Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia

Amends the Use Tax Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning terms.

Amends the Crime Victims Compensation Act. Provides procedures for providing notice to a vendor waiting for payment of a claim for compensation filed under the Act. Provides that a vendor who has been provided notice of the claim may not engage in debt collection activities against the applicant until the Court of Claims awards compensation for the debt and the payment is processed. Provides that if the court denies compensation, the vendor may not engage in debt collection activities until 45 days after the date the court enters an order denying the compensation. Provides that the vendor may engage in specified activities. Provides that the statute of limitations for collection of a related debt is tolled upon the filing of the claim for compensation and any related civil actions are stayed until 45 days after the Court of Claims enters an order denying the compensation. Defines terms.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Creates a new Section prohibiting all units of local government from enacting or enforcing ordinances or regulations that penalize tenants who contact police or other emergency services if (1) the contact was made with the intent to prevent the perpetration or escalation of domestic violence, sexual violence, criminal activity, or any other emergency situation; (2) the contact was made with the intent to respond to domestic violence, sexual violence, criminal activity, or other emergency situation; (3) the intervention or emergency assistance was needed to respond to the perpetration or escalation of domestic violence, sexual violence, criminal activity, or other emergency situation; or (4) the contact was concerning an individual with a disability. Requires any ordinances inconsistent with this Section to be repealed or modified. Provides that a landlord or tenant may bring a civil suit seeking to invalidate the ordinance, compensatory damages, attorney fees, court costs, and other equitable relief. Provides that the new Section is a denial and limitation of home rule powers and functions. Provides that this Section does not limit enforcement of provisions of the Emergency Telephone System Act, the Criminal Code of 2012, and the Forcible Entry and Detainer Article of the Code of Civil Procedure, or does not limit or prohibit any unit of local government from enacting or enforcing an ordinance that does not penalize landlords or tenants on the basis of contact made to police or other emergency service. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Agency Web Site Act. Requires that a State agency make applications for licenses under the jurisdiction of that State agency accessible by means of a State agency Web site to the general public no later than January 1, 2017. Defines "license" as any license, certification, registration, or permit issued by a State agency, except for a driver's license, State identification card, or vehicle registration issued by the Secretary of State or any license issued by the State Board of Elections. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Creates the Attendance Commission within the State Board of Education to study chronic absenteeism and make recommendations for strategies to prevent chronic absenteeism. Sets forth provisions concerning the members of the Commission, meetings and hearings of the Commission, State Board support for the Commission, and duties of the Commission. Provides that the Attendance Commission shall submit an annual report to the General Assembly and the State Board of Education no later than December 15 of each year. Provides that the Commission is abolished and these provisions are repealed on December 16, 2020. Effective immediately.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Requires a utility to waive the utility's initial credit and deposit requirements for a period of 60 days for a residential customer or applicant who is a victim of domestic violence. Provides that the domestic violence must be certified by treating medical personnel, law enforcement personnel, a State's Attorney, the Attorney General, or a domestic violence shelter. The certification letter must be printed on the certifying entity's letterhead or accompanied by a letter on the certifying entity's letterhead that identifies the certifying individual.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, for taxable year 2016 and thereafter, the amount of the senior citizens assessment freeze homestead exemption shall be the greater of (i) the amount of the exemption otherwise calculated under that Section of the Code or (ii) $2,000. Effective immediately.

Amends the Attorney Act. Deletes language providing that no person shall be entitled to receive a license to practice law unless the person is a citizen of the United States or unless the person has made a declaration of intention to become a citizen or unless, having made such declaration of intention, he or she has filed a petition for naturalization within thirty days after becoming eligible to do so and until he shall have obtained a certificate of good moral character from a circuit court. Provides instead that no person shall be prohibited from receiving a license solely because he or she is not a citizen of the United States. Provides that the Illinois Supreme Court may grant a license to a person who, in addition to fulfilling the requirements to practice law within this State, satisfies the following requirements: (1) the United States Department of Homeland Security has approved the person's request for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals; (2) the person's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals has not expired or has been properly renewed; and (3) the person has a current and valid employment authorization document issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service. Provides that the provisions concerning the issuance of a license to a person granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals is a state law for purposes of the federal statute governing the eligibility of nonresident aliens for state and local public benefits. Requests that the Illinois Supreme Court promulgate any orders or rules necessary to implement the amendatory Act.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code and the Health Maintenance Organization Act. Includes breast tomosynthesis in the definition of "low-dose mammography".