Amends the School Code. Permits a school board to excuse pupils in grades 9 through 12 from engaging in physical education courses if those pupils request to be excused and are enrolled in 2 or more Advanced Placement (AP) courses.
Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2015, each taxpayer is entitled to a credit in an amount equal to 50% of the costs incurred by the taxpayer during the taxable year under a contract with a commercial composting facility for the purpose of collecting the taxpayer's compostable garbage, landscape waste, and unused food, separate from the traditional garbage, for transportation to the facility for composting. Provides that the credit may not exceed $2,000 per taxpayer in any taxable year. Provides that the credit is exempt from the Act's automatic sunset provision. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois State Auditing Act. Provides that oversight of the State's compliance with auditing standards and generally accepted accounting principles for governments shall be the responsibility of the Auditor General. Provides that the Auditor General's annual review shall evaluate the State's compliance with generally accepted accounting principles for governments, as promulgated by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board. Provides that the Auditor General shall (instead of "may") adopt rules concerning audit standards. Amends the State Comptroller Act to require to Comptroller to consult with the Auditor General and provide the Auditor General with draft copies of any proposed accounting standards. Effective immediately.
Amends the Notice By Publication Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
Amends the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
Creates the Jobs Creation Finance Act. Provides that municipalities may designate job creation areas. Provides that businesses that undertake job creation projects in those designated areas are eligible for certain tax incentives. Provides that municipalities may issue bonds in connection with those projects. Contains provisions concerning public hearings. Contains numerous other provisions. Effective immediately.
Creates the University Student Fee Act. Provides that all students enrolled in college credit programs at State universities shall be charged fees, except students who are exempt from fees or students whose fees are waived. Provides that, beginning on July 1, 2016, the resident undergraduate tuition for lower-level and upper-level coursework at a State university shall be $103.32 per credit hour. Provides that, beginning with the 2018 fiscal year and each fiscal year thereafter, the resident undergraduate tuition per credit hour shall increase at the beginning of each fall semester at a rate equal to inflation. Allows the Board of Higher Education or the Board's designee to establish tuition for graduate and professional programs and out-of-State fees for all programs. Sets forth provisions concerning flexible tuition policies, the establishment of fees, fee proposals, a tuition differential, and rules.
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 Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that over-the-counter medications that are prescribed to a recipient of medical assistance by a physician, a physician's assistant, a nurse practitioner, or any other medical care provider qualified to prescribe medications shall be covered under the State's medical assistance program. Provides that pharmacies providing prescribed over-the-counter medications shall be reimbursed at the same rate determined by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services for prescription medications covered under the State's medical assistance program. Requires the Department to establish guidelines and standards by administrative rule on the documentation, if any, a medical care provider must submit when prescribing an over-the-counter medication to a recipient of medical assistance. Effective immediately.
Amends the Plumbing License Law. Provides that Illinois licensed professional engineers and licensed environmental practitioners who provide continuing education for licensed plumbers are not required to have oversight of their continuing education sponsorship or courses by any other licensed profession or Illinois licensed plumbers, have their programs reviewed by another licensed professional or Illinois licensed plumber, or have another licensed professional or Illinois licensed plumber attend or provide oversight of their continuing education courses or programs. Provides that Illinois licensed professional engineers and licensed environmental practitioners who provide continuing education for plumbers are not required to provide a licensed plumber of record when submitting sponsorship or continuing education course approval. The oversight and approval of the Department of Public Health's Plumbing Inspector shall be sufficient oversight for sponsor or course approval submitted by Illinois licensed professional engineers and licensed environmental practitioners. Provides that no additional requirements for the approval for the Illinois licensed professional engineers and licensed environmental practitioners as a sponsor or for approval of a continuing education course shall be mandated. Effective immediately.
