Amends the State Forest Act. Provides that plants and plant materials secured or produced shall be used exclusively for conservation purposes, such as for wildlife habitat, erosion control, energy conservation, natural community restoration, general reforestation, research, commemorative plantings, and educational programs such as Arbor Day unless otherwise agreed through a memorandum of understanding with the Illinois Green Industry Association which would allow the sale of plants as liner stock. Provides that the Department of Natural Resources may cooperate with any person or group desirous of establishing plants or plant materials for conservation plantings by selling (rather than furnishing) trees, shrubs, flower seeds, (rather than seeds) or other materials where deemed necessary or desirable. Provides that plants and plant materials may be provided, upon approval of a written management plan, to individual landowners, State agencies and institutions, local governments, civic groups and others for conservation plantings but shall be sold at a price approximately equal to the cost of acquisition or production and distribution (rather than without charge). Provides that plants and plant materials may be provided to government agencies and institutions, organized groups or individuals for special conservation plantings, research plantings, educational purposes and commemorative plantings but shall be sold at a price approximately equal to the cost of acquisition or production and distribution (rather than without charge). Provides that products such as Christmas trees, roundwood and other materials derived from State distributed plants or plant materials may be utilized, sold or removed, except that no such plants shall be resold, bartered or given away and removed alive with the roots attached unless otherwise agreed through a memorandum of understanding with the Illinois Green Industry Association which would allow the sale of plants as liner stock.
Sponsored bills
Amends the Illinois Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Deletes provisions requiring manufacturers to provide the Director of Public Health with a notification containing product technical bioequivalence information no later than 60 days prior to specified generic drug product substitution. Effective immediately.
Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Provides that the Executive Ethics Commission may (rather than shall) appoint procurement compliance monitors. Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Exempts certain contracts from the Code. Requires certain contracts concerning trade shows to be published in the Illinois Procurement Bulletin. Exempts certain processes used by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. Re-enacts and makes changes to provisions concerning higher education and artistic and musical services procurement. Requires all State agencies to respond promptly in writing to the Procurement Policy Board. Provides that State purchasing officers owe a fiduciary duty to the State. Removes various duties of the procurement compliance monitors. Makes changes to provisions concerning multiple awards and bidding processes. Allows for the use of a pool of competitively-selected vendors. Creates certain provisions concerning best value procurement. Allows departments and institutions to purchase and equip off-road construction equipment utilizing the best value procurement process. Increases the limit of small purchases from $10,000 to $100,000. Allows a chief procurement officer to provide a bidder or offeror 5 days to comply with certain provisions of the Code concerning certification and registration with the State Board of Elections. Makes changes to provisions concerning prohibited bidders and reporting. Repeals provisions of the Code concerning exceptions to the Code and procurement communications reporting requirements. Makes other changes. Amends the Small Business Contracts Act, Governmental Joint Purchasing Act, and Illinois Human Rights Act to make other changes. Effective July 1, 2017, but this Act does not take effect at all unless Senate Bills 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 of the 100th General Assembly become law.
Congratulates the West Prairie South Elementary School eighth grade boys track and field team on winning the 2017 Illinois Elementary School Association Class A State Championship.
Congratulates the Macomb Junior High School seventh grade volleyball team, the Bombers, on winning the 2017 Illinois Elementary School Association Class 4A State Championship.
Congratulates Hunter Protsman of Macomb Jr. High School, on winning the 2017 Illinois Elementary School Association 100-pound eighth grade individual State wrestling title.
Congratulates the Western Illinois University women's basketball team, the Fighting Leathernecks, on winning the 2017 Summit League Tournament.
Congratulates Suzan Nash on her retirement as the Western Illinois Regional Council Executive Director.
Amends the Animal Welfare Act. Requires equine stable operators to be licensed by the Department of Agriculture. Defines "equine", "equine stable", and "equine stable operator". Exempts from the Act an agency of the State or of a unit of local government which is vested by law or ordinance with the duty to maintain public order and to enforce criminal law that owns or operates equines or provides equine services and does not otherwise operate an equine stable for hire.
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Adds to the definition of "recreational vehicle" any truck used primarily for recreational purposes and not used commercially or not owned by a commercial business. Provides that a person may register a truck used primarily for recreational purposes, and not used commercially, for hire, or not owned by a commercial business, by filing the proper application and paying the appropriate registration fee and highway use tax.