Rep. Joe Sosnowski

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that licensed medically complex for the developmentally disabled facilities (MC/DD) (rather than licensed long-term care facilities for persons under 22 years of age) that serve severely and chronically ill patients (rather than pediatric patients) shall have a specific reimbursement system designed to recognize the characteristics and needs of the patients they serve. Sets forth certain reimbursement rates for MC/DD facilities for date of services starting July 1, 2018. Requires MC/DD facilities to document within each resident's medical record the conditions or services using the minimum data set documentation standards and requirements to qualify for exceptional care reimbursement. Provides that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall be responsible for reimbursement calculations and direct payment for services. Imposes an assessment and licensing fee on MC/DD facilities. Creates the Medically Complex for the Developmentally Disabled Provider Fund for the purpose of receiving and disbursing assessment moneys, including making payments to intermediate care facilities for persons with a developmental disability that are also licensed as MC/DD facilities and making payments of any amounts which are reimbursable to the federal government. Makes other changes. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Medically Complex for the Developmentally Disabled Provider Fund. Effective immediately.

Amends the Notice By Publication Act. Provides that whenever a governmental unit, community college district, or school district is required to provide notice by publication in a newspaper by law, order of court, or contract, the governmental unit may publish the notice on an official government website instead of in a newspaper. Provides conditions concerning the availability and format of the notice webpage. Repeals a Section concerning the placement of published notices on a statewide website and makes corresponding changes throughout the Act and in the Newspaper Legal Notice Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Invest in Kids Act. Provides that the term "qualified school" also means a non-public school that has been registered with the State Board of Education for at least one year and is currently seeking the status of "Non-public School Recognition" from the State Board of Education under the School Code. Effective immediately.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that the unlawful use of weapons violation prohibiting a person from selling, manufacturing, purchasing, possessing, or carrying a rifle having one or more barrels less than 16 inches in length does not apply to a rifle with a barrel or barrels less than 16 inches in length if the overall length of the weapon as modified is less than 26 inches and the person selling, manufacturing, purchasing, or possessing the rifle has been issued a Dealer in Firearms Other Than Destructive Devices license or a Manufacturer of Firearms Other Than Destructive Devices license from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Expands the list of exempt properties not required to annually file for an exemption to include properties owned by public schools, the State, taxing districts, public libraries, fire protection districts, municipalities, housing authorities, public transportation systems, bi-state development agencies, park and conservation districts, and other specified public bodies and units of local government (currently, the list includes properties used for burial grounds or religious purposes, and property of the United States government). Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Makes changes to the professional designations required for township and multi-township assessors and for supervisors of assessment. Repeals a provision regarding experience-based qualifications. Effective July 1, 2017.

Amends the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act. Provides that if a unit of local government, as an employer, and public employees provide for arbitration of impasses, the employer's financial ability to fund the proposals based on existing available resources shall be given primary consideration, provided that such ability is not predicated on an assumption that lines of credit or reserve funds are available or that the employer may or will receive or develop new sources of revenue or increase existing sources of revenue. Provides that in interest arbitration for security employee, peace officer, and fire fighter disputes, the arbitration panel shall take the employer's financial ability to fund the proposals based on existing available resources as the primary consideration, provided that such ability is not predicated on an assumption that lines of credit or reserve funds are available or that the employer may or will receive or develop new sources of revenue or increase existing sources of revenue (currently the interests and welfare of the public and the financial ability of the unit of government to meet those goals). Amends the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act. With respect to collective bargaining between an educational employer (other than the Chicago school district) and an exclusive representative of its employees, provides that when making wage and benefit determinations during interest arbitration, the employer's financial ability to fund the proposals based on existing available resources shall be given primary consideration, provided that such ability is not predicated on an assumption that lines of credit or reserve funds are available or that the employer may or will receive or develop new sources of revenue or increase existing sources of revenue.

Amends the Administration Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that subject to federal approval, on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the LINK card issued by the Department of Human Services for the purpose of enabling cardholders to obtain Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits or cash shall only be used for in-state transactions. Provides that the Department shall adopt rules and regulations necessary to implement this provision.

Amends the Public Community College Act. Removes a provision providing that the variable tuition rates and fees established by the board of trustees of a community college district for students attending a public community college shall not exceed 1/3 of the per capita cost of the college.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that no assessment publication is required of a property if there has been no change in the assessment of that property. Provides that a complete record of all assessments shall be kept by the Supervisor of Assessments and shall be available for inspection upon request. Provides that the Supervisor shall maintain a website of a complete record of assessments if the Supervisor maintains an online database of assessments.