Sen. Kwame Raoul

Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Authorizes the Department to contract with a vendor for the production of a tourism travel guide; to allow the vendor to sell and collect sales revenues, including in-kind exchanges, for advertisements placed in the travel guide; and to allow the vendor to retain any sales revenues it collects as its fee and to cover the costs of producing the travel guide. Provides that any revenue due to the Department, after the vendor retains its share, shall be deposited into the International and Promotional Fund. Effective immediately.

Amends the Counties Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning powers of counties.

Amends the Vehicle Code, State Finance Act, and Clerks of Courts Act. Increases the fine for an excessive idling violation from $50 to $250 for the first conviction and from $150 to $500 for a second or subsequent conviction within a 12 month period. Specifies how the fines collected shall be distributed and provides alternate distribution procedures for circuit clerks for excess idling violations. Creates the Trucking Environmental and Education Fund as a special fund in the State Treasury. Provides that all money deposited into the Trucking Environmental and Education Fund shall be paid, subject to appropriation by the General Assembly, to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency for the purpose of educating the trucking industry on air pollution and preventative measures specifically related to idling. Effective immediately.

Creates the Local Farm and Food Products Act. Contains only a short title provision.

Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning State universities.

Amends the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. With respect to applicants for gubernatorial appointment to boards, commissions, authorities, and task forces, requires that (i) an applicant must provide specified documents to the Governor's Office of Boards and Commissions, (ii) the Office must hold a public hearing before appointing or nominating an applicant, (iii) the Office must provide to the Senate specified information on any applicant nominated for Senate confirmation, and (iv) the Office must post specified information on its website about appointment requirements, applicants, and appointees. Requires all applicants and appointees, whether or not the position requires Senate confirmation, to file statements of economic interests (now, nominees for and appointees to positions requiring Senate confirmation must file statements). Effective immediately.

Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Permits persons or their staff charged by a unit of local government with the duty of investigating the conduct of law enforcement officers to inspect and copy law enforcement records maintained by law enforcement agencies that relate to a minor who has been arrested or taken into custody before his or her 17th birthday. Effective immediately.

Amends the Pretrial Services Act and the Probation and Probation Officers Act. Provides that for the purposes of administering the provisions of Public Act 95-773, known as the Cindy Bischof Law, all probation and court services departments are to be considered pretrial services agencies under the Pretrial Services Act and under the bail bond provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Effective immediately.

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that reasonable fees may be charged for pretrial services, including but not limited to, DNA testing, GPS electronic monitoring, assessments and evaluations related to domestic violence and other victims. Effective immediately.

Amends the Condominium Property Act. Provides legislative findings concerning the importance of municipalities reclaiming housing stock that was used in fraudulent schemes. Provides procedures for addressing distressed condominium property that is a danger, blight, or nuisance to the surrounding community or the public and that is substantially unoccupied, without utilities, or in a serious negative condition. Provides definitions of "distressed condominium property", "owner", and "other party in interest". Provides that a municipality may file a petition in the circuit court and that if the court finds that a property is a distressed condominium property, the court may appoint a receiver to manage the property. Provides also that if a court finds that the property is not viable as a condominium, the court may deem that the entire property is owned in common by the unit owners and may authorize the receiver to sell the entire property without the consent of the unit owners. Provides that if the receiver sells the property pursuant to court authorization, the sale proceeds shall be paid to unit owners according to their respective shares, after sale expenses, taxes, and liens have been paid. Provides that the receiver has the power and authority to secure and insure the premises, make repairs, and otherwise manage the premises. Provides that other parties in interest shall be provided written notice and a copy of the petition or complaint either by United States certified mail, return receipt requested, within 30 days of the issuance of the summons or by personal service of the complaint. Provides that the court may authorize a receiver to enter into a sales contract for the property upon a motion, with notice to all owners and other parties in interest and those parties having an opportunity to be heard. Makes other changes.