Amends the Property Tax Code to impose a 3-year freeze on tax levies by school districts and community college districts. Amends the School Code and the Public Community College Act to make conforming changes. Amends the Illinois Pension Code. In the General Provisions Article, creates a cash balance plan for new hires of the State Universities and Teachers' Retirement Systems and for certain Tier II participants. In the General Assembly, State Employee, State Universities, and Downstate Teacher Articles, increases the retirement age for certain Tier I members and participants. Changes the conditions of eligibility for, and the amount of, automatic annual increases for Tier I retirees. Increases Tier I employee contributions. Limits pensionable salary for Tier I participants and provides that nothing prohibits an employer from providing additional retirement benefits outside the retirement system for participating employees whose compensation exceeds the new salary limitation. Changes the required State contribution to each of the affected retirement systems. Guarantees certain funding levels. In the State Universities and Downstate Teacher Articles, shifts costs to local employers. Makes other changes. Amends the State Finance Act. To the list of standardized items of appropriation, adds "State retirement contribution for annual normal cost" and "State retirement contribution for unfunded accrued liability". Defines those terms. Amends the Governor's Office of Management and Budget Act. Adds those terms to a list of classifications to be used in the preparation of a State budget. Amends the School Code to strengthen the requirements for reimbursement of State mandates on school districts. Includes an inseverability provision. Effective immediately.
Sponsored bills
Amends the School Code. Creates the School Transportation Renewable Fuels Task Force. Requires the task force to study the potential advantages and disadvantages of using biodiesel in school bus transportation by (1) conducting hearings to determine if biodiesel is currently used in Illinois school transportation and the value of such fuel usage, (2) determining the effects that biodiesel usage has on the long-term health of students, (3) studying the history of biodiesel usage in school transportation, (4) studying and reporting on current and past programs or incentives that promote or have promoted the use of biodiesel in school transportation, and (5) recommending programs or incentives that could increase the use of biodiesel in school transportation. Sets forth task force membership. Requires the Department of Transportation to provide staff and administrative support to the task force. Requires the task force to submit a report setting forth its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly on or before January 1, 2015. Further provides that upon filing its report, the task force is dissolved. Repeals these provisions on January 1, 2016. Effective immediately.
Amends the State Debt Impact Note Act. Provides that no bill or amendment which proposes to increase or add new long term debt authorization or would require, through appropriation, the use of bond financed funds may be called on third reading for final action unless a State Debt Impact Note has been filed. Deletes provisions allowing a majority of the members of a chamber of the General Assembly to vote to determine whether a State Debt Impact Note must be filed. Effective immediately.
Creates the Illinois Review Board Act. Creates the Illinois Review Board to review and evaluate the use of taxing authority by units of local government. Provides that the Board shall annually report its findings to the Governor and General Assembly. Amends the Department of Central Management Services Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Illinois Transparency and Accountability Portal (ITAP) shall make available the reports of the Illinois Review Board. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Provides that the prohibition against the use of the fact of an arrest in making employment decisions shall not be construed to apply to inquiries regarding arrests for which criminal charges are pending at the time of the inquiry.
Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. In provisions limiting an action against an attorney for malpractice to no later than 6 years after the date on which the attorney's act or omission occurred, adds this exception: if the client is still represented by the attorney or the attorney knowingly conceals the act or omission, the period of limitations will not begin to run until the person is no longer represented by the attorney or until the client should have known of the injury.
Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971. Decreases the amount paid by the State for the program of health benefits provided under the Act. Increases the amount paid by benefit recipients for the program of health benefits provided under the Act. Directs the Director of Central Management Services, beginning in State fiscal year 2014, to determine the amount that each annuitant, survivor, and retired employee shall contribute toward the basic program of group health benefits by taking into account age, years of service, and pension income. Effective July 1, 2013.
Amends the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law in the Property Tax Code. Provides that, if the total equalized assessed value of all taxable property in the taxing district for the current levy year (excluding new property, recovered tax increment value, and property that is annexed to or disconnected from the taxing district in the current levy year) is less than the total equalized assessed value of all taxable property in the taxing district for the previous levy year, then the extension limitation is (a) 0% or (b) the rate of increase approved by voters (instead of the lesser of 5% or the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index during the 12-month calendar year preceding the levy year or (b) the rate of increase approved by voters). Provides that a referendum to increase the extension limitation may not be conducted at a general primary or a consolidated primary election. Provides that certain supplemental information must be provided on the referendum ballot. Effective immediately.
Creates the Board of Legislative Repealers Act. Establishes the Board of Legislative Repealers. Directs the Board, among other things, to determine instances in which State laws and regulations are unreasonable, unduly burdensome, duplicative, onerous, in conflict, or unconstitutional, to create a system for receiving public comments, and to recommend changes in the law that it deems necessary to modify or eliminate antiquated and inequitable rules of law and to bring the law of the State into harmony with modern conditions. Authorizes the Board to set a schedule to make the investigations required by the Act and to adopt rules establishing the criteria to be used to determine whether a State law, regulation, or other governing instrument is unreasonable, unduly burdensome, duplicative, or onerous, or conflicts with another law, regulation, or governing instrument. Amends the Legislative Commission Reorganization Act of 1984 and the Legislative Reference Bureau Act. Requires the staff of the Legislative Reference Bureau and the Legislative Research Unit to cooperate to provide administrative support to the Board. Authorizes the Board to adopt any rules that are necessary to implement the requirements of the Act. Effective July 1, 2014.
Amends the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law in the Property Tax Code. Provides that if (i) the total equalized assessed value of all taxable property in the taxing district for the current levy year is less than the total equalized assessed value of all taxable property in the taxing district for the previous levy year, or (ii) the median equalized assessed value of all taxable property in the taxing district for the current levy year and the 2 levy years immediately preceding the current levy year is less than the median equalized assessed value of all taxable property in the taxing district for the 3 levy years immediately preceding that 3-year period, then the extension limitation is (a) 0% or (b) the rate of increase approved by voters (instead of the lesser of 5% or the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index during the 12-month calendar year preceding the levy year or the rate of increase approved by the voters). Effective immediately.