Rep. Robert W. Pritchard

Amends the Boat Registration and Safety Act. Provides that a boating safety certificate is not required for a person who is temporarily using the waters of this State for the purpose of participating in a boat racing event sanctioned by the Department of Natural Resources or authorized federal agency. Requires the organizer or holder of the sanctioned event to possess liability insurance for property damage and personal injury or death with a minimum benefit of $1,000,000 that shall remain in effect through the entirety of the event. 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 State Agency Web Site Act. Requires that a State agency make applications for licenses under the jurisdiction of that State agency accessible by means of a State agency Web site to the general public no later than January 1, 2017. Defines "license" as any license, certification, registration, or permit issued by a State agency, except for a driver's license, State identification card, or vehicle registration issued by the Secretary of State or any license issued by the State Board of Elections. Effective immediately.

Amends the Open Meetings Act. Provides that public bodies may hold closed meetings to consider building safety and security.

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Creates the Military Prior Learning Assessment Task Force within the Board of Higher Education to study and make recommendations on how to best effectuate the recognition of military learning for academic credit, industry-recognized credentials, and college degrees through the use of the Prior Learning Assessment. Sets forth the membership of the task force and what the task force's study must include. Requires the task force to report its findings and recommendations on or before December 1, 2016. Repeals these provisions on December 1, 2017. Effective immediately.

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. In provision regarding refund of costs, fines, or fees upon reversal of conviction on a finding of actual innocence, the refund shall be determined by the judge and paid by the clerk of the court based upon the availability of funds in the subject fund account.

Amends the Department of State Police Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of State Police shall develop a coordinated program for a statewide emergency alert system when a person 21 years old or older who is believed to have Alzheimer's disease or related dementias is reported missing. Provides that the system shall be referred to as the Silver Alert system and shall include, but is not limited to, an electronic message sent to all law enforcement agencies; use of the emergency alert system; the use of electronic billboards and message signs in coordination with the Illinois Department of Transportation if a vehicle is involved; posting of the Silver Alert message on Illinois Lottery terminals; the designation by the Department of a contact name and toll-free telephone number for tips and information; blast email and fax messages to media outlets; activation of a local reverse 911 systems to all businesses and residents if the person is on foot. Amends the Department of Transportation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Transportation shall coordinate with the Department of State Police in the use of electronic message signs on roads and highways to immediately provide critical information to the public concerning missing persons with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias. Amends the Missing Persons Identification Act to make conforming changes.

Amends the School Code. Adds the subjects of consumer debt, higher education student loans, and identity-theft security to the list of subjects that are required to be included in the financial literacy component of consumer education. Effective July 1, 2015.

Amends the School Code. Provides that school counseling services may include actively supporting students in need of special education services by implementing the academic, personal or social, and college or career development services or interventions as required by a school professional per a student's individualized educational program; participating in or contributing to a student's individualized educational program; or completing a social development history (rather than by facilitating, participating in, or contributing to a student's individualized education plan and completing a social-developmental history). Effective immediately.

Creates the Veterans Preference in Private Employment Act. Provides that in every private, nonpublic employment in this State, honorably discharged veterans of any war of the United States, or of any military campaign for which a campaign ribbon has been awarded, and their widows or widowers, may be preferred for employment. Provides that spouses of honorably discharged veterans who have a service-connected permanent and total disability may also be preferred for employment; and that these preferences are not considered violations of any State or local equal employment opportunity law, including, but not limited to, any provision under, or rule adopted pursuant to, the Illinois Human Rights Act.