Rep. Joe Sosnowski

Amends the Property Tax Code, the Counties Code, and the Clerks of Courts Act. Makes changes to provisions concerning stipends paid to supervisors of assessments, county treasurers, county coroners, county recorders, county auditors, sheriffs, and clerks of the circuit court to provide that: (1) in counties with a population under 100,000, those officials shall receive a full stipend amount; (2) in counties with a population of 100,000 or more but less than 400,000, those officials shall receive 50% of the stipend amount; and (3) in counties with a population of 400,000 or more, those officials shall receive no stipend. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends provisions of the Unemployment Insurance Act prohibiting the disclosure of information obtained from an individual or employing unit during the administration of the Act. In language providing that the prohibition does not apply to communication with an individual or entity through unencrypted e-mail or unencrypted electronic means as long as the communication does not contain the individual's or entity's name in combination with specified numbers or codes, deletes "account number" from the numbers and codes. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Provides that, upon request of an alternative higher learning institution, the school board of Rockford School District 205 may award a diploma to any person who has not received a high school diploma but has received a high school equivalency certificate from the alternative higher learning institution, with conditions. Provides for rulemaking.

Amends the Illinois Seed Law. Provides that specified provisions do not apply to seed distributed within this State by means of noncommercial, interpersonal seed sharing activities, including, but not limited to, seed libraries, seed exchanges, or other formal or informal seed sharing activities. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Provides that, subject to appropriation to the State Board of Education, there is created an agriculture education teacher grant program to fund personal services costs for agriculture education teachers in school districts. Provides that a school district may apply for a grant to fund 50% of the personal services cost for an agriculture education teacher; however, a school district that is creating a new agriculture education program may apply for a grant to fund 100% of an agriculture teacher's personal services cost in the first and second year of the new agriculture education program and 80% of an agriculture teacher's personal services cost in the third and fourth years of the new agriculture education program. Allows a school district to apply for a grant for more than one teacher. Sets forth the duties of the State Board. Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act with respect to teacher shortage scholarships. Specifies that agricultural education is a course of study included in the definition of "areas of identified staff shortages".

Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Provides that no importing distributor's licenses may be issued on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides that an importing distributor's license that is valid on the effective date of the amendatory Act shall remain valid until that license expires. Changes the definition of "distributor" to include any person other than a non-resident dealer licensed under the Act who imports into this State, from any point in the United States outside this State, whether for himself or herself or for another, any alcoholic liquors for sale or resale, or for use in the manufacture, preparation, or compounding of products other than alcoholic liquors, or who imports into this State, from any point in the United States outside this State, for consumption in any one calendar year, more than one gallon of such liquors. Provides that a distributor's license also allows the importation of alcoholic liquor by the licensee into this State from any point in the United States outside this State and the purchase of alcoholic liquor in barrels, casks, or other bulk containers and the bottling of such alcoholic liquors before resale thereof, but all bottles or containers so filled shall be sealed, labeled, stamped, and otherwise made to comply with all provisions and rules governing manufacturers in the preparation and bottling of alcoholic liquors. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides a definition for "automobile transporter" and "backhaul". Amends the definition for "stinger-steered semitrailer" and "truck tractor". Provides that the length of a stinger-steered semitrailer specifically designed to transport motor vehicles or an automobile transporter cannot exceed 80 feet (rather than 75 feet), with an overhang of less than 4 feet (rather than 3 feet) and a rear overhang of less than 6 feet (rather than 4 feet). Provides an automobile transporter of these lengths can also be used when transporting other cargo or general freight on a backhaul. Effective immediately.

Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Board of Trustees of the Illinois State University for its FY 16 ordinary and contingent expenses.

Amends the Use Tax Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Creates a new Section prohibiting all units of local government from enacting or enforcing ordinances or regulations that penalize tenants who contact police or other emergency services if (1) the contact was made with the intent to prevent the perpetration or escalation of domestic violence, sexual violence, criminal activity, or any other emergency situation; (2) the contact was made with the intent to respond to domestic violence, sexual violence, criminal activity, or other emergency situation; (3) the intervention or emergency assistance was needed to respond to the perpetration or escalation of domestic violence, sexual violence, criminal activity, or other emergency situation; or (4) the contact was concerning an individual with a disability. Requires any ordinances inconsistent with this Section to be repealed or modified. Provides that a landlord or tenant may bring a civil suit seeking to invalidate the ordinance, compensatory damages, attorney fees, court costs, and other equitable relief. Provides that the new Section is a denial and limitation of home rule powers and functions. Provides that this Section does not limit enforcement of provisions of the Emergency Telephone System Act, the Criminal Code of 2012, and the Forcible Entry and Detainer Article of the Code of Civil Procedure, or does not limit or prohibit any unit of local government from enacting or enforcing an ordinance that does not penalize landlords or tenants on the basis of contact made to police or other emergency service. Effective immediately.