Rep. La Shawn Ford

Urges Congress to require replica gun manufacturers to design these guns to be bright colors.

Amends the Unemployment Insurance Act. Provides that beginning in 2016, employer contributions shall be paid in quarterly installments.

Directs the Auditor General to conduct a management audit of the State's procurement of inmate telephone service vendors for the Department of Corrections' inmate telephone service program.

Amends the Illinois Lottery Law. Creates the Lottery Supports Schools Fund. Provides that certain lottery revenues shall be deposited into the Fund. Provides that moneys in the fund shall be distributed to school districts based on the district's percentage of lottery sales. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax checkoff for the Mental Health Income Tax Checkoff Fund. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Fund. Provides that moneys in the Fund may be used by the Department of Public Health for the purpose of making grants to providers of mental health services in the State.

Amends the School Code. Requires each school board to adopt a rule regarding the sending of sexually explicit text or images by students through the use of a computer, cellular phone, or other portable electronic device. Provides that any student discipline policy furnished to parents, guardians, or students must include this rule and any penalty for violating this rule and must also specify if there are any local, State, or federal laws or penalties concerning the sending of sexually explicit images or text through the use of a computer, cellular phone, or other portable electronic device. Effective immediately.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that a person is not prohibited from photographing his or her own ballot at any time during the voting process or from viewing a photograph of a completed or partially completed ballot. Provides that a person who gives, promises to give, or receives any money or other valuable consideration in connection with the dissemination or viewing of such a photograph is guilty of a Class 4 felony.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code and the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. Provides that during any period of time in which the person owing a duty of support is committed to the custody of the Department of Corrections or the Department of Juvenile Justice, an obligation to pay child support is suspended by operation of law, but not until 60 days after the custodial parent receives notice and an opportunity to request a termination or modification of the suspension of the support obligation. Provides that if a non-custodial parent receives a settlement, claim, inheritance, lottery prize award, or other lump sum or periodic income of $500 or more a month or $5,000 or more as a one-time lump sum, during a period in which his or her child support obligation is suspended pursuant to the Illinois Public Aid Code, the non-custodial parent shall notify the custodial parent, and in IV-D cases also notify the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, within 7 days of receiving or becoming aware that he or she is entitled to receive this income. Provides that any period of incarceration of a parent obligated to pay child support shall not be considered a period of voluntary unemployment. Contains provisions concerning the accrual of interest on any pre-existing unpaid obligation; notice requirements; and other matters.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. With regard to insurance producers' license renewal requirements and public adjusters' continuing education requirements for licensure, provides that 3 of the required 24 hours of course study or continuing education must consist of ethics instruction (rather than classroom ethics instruction). Makes conforming changes.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that Department of Juvenile Justice personnel who are hired by the Department and who participate or assist in the rehabilitative and vocational training of delinquent youths, supervise the daily activities involving direct and continuing responsibility for the youth's security, welfare and development, or participate in the personal rehabilitation of delinquent youth by training, supervising, and assisting lower level personnel who perform these duties must be over the age of 21 and have a bachelor's or advanced degree from an accredited college or university with a specialization in criminal justice, education, psychology, social work, or a closely related social science or other bachelor's or advanced degree with at least 2 years' experience in the field of juvenile matters. Provides that the Department of Juvenile Justice shall by certified mail and telephone or electronic message (deletes return receipt requested) notify the parent, guardian or nearest relative of any person committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice of his or her physical location and any change thereof.