Rep. Tom Weber

Amends the Downstate Forest Preserve District Act. Removes a provision providing that the president of the board is the executive officer of the district. Provides that the board of a forest preserve district may appoint an executive officer of the district and they may appoint the president of the board as executive officer of the district. Provides that a president that is an executive officer on the effective date of the amendatory Act shall remain the executive officer until the conclusion of the president's term of office or the board appoints another individual as executive officer, whichever is earlier, unless the board reappoints the president as executive officer. Provides that an appointed executive officer of a district has the sole power to appoint, employ, or terminate employees as may be necessary or, if no executive officer has been appointed, then the president of the board has such powers. Provides that the president of the board of a forest preserve district shall not cancel an event occurring on forest preserve district property without the approval of the board, except in the case of preserving public safety or in the event of an emergency. Effective immediately.

Amends the Township Code. Provides that tentative budgets for specified road districts shall be subject to a public hearing and public inspection prior to adopting. Further provides that the township board may adopt all or part of the tentative budget and appropriation ordinance for road purposes and levy the amount determined by the board (currently, the township board shall adopt all the tentative budget and appropriation ordinance and levy the amount determined by the highway commissioner). Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Revenue Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Creates the Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Task Force. Sets forth the membership of the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall study the benefits and consequences associated with expanding the Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption to all households that are unlikely to have children in public schools due to advanced age. Effective immediately.

Creates the Taxing Body Refinancing by Popular Vote Act. Provides that no taxing district may renew or refinance its indebtedness in a way that requires the extension of property taxes for the payment of debt service in a taxable year that is later than the taxable year in which the indebtedness would otherwise mature unless the question of such renewal or refinancing is submitted to the electors of the district at a regular election and approved by a majority of the electors voting on the question.

Amends the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability Act. Provides that the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability shall study the property tax laws of Florida, Tennessee, and Texas and report to the Governor and the General Assembly no later than December 31, 2020.

Amends the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law in the Property Tax Code. Provides that the extension limitation is 3.5% (currently, 5%) or the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index. Provides that the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law applies to all taxing districts, including home rule units.

Proposes to amend the Revenue Article of the Illinois Constitution. Provides that the General Assembly shall prohibit increases in the assessed value, for school district levy purposes, of homestead property owned and occupied by a person who: (i) has attained age 65; and (ii) has held legal or equitable title to the property and maintained permanent residence thereon for at least 25 years. Effective upon being declared adopted.

Creates the Industrial New Jobs Training Act. Provides that community college may enter into an agreement with an employer in which the employer provides certain education and job-training services. Provides that the program shall be funded by: (1) a new jobs credit from withholding to be received or derived from new employment resulting from the project; (2) tuition, student fees, or special charges fixed by the Board to defray program costs in whole or in part; or(3) a guarantee of payments to be received under paragraph (1) or (2). Provides that the community college may issue certificates for funding of the program. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act to make conforming changes.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, for taxable years 2020 and thereafter, the maximum reduction under the senior citizens homestead exemption is $9,000 in all counties (currently, $8,000 in counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants and $5,000 in all other counties). Provides that the maximum income limitation for the senior citizens assessment freeze homestead exemption is $75,000 (currently, $65,000). Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. Requires the Department on Aging, the Department of Human Services, and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to identify all programs operating in the State, both public and private, that provide services to meet the unique needs and circumstances of senior citizens. Requires the Department on Aging to compile and maintain a list of the identified programs that includes for each program listed: (i) a brief description of program services; (ii) eligibility requirements; and (ii) instructions on how to apply to the program. Requires the Department on Aging and the Departments of Human Services and Healthcare and Family Services to post the list of identified programs on their websites in a relevant and conspicuous place. Requires the Department on Aging to ensure that printed copies of the list of identified programs are available for distribution to senior citizens at each local agency that contracts with a designated area agency on aging. Requires the Secretary of State to ensure that printed copies of the list of identified programs are available for distribution to senior citizens at each driver services facility operated by the Secretary of State.