Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that a public utility seeking to construct a high-voltage electric service line and related facilities (Project) must show that the utility has held a minimum of 2 pre-filing public meetings to receive public comment concerning the Project in each county where the Project is to be located, no earlier than 6 months prior to filing an application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity from the Illinois Commerce Commission. Provides that a public utility seeking to construct a Project shall include with the application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity to the Commission a list containing the name and address of each owner of record of the land included in the primary or alternate rights-of way for the Project as disclosed by the records of the tax collector of the county in which the land is located, as of not more than 30 days prior to the filing of the application. Provides that a public utility seeking to construct a Project may not ask for an easement for more ground than what it has filed with the Commission. Provides that a public utility that has been granted a certificate of public convenience and necessity for the purpose of making land surveys and land use studies shall provide a second notice to the owner of the property, identifying the date and time when land surveys and land use studies will begin on the property and informing the landowner of his or her right to be present when the land surveys or land use studies occur. Provides that the second notice shall also indicate whether the certificate of public convenience and necessity has been granted, whether it has been stayed by a court at the time of surveying, and indicate that, should the certificate of public convenience and necessity not be granted or is stayed by a court, the public utility has no right to enter the property. Provides that the notice shall also clearly indicate the property the public utility wishes to survey, and where the landowner can call to deny permission if the certificate of public convenience and necessity has not been granted or has been stayed by a court. Effective immediately.
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Amends the Fish and Aquatic Life Code. Defines the term "drone". Makes the use of a drone an illegal method of taking fish and aquatic life. Provides that the use of a drone as a fishing device constitutes a public nuisance, making the drone subject to confiscation. Amends the Wildlife Code. Defines the term "drone". Prohibits the use of a drone in the taking of wildlife. Provides that the use of a drone as a hunting device constitutes a public nuisance, making the drone subject to confiscation. Penalizes the taking of wildlife by use of a drone as a Class A misdemeanor in addition to other statutory penalties.
Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that accessibility improvements made to residential property shall not increase the assessed valuation of the property. Provides that the term "accessibility improvement" means a modification or addition to residential property that is designed to make the property more accessible to a disabled person, including, but not limited to, the installation of ramps, lifts, or fixtures or the removal of architectural barriers on the property. Effective immediately.
Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the definition of "conviction".
Amends the truth in taxation Division of the Property Tax Code. Provides that if a taxing district maintains a website, the truth in taxation notice shall be published on the website in addition to a newspaper of general circulation.
Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. In provision regarding refund of costs, fines, or fees upon reversal of conviction on a finding of actual innocence, the refund shall be determined by the judge and paid by the clerk of the court based upon the availability of funds in the subject fund account.
Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Provides that subject to appropriation, the Department of Children and Family Services shall establish a child protection training academy for child protective investigators and supervisors employed by the Department or its contractors, and for other State and county employees, judges, court personnel, service providers, mental health professionals, law enforcement, foster parents, and other appropriate individuals and entities that are involved in providing child welfare services and that work directly with abused or neglected children. Provides that the training efforts of the academy shall include, but shall not be limited to, establishing: (i) training curricula on recognizing and responding to cases of child abuse or neglect; (ii) laboratory training facilities that include mock houses, mock medical facilities, mock courtrooms, and mock forensic interview rooms that allow for simulated, interactive, and intensive training; and (iii) minimum standards of competence that a person shall be required to demonstrate prior to receiving certification from the academy. Provides that by January 1, 2016, the Department shall adopt rules for the administration of the child protection training academy that not only establish statewide competence, assessment, and training standards for persons providing child welfare services, but that also ensure that persons who provide child welfare services have the knowledge, skills, professionalism, and abilities to make decisions that keep children safe and secure. Effective immediately.
Creates the Safeguard Our Children Act. Provides that any child or person in the care of the Department of Children and Family Services who is placed in a residential facility under contract with the Department shall be reported as missing to the local law enforcement agency within whose jurisdiction the facility is located, if: (1) there is no contact between an employee of the facility and the child or person within a period of 12 hours; and (2) the child or person is absent from the facility without prior approval. Requires the operator of the residential facility to inform the child's or person's caseworker that the child or person has been reported as missing to the appropriate local law enforcement agency; and to also report the child or person as missing to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and to the sheriff of the county in which the facility is located. Requires the operator of the residential facility to record a Plan of Care for any child or person who resides at the facility and who plans to leave the facility temporarily for more than 24 hours. Requires the Plan of Care to contain certain information. Defines terms. Amends the Intergovernmental Missing Child Recovery Act of 1984. Requires the Department of State Police to develop a standard missing persons alert for the LEADS network for use when a child or person in the care and legal custody of the Department of Children and Family Services is reported as missing to a local law enforcement agency. Provides that the standard missing persons alert shall contain certain information.
Amends the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. Provides that no board member may receive more than one per diem, stipend, or other similar form of compensation for meetings that are held on consecutive days unless: (i) each meeting is more than 4 hours long, or (ii) in the case of an emergency. Defines "board" to include a board, commission, authority, task force, or other similar body to which one or more members are appointed by the Governor.
Amends the Department of State Police Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of State Police shall develop a coordinated program for a statewide emergency alert system when a person 21 years old or older who is believed to have Alzheimer's disease or related dementias is reported missing. Provides that the system shall be referred to as the Silver Alert system and shall include, but is not limited to, an electronic message sent to all law enforcement agencies; use of the emergency alert system; the use of electronic billboards and message signs in coordination with the Illinois Department of Transportation if a vehicle is involved; posting of the Silver Alert message on Illinois Lottery terminals; the designation by the Department of a contact name and toll-free telephone number for tips and information; blast email and fax messages to media outlets; activation of a local reverse 911 systems to all businesses and residents if the person is on foot. Amends the Department of Transportation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Transportation shall coordinate with the Department of State Police in the use of electronic message signs on roads and highways to immediately provide critical information to the public concerning missing persons with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias. Amends the Missing Persons Identification Act to make conforming changes.