Rep. Mark Batinick

Amends the House Rules. Adds Rule 9.5.

Amends the Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act. Provides that in a case of domestic violence as defined in the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963, the warden or other official in charge of a county jail, county department of corrections, municipal house of correction, or municipal lockup, or his or her designee, shall immediately notify the crime victim of the defendant's release from custody.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Increases the penalty for unlawful use of weapons by selling, manufacturing, purchasing, possessing, or carrying a machine gun, other than in the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle or on one's person if the weapon is loaded, from a Class 2 felony, with a mandatory sentence of not less than 3 years and not more than 7 years imprisonment to a Class 1 felony, with a mandatory sentence of not less than 4 years and not more than 15 years imprisonment. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that a person serving a sentence for this violation shall receive no more than 7.5 days sentence credit for each month of his or her sentence of imprisonment (rather than day for day sentence credit).

Amends the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law in the Property Tax Code. Provides that a taxing district shall reduce its aggregate extension base for the purpose of lowering its limiting rate for future years upon referendum approval initiated by the submission of a petition by the voters of the district. Effective immediately.

Amends the Sex Offender Registration Act. Provides for registration under the Act of a person convicted of a battery when the court: (1) finds that the battery was sexually motivated as defined in the Sex Offender Management Board Act; and (2) in its discretion requires the person to register under the Act. Provides that the trial court, in its discretion, may require a person convicted of battery to register under the Act if: (1) the complaining witness is 17 years of age or younger; (2) the offender is 21 years of age or older; and (3) the court finds that the battery was sexually motivated as defined in the Sex Offender Management Board Act.

Amends the School Code. With respect to the calendar for the school term, provides that in any school district in which all of its schools have received either an exemplary or commendable summative designation by the State Board of Education under this State's federal Every Student Succeeds Act plan, the school board may substitute the required 176 days of actual pupil attendance with 968 clock hours of school work and the 968 clock hours of school work shall be deemed to be the equivalent of 176 days of actual pupil attendance for all purposes under the Code. Effective immediately.

Proposes to amend the Legislature Article of the Illinois Constitution. Provides that upon a vacancy in the General Assembly a special election shall occur no earlier than 45 days but no more than 90 days after the vacancy. Provides that if the vacancy occurs within 120 days before a general election or general primary election, the vacancy shall be filled by that election. Requires the candidates to fill the vacancy to be members of the same political party as the person who vacated the seat. Effective upon being declared adopted.

Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Provides that a member may not be registered as a lobbyist, or make expenditures, receive compensation, or receive reimbursement for actual expenses for lobbying, within a period of one year immediately after termination of the member's most recent term of office or for the remainder of the term of office from which the person resigned, whichever is longer.

Congratulates Enoch "Nick" Scull Jr. for being awarded the French Legion of Honor and recognizes his service to the United States.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that the county clerk of a county where a decedent last resided shall (rather than may) issue certifications of death records from the electronic reporting system for death registrations and shall (rather than may) use that system to cancel the registration of any person who has died during the preceding month. Requires a county coroner, medical examiner, or physician for a county or any other individual responsible for certification of death under the Vital Records Act to promptly transmit certified records to the county clerk within 7 days after the death. Requires the county clerk and coroner to report quarterly to its affiliated county board and certify its full compliance with the provisions and accuracy of the voter rolls. Allows an individual to request a copy of the county clerk's or coroner's report and allows for relief if the county clerk fails to provide an accurate report within specified timeframes.