Rep. Tony McCombie

Amends the School Code. Relative to the financial audits made annually by the Auditor General of the financial statements of all accounts, funds, and other moneys in the care, custody, or control of a regional superintendent of schools or educational service region, provides that the regional office of education or educational service center may utilize a cash basis, modified cash basis, or generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements. Makes changes to require audit reports to be published on the Auditor General's website and distributed in accordance with the Illinois State Auditing Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Requires an agency that proposes a new rule or an amendment to an existing rule that may have an impact on persons or entities in downstate Illinois to consider specified methods for reducing the impact of that rulemaking and provide an opportunity to participate in the rulemaking process before or during the notice period utilizing specified techniques. Requires each agency to include in its regulatory agenda summary a statement of whether a rule will affect persons or entities in downstate Illinois. Defines "downstate Illinois". Effective immediately.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Changes the definition of "gambling device" to include any vending or other electronic machine or device, including, without limitation, a machine or device that awards credits and contains a circuit, meter, or switch capable of removing and recording the removal of credits that offers a person entry into any contest, competition, sweepstakes, scheme, plan, or other selection process that involves or is dependent upon an element of chance for which the person may receive a gift, award, or other item or service of value if that offer is incidental to or results from: (A) the purchase of an item or service of value; or (B) the purchase or gratuitous receipt of a coupon, voucher, certificate, or other similar credit that can be redeemed for or applied towards an item or service of value from such machine or device or elsewhere. Provides that participants in a game of skill or chance where money or other things of value can be won but no payment or purchase is required to participate shall not be convicted of gambling except where participation in such game of skill or chance is accomplished using a gambling device prohibited by these changes to the definition. Further provides that a gambling offense involving such a gambling device is a Class 4 felony. Amends the Video Gaming Act. Removes a provision allowing for the use of a game device without a license if the game device is used in an activity that is not gambling under the Criminal Code of 2012. Effective immediately.

Amends the General Assembly Compensation Act. Provides that a member of the General Assembly who has held office any part of a month, but not for the entire month, is entitled to compensation only for those days during that month that he or she held office (currently, entitled to compensation for the entire month). Effective immediately.

Amends the Industrial Project Revenue Bond Act in the Illinois Municipal Code. In the definition of "industrial project", includes use or disposal of surplus real estate owned by the municipality. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Requires school districts to provide contact information for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and for the Crisis Text Line on the back of each student identification card issued by the school district. Provides that if the school district does not issue student identification cards to its students or to all of its students, the school district must publish this information on its website. Effective July 1, 2020.

Creates the Quad Cities Regional Metropolitan Authority Act as enabling legislation for the Quad Cities Regional Metropolitan Authority Compact. Establishes the Quad Cities Regional Metropolitan Authority in the metropolitan area of Rock Island County, Illinois and Scott County, Iowa. Provides that the Authority shall facilitate an area-wide growth plan for the purpose of positively impacting the greater metropolitan area and improving the quality of life for area residents. Sets forth the powers and duties of the Authority. Provides that the Authority shall be governed by a Board of Commissioners. Contains provisions concerning use and occupation taxes. Contains other provisions. Effective immediately.

Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that, beginning on July 1, 2020, breast pumps, breast pump collection and storage supplies, and breast pump kits are exempt from the taxes imposed under those Acts. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that, if the amount of the credit for residential real property taxes exceeds the taxpayer's liability, that amount shall be refunded if the taxpayer is 65 years or older and has a federal adjusted gross income of not more than $50,000. Provides that the credit is exempt from the Act's automatic sunset provision. Effective immediately.

Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that, beginning on January 1, 2020, the tax on gun safes and locks designed to secure firearms is imposed at the rate of 1%. Effective immediately.