Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia

Amends the Illinois School Student Records Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the members of the State Board of Education.

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning charter schools.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that the corporate authorities of a municipality may apply to the Department of Human Services for an Accessible Community designation for the municipality if the municipality shows it (1) has an accessibility committee or accessibility taskforce organized and operating; (2) has a website that meets specified accessibility standards for electronic and information technology; (3) provides training to its first responders regarding how to interact with a person with a disability; (4) provides public buildings that are accessible to persons with disabilities; (5) provides accessible public transportation; (6) provides affordable housing accessible to persons with disabilities or establishes regulations for the design, installation, and construction of single family and attached single family homes accessible to persons with disabilities; and (7) has at least one person with a disability on staff. Lists procedures for review of applications and awarding the Accessible Community designation by the Department. Provides that the Accessible Community designation expires 5 years after the date the Department awards the designation. Provides for procedures for reapplying for the Accessible Community designation after denial of an application or expiration of the designation. Amends the Department of Human Services Act making conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Creates the Downstate Illinois Competitive Generation Procurement and Reliability Security Act of 2018 with legislative findings. Provides for the establishment and implementation of an Illinois-specific process for securing electric generation resource adequacy and stable pricing for electric capacity within Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc., (MISO) Zone 4. Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. Authorizes the Illinois Power Agency to develop capacity procurement plans and conduct competitive procurement processes for the procurement of capacity needed to meet the capacity requirements of the retail customers of electric utilities that serve less than 3,000,000 retail customers, but more than 500,000 retail customers in this State. Requires the Agency's Planning and Procurement Bureau to develop plans and processes and conduct competitive procurement processes for the procurement of capacity needed to meet the capacity requirements of the retail customers of electric utilities that serve less than 3,000,000 retail customers, but more than 500,000 retail customers in this State. Modifies the calculation of the projected capacity price for delivering energy under the Act. Amends the Public Utilities Act to make changes regarding capacity procurement and delivery of energy by the Illinois Power Agency and the Illinois Commerce Commission. Makes conforming changes. Defines terms. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, beginning in taxable year 2018, the maximum reduction under the Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption is $8,000 in counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants and $7,000 in all other counties. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Veterans' Affairs Act. Makes changes to the composition of the Illinois Joining Forces Foundation Board. Provides that the Department of Veterans' Affairs, in consultation with the Department of Military Affairs, may propose (rather than adopt) other rules deemed necessary to govern Foundation procedures. Provides that the Foundation must provide notice (rather than written notice) to any entity providing a gift, grant, donation, or bequest to the Foundation that the Foundation is not subject to the provisions of the Public Funds Investment Act. Provides that if the Foundation's funds exceed $1,000,000 in any year (currently, there is no threshold amount), then it shall be subject to specified audits under the Illinois State Auditing Act. Provides that if the Foundation is funded below $1,000,000 annually, then the Foundation shall be exempt from the Illinois State Auditing Act. Provides that the Illinois Joining Forces Foundation shall be exempt from the Open Meetings Act so long as the Foundation does not receive funds from the State of Illinois. Provides that if the Foundation receive grants or funds from the State, then compliance with the Open Meetings Act shall be compulsory. Deletes provisions providing that the Foundation is not eligible for any grant administered or funded by the Department of Veterans' Affairs or the Department of Military Affairs. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission for its FY18 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2017.

Creates the Downstate Illinois Competitive Generation Procurement and Reliability Security Act of 2018 with legislative findings. Provides for the establishment and implementation of an Illinois-specific process for securing electric generation resource adequacy and stable pricing for electric capacity within Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc., (MISO) Zone 4. Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. Authorizes the Illinois Power Agency to develop capacity procurement plans and conduct competitive procurement processes for the procurement of capacity needed to meet the capacity requirements of the retail customers of electric utilities that serve less than 3,000,000 retail customers, but more than 500,000 retail customers in this State. Requires the Agency's Planning and Procurement Bureau to develop plans and processes and conduct competitive procurement processes for the procurement of capacity needed to meet the capacity requirements of the retail customers of electric utilities that serve less than 3,000,000 retail customers, but more than 500,000 retail customers in this State. Modifies the calculation of the projected capacity price for delivering energy under the Act. Amends the Public Utilities Act to make changes regarding capacity procurement and delivery of energy by the Illinois Power Agency and the Illinois Commerce Commission. Makes conforming changes. Defines terms. Effective immediately.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that members of the United States Service and members of United States Armed Forces and their spouses or dependents who are absent from the county may request ballots not less than 5 (rather than 10) days before the election if the ballot is to be mailed or less than one day prior to the date of the election if the ballot is to be sent electronically. Repeals provisions concerning certain special applications for votes by mail and special voter applications. Effective immediately.