Rep. Robert W. Pritchard

Amends the Local Government Energy Conservation Act, the School Code, and the Public University Energy Conservation Act. Provides that requests for proposals must be submitted to the administrators of all 4 volumes of the Illinois Procurement Bulletin for publication in each bulletin. Provides that contracts let or awarded must be submitted to the administrators of all 4 volumes of the Illinois Procurement Bulletin for publication in each bulletin. Makes changes concerning drafters of specifications submitting bids or proposals for installment contracts and other agreements proposed by a school district or public university. Effective immediately.

Amends the Hospital Services Trust Fund Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that subject to appropriation, in addition to any other payments authorized under the Code, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall reimburse critical access hospitals for outpatient services at an amount that is no less than the cost of providing such services, based on Medicare cost principles.

Amends the General Assembly Organization Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the deposit of books, bills, documents, and papers with the Secretary of State.

Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Removes provisions added by Public Act 94-356 concerning the transfer of creditable police service under the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund to a downstate police pension fund (and cross references to those provisions) and opens a window during which police officers may transfer the creditable service under different terms and conditions. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Authorizes taxing districts to order a property tax abatement for property located in an underserved area and used as a new office by a healthcare provider. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Prompt Payment Act. Provides that interest penalties amounting to $50 or more (instead of interest and penalties in any amount) shall be paid automatically. Provides that, for interest of at least $5 but less than $50, the vendor must initiate a written request for the interest penalty when the interest is due and payable. Provides that the Department of Central Management Services and the State Comptroller shall jointly promulgate rules establishing the conditions under which interest of less than $5 may be claimed and paid. Provides that the State Comptroller, in conjunction with the Department of Central Management Services, shall submit a report concerning the processing of interest penalty payments to the General Assembly no later than January 31, 2011. Provides that the report must include certain information. Effective 30 days after becoming law.

Amends the Deposit of State Moneys Act. Requires the State Treasurer to implement and administer, by rule, a program requiring financial institutions to make mortgage loans on residential property in order for that financial institution to be eligible for investment of State funds in that financial institution. Requires the rules to contain provisions concerning not rejecting residential mortgage loans because of the location of the property, minimum assets to be invested in residential mortgage loans, minimum annual new residential mortgage loans, and reporting and auditing. Requires the Treasurer to report annually to the General Assembly. Effective immediately.

Makes appropriations to the Board of Trustees of Northern Illinois University for various purposes, including for ordinary and contingent expenses, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2009. Effective July 1, 2009.

Amends the Northern Illinois University Law. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the Board of Trustees.

Amends the Derogatory Statements About Banks Act. Changes the short title of the Act to the Derogatory Statements About Financial Institutions Act. Provides that a person shall not, for commercial purposes, use any investment rating or investment rating service as the basis for any statement or inference that the financial institution is in an unsafe or unsound condition, that the federally insured deposits held by the financial institution are vulnerable to loss, or that the owner of the deposits may be subjected to inconvenience with respect to any federally insured deposits. Provides that a person shall not, for commercial purposes, use the name, directly or by inference, of any State or federal regulatory agency or instrumentality as a source of information when making derogatory statements about the condition of one or more financial institutions, unless the person is citing publicly available information published by such regulatory agency or instrumentality. Provides that in addition to any cause of action that a financial institution may have against any person for damages caused by a violation of this Act, the Division of Banking of the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation is authorized to issue cease and desist orders against any person who violates the Act and to impose a civil monetary penalty of up to $10,000 for each violation of the Act or of such cease and desist order.