Rep. Richard Morthland

Amends the Personnel Code. Provides that all positions subject to the provisions of the Code, including but not limited to emergency appointments, temporary appointments, and provisional appointments, and under the jurisdiction of the Director of the Department of Corrections, shall be filled exclusively by persons who have undergone a competitive examination.

Amends the Lobbyist Registration Act. Authorizes a State agency, a unit of local government, a school district, or any other governmental entity that receives public funds to designate no more than 2 natural persons at the same time as legislative liaisons or lobbyists to engage in lobbying General Assembly members with respect to legislative action. Permits a person serving in an elective office to lobby without designation and in addition to the designated persons. Effective immediately.

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that all promises, notes, bills, bonds, covenants, contracts, agreements, judgments, mortgages, or other securities or conveyances made, given, granted, drawn, or entered into between a person who is convicted of involuntary servitude, involuntary sexual servitude of a minor, or trafficking in persons for forced labor or services and a victim of the offense where the whole or any part of the consideration is for any money or thing of value obtained or derived from a violation of these provisions are null and void. Provides that a person who is a victim of involuntary servitude, involuntary sexual servitude of a minor, or trafficking in persons for forced labor or services may initiate a civil action to recover the property obtained by the person who committed the offense. Provides that the victim may initiate a civil action to obtain monetary damages based on the value of the property obtained by the person who committed the offense. Provides that the court or the jury, as the case may be, shall determine the amount of that property. Provides that after that determination, the court shall enter a judgment of triple the amount so determined. Provides that if the victim is a minor, the action may be initiated in the name of the minor by the State's Attorney of the county where the violation occurred.

Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides for the use of black powder cartridges during the open deer season for muzzleloading rifles. Effective immediately.

Creates the Employ Illinois Job Renewal Act. Requires the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to develop application procedures to certify certain areas in the State as Job Renewal Zones. Sets forth the qualifications for certification as a Job Renewal Zone. Sets forth tax incentives for businesses located inside Job Renewal Zones. Requires the Department to certify all Job Renewal Zones by July 1, 2013 and provides that all zones expire on June 30, 2024. Requires the Department to report to the General Assembly and Governor no later than January 1, 2023 concerning the program. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Horse Meat Act. Repeals the provisions of Public Act 95-2 that concerns the ban on slaughtering horses for human consumption. Amends various Acts by adding or deleting certain language that was added or deleted by Public Act 95-2. Effective immediately.

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that when the victim is under 18 years of age at the time of the offense, a prosecution for criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual assault, predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, aggravated criminal sexual abuse, or felony criminal sexual abuse, or a prosecution for failure of a person who is required to report an alleged or suspected commission of any of these offenses under the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act may be commenced at any time.

Amends the Downstate Teachers Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that if a teacher has not, before the effective date of the amendatory Act, availed himself or herself of the opportunity to establish service credit for similar employment under a specific provision of the Code, then he or she must, on or before that date, pay to the Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois all contributions that must ordinarily be paid in order to establish that credit. Effective immediately.

Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Beginning on July 1, 2012, exempts from the taxes imposed by these Acts fence posts, fencing, and farm gates, but only if it is certified by the purchaser that these items will be used for livestock production. Exempts those purchases from the sunset provisions of the Acts. Effective immediately.

Amends the General Assembly Compensation Act. Provides that, for terms commencing on or after January 12, 2011, each member of the General Assembly shall receive compensation that is no more than 90% of the amount last set by the Compensation Review Board. Amends the Compensation Review Act. For fiscal year 2012 and each fiscal year thereafter, prohibits a cost of living adjustment for General Assembly members. Effective immediately.