Rep. Jim Watson

Amends the State Comptroller Act. Provides that State employee addresses shall not be listed on the State employee list maintained by the Comptroller. Amends the State Prompt Payment Act. In a provision requiring an interest penalty of 1.0% for each month or fraction thereof of any amount approved and unpaid within 90 days, changes "fraction thereof" to "00.0033% (1/30%) for each day". Effective immediately.

Amends the State Finance Act. Provides that the total amount appropriated, transferred, or expended for any State program in any State fiscal year may not exceed the total amount appropriated, transferred, or expended for that program in the previous State fiscal year, adjusted by the percentage increase (if any) in the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers, as issued by the United States Department of Labor, for the previous 12-month period. Effective immediately.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that not more than 90 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Illinois Commerce Commission shall direct the Office of Retail Market Development to update the consumer education materials for residential consumers and small business consumers. Provides that the Commission may form another working group to prepare and review the consumer education materials prior to their adoption by the Commission.

Amends the State Finance Act. Provides that the total amount appropriated, transferred, or expended for any State program in any State fiscal year may not exceed the total amount appropriated, transferred, or expended for that program in the previous State fiscal year, adjusted by the percentage increase (if any) in the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers, as issued by the United States Department of Labor, for the previous 12-month period. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Facilities Closure Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Requires every pleading, motion, and other paper of a party represented by an attorney to be signed by at least one attorney of record in his or her individual name, whose address shall be stated. Provides that if a pleading, motion, or other paper is signed in violation of the requirement, the court may impose upon the person who signed it, a represented party, or both, an appropriate sanction. Provides that proceedings concerning alleged violations shall be brought within the civil action in which the pleading, motion, or other paper referred to has been filed, and no violation or alleged violation shall give rise to a separate civil suit, but shall be considered a claim within the same civil action. Provides that the provision shall apply to the State of Illinois or any agency of the State in the same manner as any other party. Provides that the judge shall set forth with specificity the reasons and basis of any sanction so imposed either in the judgment order itself or in a separate written order. Effective immediately.

Creates the Illinois Rural Water Authority Act. Provides that the Board of the Illinois Rural Water Authority shall consist of 9 members appointed by the Governor. Sets forth the terms of the Board members. Sets forth the powers and duties of the Authority. Provides that the Authority may issue revenue bonds to develop, construct, acquire, or improve facilities for the development, transportation, and distribution of water and sewage. Provides that the Authority has the power of eminent domain and the power to acquire property. Amends the Eminent Domain Act to make conforming changes.

Creates the Illinois Rural Water Authority Act. Provides that the Board of the Illinois Rural Water Authority shall consist of 9 members appointed by the Governor. Sets forth the terms of the Board members. Sets forth the powers and duties of the Authority. Provides that the Authority may issue revenue bonds to develop, construct, acquire, or improve facilities for the development, transportation, and distribution of water and sewage. Provides that the Authority has the power of eminent domain and the power to acquire property. Amends the Eminent Domain Act to make conforming changes.

Amends the State Finance Act. Provides that a State agency shall not create or implement a new program, nor make any expenditure or obligation of public funds with respect to a new program, without having a one-time certificate to proceed with that new program issued by the Comptroller. Provides that the Comptroller shall issue a certificate to proceed unless, at the time of the proposed creation, implementation, or expenditure, the State has a significant backlog of overdue bills. Provides for a waiver in the case of emergency. Does not bar recovery by a person, acting in good faith, to whom a State agency has incurred an obligation or liability in violation of the certificate requirement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Unemployment Insurance Act. Provides that the Department of Employment Security may contract with consumer reporting agencies to provide secure electronic access to information provided to the Department by employing units. Requires the user of the information to obtain a written consent form from the individual to whom the wage report information pertains prior to obtaining the report. Specifies language for the consent form. Restricts the use of the information. Provides for: audit, security, net worth, and liability insurance standards, technological requirements, costs, remedies for non-compliance, dispute resolution, and other matters. Effective immediately.