Sen. Rob Martwick

Amends the Compulsory Attendance Article of the School Code. In provisions regarding the compulsory school age, provides that a child whose absence is excused for up to 5 days for a mental or behavioral health reason shall be designated as taking a mental health day, which shall be equivalent to a day of compulsory attendance for purposes of reporting and calculating the child's absenteeism rate for the school year. In provisions concerning chronic absenteeism reporting and support, provides that the definition of "student" does not mean a student who is not present at school for up to 5 days for mental or behavioral health reasons.

Amends the State Universities Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that in computing service: one day of service in a calendar month shall constitute a full month of service. For a participant who teaches a course or courses, a participant is deemed to be in service until the date on which the employer requires grades to be submitted for that course or courses, and that date shall be deemed to constitute a day of service. Provides that the changes made by the amendatory Act are retroactive to 2 years before the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides that a participant may request a recalculation of his or her service based on the changes made by the amendatory Act. Requires an employer to annually provide to each of its participating employees a statement of the amount of service the employer reported to the System for that participating employee during the preceding academic year. Provides that if a person disputes the amount of any benefit payment, the amount of service credit the benefit was based on, the formula used to calculate the benefit, the calculation of the benefit, or the information provided to the System by the employer, he or she may, within 90 days after the commencement of the benefit, apply to the System in writing for a recalculation. Provides that any benefit increase that results from the amendatory Act is excluded from the definition of "new benefit increase". Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Creates a homestead exemption in the amount of a reduction of $5,000 from the equalized assessed value of property of police officers and firefighters with duty-related disabilities. Effective immediately.

Amends the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act of the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that, if a county clerk determines that any lot, block, tract, or parcel of real property within a redevelopment project area is not taxable or has an initial equalized assessed value of $0, then the fair market value of the lot, block, tract, or parcel shall be instead determined by a written MAI-certified appraisal or by a written certified appraisal of a State-certified or State-licensed real estate appraiser. Provides that this reappraisal shall be the initial equalized assessed value of the lot, block, tract, or parcel and shall be added to the total initial equalized assessed value of the taxable real property within the redevelopment project area. Limits the provisions to tax increment allocation financing ordinances adopted after the effective date of the amendatory Act.

Amends the State Universities Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that of the 4 participating employee members of the Board of Trustees, one of the members must be from a community college.

Amends the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act of the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that if (1) 3 or more improved lots, blocks, tracts, or parcels of real property within a single redevelopment project area are purchased by a developer or a developer's parent company or wholly-owned subsidiary, or any combination thereof, within the 3 years prior to the date that the ordinance providing for the tax increment allocation was adopted by the municipality, and (2) an improvement on any of the lots, blocks, tracts, or parcels of real property is demolished or otherwise rendered uninhabitable, then the initial equalized assessed value for the lot, block, tract or parcel of real property shall be the equalized assessed value of the lot, block, tract, or parcel of real property on the date it was purchased by the developer, the developer's parent company, or the developer's wholly-owned subsidiary or purchased by any combination thereof. Limits the provisions to ordinances adopted after the effective date of the amendatory Act.

Amends the Chicago Firefighter Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that for Tier 2 firemen, final average salary is the greater of (1) the average monthly salary obtained by dividing the total salary of the fireman during the 96 consecutive months of service within the last 120 months of service in which the total salary was the highest by the number of months of service in that period or (2) the average monthly salary obtained by dividing the total salary of the fireman during the 48 consecutive months of service within the last 120 months of service in which the total salary was the highest by the number of months of service in that period (currently, the final average salary is the average monthly salary obtained by dividing the total salary of the firefighter during the 96 consecutive months of service within the last 120 months of service in which the total salary was the highest by the number of months of service in that period). Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Cigarette Tax Act and the Cigarette Use Tax Act. Provides that a licensed retailer or an agent or employee of a licensed retailer is guilty of a Class 4 felony for knowingly violating provisions concerning the sale of loose cigarettes (currently, any person who violates those provisions is guilty of a Class 4 felony).

Amends the Balanced Budget Note Act. Specifies that the Pension Stabilization Fund is a general fund for purposes of identifying supplemental appropriation bills. Amends the State Finance Act. Provides that the monthly reports on State liabilities submitted to the Comptroller by the Department on Aging, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Central Management Services, and the Department of Revenue shall also include certain supplemental information. Amends the Budget Stabilization Act. Modifies provisions placing limits on amounts that may be appropriated, transferred, or diverted by the General Assembly from general funds. Modifies provisions concerning requirements for and transfers into the Budget Stabilization Fund and the Pension Stabilization Fund based on the State's accounts payable. Makes changes to the definition of "estimated general funds revenues". Effective immediately.

Proposes to amend the Revenue Article of the Illinois Constitution. Removes a provision that provides that a tax on income shall be measured at a non-graduated rate. Provides that the General Assembly shall provide by law for the rate or rates of any tax on or measured by income imposed by the State (currently, there may be no more than one such tax imposed by the State on individuals and one such tax so imposed on corporations). Provides that the highest rate of tax imposed on corporations may not exceed the highest rate imposed on individuals by more than a ratio of 8 to 5. Effective upon being declared adopted.