Rep. Jim Sacia

Amends the Real Estate License Act of 2000. Creates an exemption from the licensing requirements under the Act for any person who holds a valid license under the Auction License Act while conducting an auction for the sale of real estate, provided that certain provisions are complied with. Creates a new provision that provides the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation shall issue a real estate auction certification to applicants who meet certain qualifications. Provides that enabling, aiding, or abetting an auctioneer to conduct a real estate auction in a manner that is in violation of the Act shall be grounds for discipline. Makes corresponding changes in the Auction License Act. Effective 12 months after becoming law.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012 and the Unified Code of Corrections. Permits currently employed and retired State correctional officers to carry their own firearms off duty without being in violation of the unlawful use of weapons and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon statutes if they meet certain training requirements.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that it is unlawful for any person confined in a penal institution, which is a facility of the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice, to possess any weapon prohibited under the statute concerning unlawful use of weapons or any firearm or firearm ammunition, regardless of the intent with which he or she possesses it.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that a "candidate political committee", "political action committee", "ballot initiative committee", or "independent expenditure committee" means a committee that makes contributions or makes expenditures during any 12-month period in an aggregate amount exceeding $5,000 (now, exceeding $3,000) on behalf of a candidate, on behalf of or in opposition to a candidate, or related to any question of public policy to be submitted to the electors, respectively. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that every electronic benefits transfer ("LINK") card issued on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act by the Department of Human Services for the purpose of enabling the cardholder to obtain SNAP benefits (formerly food stamps) or cash must include on the card's face a photograph of the cardholder. Provides that within 6 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act, the Department shall replace every still-valid card issued before that date with a card that includes on its face a photograph of the cardholder. Requires the Department to issue a caregiver identification card to the facility provider, guardian, or caregiver of a person entitled to benefits funded under the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (formerly known as the federal Food Stamp program). Provides that every caregiver identification card must include on its face a current photo of the facility provider, guardian, or caregiver of the person entitled to benefits, the name of the person entitled to benefits, and a statement that clearly identifies the card holder as having the legal capacity to use the named person's LINK card. Further provides that beginning on the effective date of this amendatory Act, a facility provider, guardian, or caregiver must present a valid caregiver identification card when using a LINK card to obtain SNAP benefits or cash on behalf of a person entitled to benefits funded under the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Amends the Mortgage Escrow Account Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the Act's short title.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Increases the minimum mandatory coverage amounts for liability insurance policies in this State and increases the amounts sufficient to satisfy a judgment following a motor vehicle accident as follows: bodily injury or death to any one person from $20,000 to $50,000; bodily injury or death to more than one person from $40,000 to $100,000; and injury or destruction of property of others from $15,000 to $40,000. Effective immediately.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Deletes provision that enhances the penalty for prostitution to a Class 4 felony if the offense is committed within 1,000 feet of real property comprising a school. Deletes provision that a second or subsequent prostitution violation, or any combination of convictions for prostitution and solicitation of a sexual act, promoting prostitution, promoting juvenile prostitution, soliciting for a prostitute, soliciting for a juvenile prostitute, pandering, keeping a place of prostitution, keeping a place of juvenile prostitution, patronizing a prostitute, patronizing a juvenile prostitute, pimping, juvenile pimping, aggravated juvenile pimping, or exploitation of a child, is a Class 4 felony. Effective immediately.

Amends the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Act. Provides that a local government defined as "distressed" under criteria adopted by the Department of Natural Resources through administrative rule shall be eligible for assistance up to 90% (rather than 50%) for the acquisition of open space lands and for capital development and improvement proposals, provided that no more than 10% of the amount appropriated under this Act in any fiscal year is made available as grants to distressed local governments. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Comptroller Act. Authorizes the Comptroller to issue a replacement warrant on the Warrant Escheat Fund to a person or entity entitled thereto if 5 years but no more than 10 years have passed since the date of the original warrant's issuance. Sets forth requirements for the issuance of replacement warrants under those circumstances. Provides that certain State employee address information shall not be listed on the State employee list maintained by the Comptroller. Repeals a provision that prohibits an employee in the Comptroller's office from being employed by the State, except as a part-time teacher for a State college or university. Effective immediately.