Rep. Tom Demmer

Amends the Uniform Penalty and Interest Act. Provides that the penalty for failure to pay the tax shown due or required to be shown due on a return shall be 15% (instead of 20%) of any amount that is paid after the date the Department has initiated an audit or investigation of the taxpayer. Provides that the penalty shall be rescinded if the taxpayer paid to the Department at least 95% of the final liability resulting from an audit or investigation prior to the initiation of the audit or investigation

Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules for its FY 16 ordinary and contingent expenses.

Mourns the death of Dr. Thomas A. Lawless.

Mourns the death of Jeffrey A. Lovett.

Mourns the death of Andrew Bollman.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Includes persons who are foreign-born victims of trafficking, torture, or other serious crimes in the categories of non-citizens who are eligible for cash or medical assistance under the Code. Defines "foreign-born victims of trafficking, torture, or other serious crimes". Provides that beginning January 1, 2017, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall provide medical assistance coverage to foreign-born victims of human trafficking, torture, or other serious crimes and to their derivative family members who: reside in Illinois; are not otherwise eligible under the Code; meet certain income guidelines; and have filed or are preparing to file a formal application for status pursuant to specified provisions of the United States Code. Provides that such a person is ineligible for continued medical assistance coverage if he or she has not filed a formal application for status within one year after the date of his or her application for cash assistance or SNAP benefits; and that if there is a final denial of the person's visa or asylum application, any medical assistance coverage provided to that person and his or her derivative family members shall be terminated. Adds the Survivor Support and Trafficking Prevention Article to the Code with provisions concerning: cash assistance and SNAP benefits for persons who are foreign-born victims of trafficking, torture, or other serious crimes and their derivative family members; eligibility determinations; work requirements and exemptions; and termination of benefits. Grants the Department rulemaking authority to implement these provisions. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Provides that, subject to appropriation to the State Board of Education, there is created an agriculture education teacher grant program to fund personal services costs for agriculture education teachers in school districts. Provides that a school district may apply for a grant to fund 50% of the personal services cost for an agriculture education teacher; however, a school district that is creating a new agriculture education program may apply for a grant to fund 100% of an agriculture teacher's personal services cost in the first and second year of the new agriculture education program and 80% of an agriculture teacher's personal services cost in the third and fourth years of the new agriculture education program. Allows a school district to apply for a grant for more than one teacher. Sets forth the duties of the State Board. Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act with respect to teacher shortage scholarships. Specifies that agricultural education is a course of study included in the definition of "areas of identified staff shortages".

Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Provides that no importing distributor's licenses may be issued on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides that an importing distributor's license that is valid on the effective date of the amendatory Act shall remain valid until that license expires. Changes the definition of "distributor" to include any person other than a non-resident dealer licensed under the Act who imports into this State, from any point in the United States outside this State, whether for himself or herself or for another, any alcoholic liquors for sale or resale, or for use in the manufacture, preparation, or compounding of products other than alcoholic liquors, or who imports into this State, from any point in the United States outside this State, for consumption in any one calendar year, more than one gallon of such liquors. Provides that a distributor's license also allows the importation of alcoholic liquor by the licensee into this State from any point in the United States outside this State and the purchase of alcoholic liquor in barrels, casks, or other bulk containers and the bottling of such alcoholic liquors before resale thereof, but all bottles or containers so filled shall be sealed, labeled, stamped, and otherwise made to comply with all provisions and rules governing manufacturers in the preparation and bottling of alcoholic liquors. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Establishes the State Global Scholar Certification Program to recognize public high school graduates who have attained global competence, sufficient for meaningful use in college and a career. Provides that school district participation in this certification is voluntary. Sets forth the purposes of certification. Requires the State Board of Education to adopt such rules as may be necessary to establish the criteria that students must achieve to earn certification, which shall minimally include attainment of units of credit in globally focused courses, service learning experiences, global collaboration and dialogue, and passage of a capstone project demonstrating global competency, as approved by the participating school district for this purpose. Sets forth the duties of the State Board and of participating school districts. Provides that no fee may be charged to a student.

Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Provides that, for the purposes of defining "day care center", "special activities programs" includes programs or portions of programs that: (1) serve school-age children only; (2) are operated by an entity that is a local affiliate of a national organization and a non-profit as described in Section 501(c)(3) of the federal Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and (3) meet appropriate State or local health and fire safety standards and those of its associated national entity, including performing background checks on employees. Effective immediately.