Rep. Emanuel Chris Welch

Amends the Limited Liability Company Act. Reduces the fee collected by the Secretary of State for the filing of articles of organization, applications for admission, and restated articles of organization from $500 to $39 and reduces those fees in connection with a limited liability company with ability to establish series from $750 to $59. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Provides that every public elementary school and high school shall include in its curriculum a unit of instruction practicing writing in cursive.

Amends the Minimum Wage Law. Excludes from the definition of "employee" an employee employed as a player who is 28 years old or younger, a manager, a coach, or an athletic trainer by a minor league professional baseball team not affiliated with a major league baseball club, if (A) the minor league professional baseball team does not operate for more than 7 months in any calendar year or (B) during the preceding calendar year, the minor league professional baseball team's average receipts for any 6-month period of the year were not more than 33 1/3% of its average receipts for the other 6 months of the year. Effective immediately.

Creates the Collective Bargaining Freedom Act. Provides that it is the policy of the State that employers, employees, and their labor organizations are free to bargain collectively. Provides that the authority to enact laws or rules that restrict the use of union security agreements between an employer and a labor organization vests exclusively with the General Assembly. Prohibits local governments from enforcing any such law or rule. Defines terms. Effective immediately.

Amends the Water Company Invested Capital Tax Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Creates the Home Care Consumer and Worker Protection Act. Provides that an individual performing services for a private home care provider (a home services agency, home nursing agency, or internet-based business that arranges for home care services) is presumed to be an employee unless specified conditions exist; however, a sole proprietor or partnership performing services is not considered an employee of the agency or private party upon a showing that it is a legitimate subcontractor. Makes it a violation of the Act for a private home care provider not to designate an individual as an employee unless the private home care provider complies with specified provisions. Provides that an interested party may file a complaint online through the website of the Department of Labor against a private home care provider if there is a reasonable belief that the employer is in violation of the Act. Provides that the Department shall enforce the Act and may conduct investigations, obtain documentation, and subpoena books, records, and witnesses to conduct its investigations. Prohibits discharge or other retaliation for exercising rights under the Act. Contains provisions concerning violations, penalties, private rights of action, referrals, rulemaking, and other matters. Provides that moneys received by the Department under the Act shall be deposited into the Home Care Consumer and Worker Protection Fund and amends the State Finance Act to include it as a special fund in the State treasury.

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the School Code's construction. Effective immediately, but this Act does not take effect at all unless Senate Bills 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 of the 100th General Assembly become law.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that the State Board of Elections and the Office of the Secretary of State shall establish an automatic voter registration program pursuant to an interagency contract and jointly-adopted rules. Provides that an application for a driver's license, other than a temporary visitor's driver's license or a State identification card, shall also serve as an application to register to vote; allow an update to registration; and perform other specified functions. Requires specified agencies to provide certain information regarding registration. Establishes designated automatic voter registration agencies, and requires the establishment of dual-purpose applications to register to vote. Sets forth provisions and requirements for the State Board of Elections regarding the program. Amends the Freedom of Information Act to exempt certain information. Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Repeals the Dwelling Structure Contract Act and the Dwelling Unit Installment Contract Act. Creates the Installment Sales Contract Act. Adds provisions governing: definitions; terms and conditions of installment sales contracts; applicability of other Acts; sales of condemned dwelling structures; repairs; account statements; transfer of payments; insurance proceeds; unlawful acts; waivers; and penalties. Makes corresponding changes in the Condominium Property Act. Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that a real estate installment contract for residential real estate is subject to the foreclosure provisions of the Code if the purchase price is to be paid in installments over a period in excess of one year (instead of 5 years) and the amount unpaid under the terms of the contract at the time of the filing of the foreclosure complaint, including principal and due and unpaid interest, at the rate prior to default, is less than 90% (instead of 80%) of the original purchase price of the real estate as stated in the contract. Effective January 1, 2018.

Amends the Direct Pay Permit Implementation Act. Makes a technical change in a Section creating the direct pay permit pilot program.