Rep. Litesa E. Wallace

Congratulates Tim Dimke on his retirement from the Rockford Park District.

Congratulates Michael J. "Mickey" Goral for his years of service as Rockford Township Supervisor.

Congratulates the citizens of Rockford and Ferentino Italy on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of their Sister City partnership.

Amends the General Assembly Organization Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the deposit of books, bills, documents, and papers with the Secretary of State.

Amends the University of Illinois Act, Southern Illinois University Management Act, Chicago State University Law, Eastern Illinois University Law, Governors State University Law, Illinois State University Law, Northeastern Illinois University Law, Northern Illinois University Law, and Western Illinois University Law. Provides that notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a student who meets the requisite requirements concerning being deemed an Illinois resident for tuition purposes is eligible to apply or receive consideration for any student aid or benefit funded or administered by the State, State agencies, public institutions, or the university, including scholarships, grants, awards, stipends, room and board, tuition waivers, or other financial or in-kind assistance, but excluding Monetary Award Program grants.

Amends the School Code. Requires alternative and optional education programs for truants, the IHOPE Program, and graduation incentives programs to accept dropouts under the age of 24 (currently, under 20 for the graduation incentives programs and through the age of 21 for the IHOPE Program and the alternative and optional education programs for truants). Provides that a school district shall deny reenrollment in its secondary schools to any child 19 years of age or above who has dropped out of school and who could not attend classes during the normal school year and graduate before his or her twenty-fourth birthday (currently, his or her twenty-first birthday). Effective immediately.

Creates the Law Enforcement Sexual Assault Investigation Act. Provides that allegations of sexual assault of an officer while performing his or her duties shall immediately be reported to the police officer's supervisory or command personnel and an independent law enforcement agency. Provides that the independent law enforcement agency shall conduct a formal investigation of the allegations and provide written findings and recommendations to the State's Attorney and police officer's supervisory or command personnel which may be the basis for filing charges seeking the police officer's removal, discharge, or suspension. Limits home rule powers. Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Provides that the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board shall adopt written protocols and guidelines for the investigation of law enforcement officers accused of sexual assault.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the Department of Human Services shall (rather than to the extent resources permit, the Department shall) provide child care services to specified persons. Expands the list of categories of families and children (rather than families) the Department shall cover to include: (i) families that are not recipients of TANF benefits and that need child care assistance to participate in education and training activities; (ii) children engaged in the State's child welfare system; and (iii) homeless children. Provides that beginning in State fiscal year 2017, the specified threshold must be no less than 300% of the then current federal poverty level for each family size (rather than through and including fiscal year 2007, the specified threshold must be no less than 50% of the then current State median income for each family size; and beginning in fiscal year 2008, the specified threshold must be no less than 185% of the then current federal poverty level for each family size). Requires the Department to provide child care services to all children who are eligible for assistance and are under age 13 or who are under age 19 and under court supervision or have physical or mental incapacities as documented by a statement from a local health provider or other health professional. Effective July 1, 2016.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that each business that enters into an agreement with a community college or area vocational center for employee training is entitled to an income tax credit for taxable years beginning during the term of the agreement if the taxpayer's average employee head count in the State during the taxable year exceeds its average employee head count in the State for the year immediately preceding the year in which the agreement was entered into by more than 10%. Provides that the credit shall be in an amount equal to 6% of the incremental income tax attributable to new employees during the taxable year. Effective immediately.

Amends the Cigarette Tax Act and the Tobacco Products Tax Act of 1995. Provides that a person who is both a licensed distributor and a licensed retailer shall be issued a single license number by the Department of Revenue. Provides that records may be kept electronically and may be kept at an out-of-state location so long as those records are made available upon reasonable notice for the purpose of investigation and control by the Department of Revenue. Amends the Prevention of Tobacco Use by Minors and Sale and Distribution of Tobacco Products Act. In provisions that provide for increased penalties for retailers that do not have training programs, provides that those training programs may be conducted electronically. Provides that, if a retailer has a training program in place prior to the effective date of the amendatory Act, has a training program approved by another state, or follows the guidelines set forth by the federal Food and Drug Administration, then that training program shall be deemed to meet the minimum standards in this State. Effective January 1, 2016.