to the Department of his or her physical location and any change of his or her physical location. Amends the Illinois Pension Code to make conforming changes.

Creates the Safe Neighborhoods Reform Act. Contains only a short title provision.

Recognizes students from Nippersink Middle School and Richmond Burton High School on their participation in the Aerospace STEM Challenge.

Creates the Ultrasound Opportunity Act. Sets forth legislative findings and definitions. Provides that at any facility where abortions are performed, the physician who is to perform the abortion, the referring physician, or another qualified person working in conjunction with either physician shall offer any woman seeking an abortion after 8 weeks of gestation an opportunity to receive and view an active ultrasound of her unborn child by someone qualified to perform ultrasounds at the facility, or at a facility listed in a listing of local ultrasound providers provided by the facility, prior to the woman having any part of an abortion performed or induced and prior to the administration of any anesthesia or medication in preparation for the abortion. Provides that the requirements of the Act shall not apply when, in the medical judgment of the physician performing or inducing the abortion, there exists a medical emergency. Contains a severability provision. Effective immediately.

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning creation of the Board.

Recognizes the Armenian Genocide of 1915 and declares April 24, 2015 as a "Day of Remembrance for the Holy Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide of 1915".