Rep. Patrick J. Verschoore

Amends the Motor Fuel Tax Law. Adds a caption to a Section concerning definitions.

Amends the Secretary of State Act. Requires the Secretary of State to appoint, with the advice and consent of the Senate, an Inspector General. Provides that the Secretary of State may designate the Inspector General and members of the Inspector General's office as peace officers after those persons have completed basic police training. Allows the Inspector General to conduct investigations and make reports concerning fraud, corruption, and mismanagement in the Office of the Secretary of State; subpoena witnesses and evidence necessary to carry out the duties of the Inspector General, within specified limitations; and have direct access to the Secretary of State. Provides that a person who knowingly and intentionally fails to comply with a subpoena issued by the Inspector General is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. Prohibits reprisals against employees of the Secretary of State who make complaints to or disclose information to the Inspector General. Requires the Secretary of State to adopt rules establishing requirements for investigations. Provides that any employee of the Secretary of State who is subject to investigation or inquiry by the Inspector General must be informed of his or her right to remain silent and to be represented by a representative of a labor organization. Provides that any employee of the Secretary of State who is subject to investigation or inquiry by the Inspector General must be informed of his or her right to remain silent and to be represented by a representative of a labor organization. Amends the Secretary of State Merit Employment Code. Provides requirements for the qualification of certain employees as inspectors. Effective immediately.

Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Changes, from 21 years of age or over to 18 years of age or over, the age at which a person may apply for and be issued a Firearm Owner's Identification Card without the consent of a parent or legal guardian. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Includes disabled persons within the provisions granting an assessment freeze homestead exemption to senior citizens. Changes the name to the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption (now Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption). Makes corresponding changes to a cross-reference to the exemption. Amends the States Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that a gas utility offering unregulated sales of natural gas to an end-use customer within or outside its service area shall be subject to specified provisions of the Act with respect to such sales. Provides that a gas utility offering unregulated sales of natural gas to an end-use customer within or outside its service area shall not subsidize such sales through the utility's regulated business. Provides that a gas utility offering unregulated sales of natural gas to an end-use customer within or outside its service area shall not discriminate in the provision of regulated gas service based upon the existence or terms of an unregulated sale of natural gas. Provides that the Commission may require a gas utility to file reports regarding its unregulated sales of natural gas in the State and shall have access to, for the purpose of review, a gas utility's contracts for unregulated sales of natural gas.

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in the State aid formula provisions concerning supplemental general State aid.

Amends the Department of Veterans Affairs Act. Requires the Department to reimburse veterans service organizations for services provided by veterans service officers in processing and adjudicating claims and other benefits for veterans and their spouses or other beneficiaries residing in Illinois. Requires reimbursement at the rate of $0.005 for each dollar of benefits obtained for veterans or their spouses or other beneficiaries. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. Provides that regional long term care ombudsman programs may use trained volunteers to make routine visits to facilities licensed or certified under the Nursing Home Care Act, the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act, and the Social Security Act or to any other facility for which long term care ombudsmen are obligated to visit either by federal or State law. Sets forth requirements for the volunteers. Amends the Health Care Worker Background Check Act. Includes a trained-volunteer program operated by a regional long term care ombudsman program within the definition of "health care employer". Effective immediately.

Designates that portion of Illinois Route 92, in the city of Rock Island, extending from 46th Street to Andalusia Road as the Rock Island Parkway.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Makes a technical change in a provision concerning display of a slow moving vehicle emblem.