Rep. Sue Scherer

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person also commits interference with emergency communication when he or she knowingly prevents or attempts to prevent a person who reasonably believes an emergency is taking place from contacting a 9-1-1 emergency telephone system, obtaining medical assistance, or making a report to a law enforcement official. Provides that a violation is a Class A misdemeanor.

Proposes to amend the Bill of Rights Article of the Illinois Constitution. Provides that: "the people have a right to hunt and fish as it is a valued part of our heritage and shall be forever preserved for the public good, subject only to the laws prescribed by the General Assembly and rules prescribed by the virtue of the authority of the General Assembly"; "hunting and fishing shall be the preferred means of managing and controlling wildlife"; and "this Section shall not be construed to limit the application of any provision of law relating to trespass or property rights". Effective upon being declared adopted.

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 certified by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and at least 4 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 Department of Central Management Services Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that all State-owned vehicles that were reported in the Performance Audit of the Department of Central Management Services' Operation of the State Vehicles Fleet released by the Office of the Auditor General in November 2011 to have been driven 7,000 miles or less in Fiscal Year 2010 or that have an odometer reading of 7,000 miles or less on the effective date of the amendatory Act are deemed surplus and shall be sold using a competitive sealed bid method of sale on or before July 1, 2016. Provides that proceeds from the sale of those vehicles shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund. Provides that those provisions do not apply to police or emergency vehicles. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Property Control Act. Provides that all airplanes and helicopters owned by the State, except those designated for emergency use and those used by a public university as part of a course in aviation, are surplus property and must be sold by a competitive sealed bid method (now, a transferable airplane may be disposed of only if (i) it is no longer needed, (ii) it will not be used as a trade-in, and (iii) a public university or college offering aviation-related instruction or training has not listed its need for an airplane). Requires that the sale proceeds be deposited into the General Revenue Fund. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the purpose of the Act.

Appropriates $466,568,200 to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission for the Monetary Award Program. Effective July 1, 2015.

Amends the State Employee Indemnification Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the Act's short title.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit for taxpayers who make a qualified donation of a crop to a food bank or other charitable organization in Illinois. Provides that the amount of the credit shall be 15% of the value of the quantity of the crop donated. Provides that the credit is exempt from the Act's automatic sunset provision. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. With respect to the annual budget of a school district with under 500,000 inhabitants, provides that, beginning with the budget for the 2016-2017 school year, 85% of State funding under the State aid formula provisions of the Code must be dedicated to objects and purposes related to classroom teaching. Provides that the State Board of Education shall, by rule, determine which objects and purposes are related to classroom teaching.