Rep. Michael W. Tryon

Amends the Certification of Teachers Article and the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Authorizes the waiver of the student teaching requirement if the person seeking certification or licensure presents evidence of 100 hours or more of successful teaching experience on a valid substitute certificate or valid substitute teaching license. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law in the Property Tax Code. Requires the corporate authorities of a taxing district that is subject to the Law to adopt a limiting rate by ordinance or resolution if the percentage change in the equalized assessed value of all property within the taxing district during the 12-month calendar year preceding the levy year is less than the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index during that same period of time. Provides that the limiting rate may not exceed the maximum rate permitted under the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law. Contains provisions concerning notice. Provides that the rate extended for the sum of all of the funds included in the taxing district's aggregate extension may not exceed the limiting rate adopted by the taxing district. Effective immediately.

Amends the Legislative Commission Reorganization Act of 1984. Creates the General Accounting Office as a legislative support services agency. Provides that the Office shall conduct a thorough review of each State executive branch program with respect to its relevance, efficiency, and effectiveness in obtaining the results required by, or achieving the goals expressed in, the statutes relating to the program. Provides that at least annually and also whenever appropriate or required by the circumstances, requires the Office to submit written reports to the General Assembly describing the Office's review of those programs and recommending, without limitation, elimination of any programs that are obsolete or not relevant, efficient, or effective; consolidation of duplicative programs; and steps to improve a program's relevance, efficiency, and effectiveness. Requires the Auditor General and all State agencies to cooperate with and provide requested information to the Office so that the Office can perform its functions and duties.

Amends the Election Code. Authorizes the board of education of a school district, by resolution, to initiate an advisory question under the Code to be placed on the ballot both in the territory of the school district and in the precincts adjacent to the boundaries of the school district.

Amends the Prevailing Wage Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning construction of the Act.

Amends the Election Code. Prohibits (i) labor organizations that represent public employees of the State and (ii) political action committees affiliated with those labor organizations from making campaign contributions to political committees established to promote the candidacy of a declared candidate for statewide office or a statewide officeholder. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law.

Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning judges.

Amends the Prevailing Wage Act. Provides that the Act does not apply to projects with a total cost of $20,000 or less. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Pension Code in relation to the 5 State-funded retirement systems. Decreases annual increases (COLAs) for certain persons who first became participants before January 1, 2011 and did not begin to receive a retirement annuity before the effective date of this amendatory Act. Provides that the automatic annual increases shall be (1) 3% of the first $50,000 of the annual total annuity payable at the time of the increase, and (2) if the annual total annuity payable at the time of the increase exceeds $50,000, a percentage of that excess equal to the lesser of 3% or one-half of the annual unadjusted percentage increase (but not less than zero) in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers.