Rep. Emanuel Chris Welch

Amends the Trustees of Schools Article of the School Code. Allows the school board of any school district whose territory forms a part of a Class II county school unit to withdraw from the jurisdiction and authority of the trustees of schools of the township in which the school district is located and the township treasurer, provided that the school board elects or appoints its own school treasurer. Makes related changes.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Changes the penalty for aggravated assault of a transit employee from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class 4 felony if a Category I, Category II, or Category III weapon is used in the commission of the assault and the offender knows the individual assaulted to be a transit employee: (1) performing his or her official duties; (2) assaulted to prevent performance of his or her official duties; or (3) assaulted in retaliation for performing his or her official duties. Provides that the aggravated assault of a transit employee is a Class 4 felony if a firearm is used in the assault, other than by discharging the firearm, and the transit employee is: (1) performing his or her official duties; (2) assaulted to prevent performance of his or her official duties; or (3) assaulted in retaliation for performing his or her official duties.

Creates the Water Rate Protection Act. Creates the Water Rate Protection Board to exercise specified powers and duties, including holding hearings and regulating water rates that a municipal water provider with a population over 500,000 may impose upon units of local government that purchase water from the municipal water provider for delivery to consumers. Contains provisions regarding: appointment of board members and election of board officers; employment of hearing examiners and staff by the board; mailings; prohibited acts; conflicts of interest; records; water rates and rate schedules; judicial review; costs; expenses; construction; liability; and other matters. Limits home rule powers.

Amends the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. Provides that State's Attorneys are authorized to receive unfounded reports of child abuse or neglect for the purpose of screening and prosecuting a petition filed under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 requesting an Order of Protection. Provides that an unfounded report shall not be admissible in any judicial or administrative proceeding or action except for the purpose of screening and prosecuting a petition filed under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 requesting an Order of Protection (rather than an unfounded report shall not be admissible in any judicial or administrative proceeding or action).

Amends the Charter Schools Law of the School Code. Makes changes concerning charter schools authorized by the Commission. Removes a provision requiring the State Board to notify a school district of the amount of funding to be paid by the State Board to the charter school enrolling students who are residents of the district. Requires the State Board (instead of the Commission) to require a charter school to maintain accurate records of daily attendance that shall be deemed sufficient to file State aid claims. Removes a provision that requires the State Board to withhold from funds otherwise due a district the funds to be paid to the charter school and to pay such amounts to the charter school. Requires the Commission to quarterly certify to the State Board the student enrollment and student residency information (not just the student enrollment) for each of its charter schools. Requires enrollment and residency verification to be reported in a format prescribed by the State Board. Provides that, upon receipt of the certified quarterly enrollment report, the State Board shall pay directly to the charter school the per pupil funds authorized under certain provisions of the Law. Effective immediately.

Amends the Firearm Concealed Carry Act. Provides that a licensee who has completed the firearm training as prescribed in the Act is presumed to know that he or she cannot carry in a building, premises, or real property specified in the Act as a prohibited area.

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning educational service regions.

Amends the Charter Schools Law of the School Code. Removes provisions allowing the State Charter School Commission to reverse a school board's decision to deny, revoke, or not renew a charter; makes related changes. In a provision concerning a charter school proposed to be jointly authorized by 2 or more school districts and the school boards unanimously denying the charter school proposal with a statement that the school boards are not opposed to the charter school, but that they yield to the Commission in light of the complexities of joint administration, allows the charter applicant to submit the proposal to the Commission and requires the Commission to follow the same process and be subject to the same timelines for review as a school board.

Appropriates $86,768,600 to the Department of Human Services and $223,200,000 to the Department of Revenue for various purposes.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax checkoff to allow taxpayers to make contributions to Special Olympics Illinois and Special Children's Charities. Effective immediately.