Rep. Jim Sacia

Amends the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the rate of tax.

Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Provides that Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board shall not require an application fee from any retired law enforcement officer seeking weapons certification from the Board. Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that in the case of injuries sustained as a result of the officer's actions, a municipality may indemnify a retired law enforcement officer who is certified by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the delinquent registration renewal fee shall be waived if the applicant files a signed statement with the Secretary of State that the applicant did not during the previous 24 months operate or consent to the operation of such vehicle under circumstances making the vehicle subject to registration in this State.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. In a Section concerning estimated taxes, provides that, if (i) the taxpayer is owed a refund from the State based upon an income tax overpayment by the taxpayer, (ii) the taxpayer previously filed with the Department a valid amended Illinois income tax return claiming a refund for the overpayment, (iii) at least 30 days have elapsed between the date the taxpayer filed the amended return and the date the estimated tax installment is due, and (iv) the tax refund due to the taxpayer is larger than the estimated tax installment due, then the taxpayer may elect to reduce the amount of any unpaid refund owed to the taxpayer by the amount of the estimated tax due. Provides that the election must be approved by the Department and must be made in the form and manner prescribed by the Department. Exempts the offset amounts from certain penalty provisions. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Finance Act and Illinois Vehicle Code to provide for the issuance of Illinois State Police Memorial Park license plates. Creates the Illinois State Police Memorial Park Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Provides that the applicant shall pay an additional fee of $25 for original issuance of the plates, of which $10 shall be deposited into the Illinois State Police Memorial Park Fund and $15 shall be deposited into the Secretary of State Special License Plate Fund. Provides that an additional fee of $25 shall be charged for each renewal, of which $23 shall be deposited into the Illinois State Police Memorial Park Fund and $2 shall be deposited into the Secretary of State Special License Plate Fund. Provides that money in the State Police Memorial Park Fund shall be paid as grants to the Illinois State Police Heritage Foundation, Inc. for specified purposes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Temporary Assistance for Needy Family Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Human Services to develop a program to screen and test each applicant or recipient who is otherwise eligible for TANF benefits and who the Department has reasonable suspicion to believe, based on the screening, engages in the unlawful use or consumption of controlled substances. Provides that any applicant or recipient who is found to have tested positive for the unlawful use or consumption of a controlled substance shall, after an administrative hearing conducted by the Department, be declared ineligible for TANF benefits for a period of one year from the date of the administrative hearing decision. Grants the Department the authority to require an applicant or recipient who tested positive for the unlawful use or consumption of a controlled substance to enter a substance abuse program approved by the Department as a condition of continued eligibility for TANF benefits. 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 food stamp benefits 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 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 food stamp benefits or cash on behalf of a person entitled to benefits funded under the federal Food Stamp Program.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that a "candidate political committee", "political action committee", or "ballot initiative 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 July 1, 2012.

Amends the Prevailing Wage Act. Provides that the Act does not apply to wages paid to all laborers, workers, and mechanics employed by or on behalf of a public body engaged in a public works project with a total cost of $20,000 or less if the public body notifies the Department of Labor of each project for which the waiver is used within 60 days of commencing the project. Provides that the Department shall make available a form with which public bodies may make this notification. Provides that the Department shall submit an annual report detailing the number of projects engaged using the waiver in the preceding year, the total number of employees engaged in those projects, the total cost of those projects without using prevailing wage standards, the total cost of those projects using prevailing wage standards, and any other information the Department deems appropriate.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that whenever a law enforcement officer issues a citation to a driver for operating an uninsured motor vehicle, the arresting officer may authorize the removal and impoundment of the vehicle by a towing service. Effective January 1, 2013.