Rep. Sue Scherer

Amends the Election Code. Provides that no candidate for President or Vice-President of the United States shall appear on the official ballot for the general election if that candidate has not released his or her tax returns at least 5 days prior to the date set for certification of the ballot for the general election. Defines "released his or her tax returns" to mean that the tax returns filed with the federal Internal Revenue Service for the 5 most recent years in which tax returns have been filed by the candidates for President and Vice-President of the United States have been filed with the Secretary of State. Requires the Secretary of State to post the tax returns on the Secretary of State's website and to certify that the tax returns have been filed to the State Board of Elections. Allows the Secretary of State to adopt rules to implement the provisions.

Amends the Department of Central Management Services Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that beginning June 30, 2017, each State agency shall report certain information concerning State vehicles to the Department of Central Management Services within 60 days after the end of the fiscal year. Provides that if a State agency fails to report that information, the Department of Central Management Services shall immediately take control of at least 5 vehicles controlled by the non-reporting State agency, or fewer vehicles only if the non-reporting State agency controls fewer than 5 vehicles. Requires the Department to publish information on its website about State vehicles for the previous fiscal year by November 1, 2017 and each November 1 thereafter. Provides that within 60 days after receiving State agency reports, the Director of Central Management Services shall deem any general purpose passenger and light duty vehicle driven under 7,000 miles in a fiscal year as surplus property and begin the process for disposing of the vehicle provided for in the State Property Control Act for transferable property. Contains other provisions concerning the sale of such vehicles and exceptions that may apply. Requires proceeds from such sales to be deposited in the State Surplus Property Revolving Fund. Defines "general purpose passenger vehicles" and "light duty vehicles". Effective immediately.

Amends the Library Records Confidentiality Act. Provides that the registration and circulation records of a library that are confidential includes, but is not limited to, any records relating to the checking out or viewing of electronic books or eBooks.

Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that the prohibition against the modification or disclaimer of an implied warranty of merchantability regarding certain motor vehicle components for 15 days after the retail sale of a used vehicle to a consumer by a licensed dealer does not apply to a vehicle sold at an auction that is open to the general public if the auction company has conducted a mechanical inspection of the vehicle and given notice of any defects to prospective purchasers. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates a credit for wages paid pursuant to a qualified apprenticeship program. Provides that a "qualified apprenticeship program" means an apprenticeship program in manufacturing, plastics, or construction trades that is (i) certified by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and (ii) at least 3 years in duration. Provides that the credit may not exceed the lesser of (i) 50% of the wages paid by the taxpayer to each apprentice during the taxable year or (ii) $4,800 per apprentice. Provides that the credit may be carried forward for 5 taxable years. Provides that the credit is exempt from the Act's automatic sunset provision. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that the Department of Revenue, with the assistance of the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, shall examine the investment credit and the research and development credit to determine the impact that each of these credits has on the creation and retention of jobs, and report its findings to the Governor and the General Assembly on or before December 1, 2019. Provides that the Department of Revenue, with the assistance of the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, shall examine each credit against a tax imposed under the Illinois Income Tax Act on and after the effective date of this amendatory Act to determine the impact that each credit has on the creation and retention of jobs, including, but not limited to, any stated job creation goals, and report its findings for each credit to the Governor and the General Assembly on or before 3 years after the effective date of the credit in question, and on or before every 3 years thereafter. Effective immediately.

Amends the Downstate Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Reduces the composition of the Board to 11 members (instead of 13 members) by removing 2 of the members of the Board appointed by the Governor. Provides that the 2 members whose office is being abolished pursuant to the amendatory Act shall be from the members whose terms of office expire on July 14, 2018. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that each taxpayer who makes a contribution to an area vocational center established under the School Code is entitled to a credit in an amount equal to 50% of the amount of the donation. Effective immediately.

Makes appropriations for personnel-related expenditures for various state agencies.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that the Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption also applies to persons with a disability. Amends the State Mandates Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.