Sen. Mike Hastings

Amends the Title Insurance Act to add an exception to the prohibition against a title insurance company, title insurance agent, or independent escrowee making disbursements in connection with any escrows, settlements, or closings out of a fiduciary trust account or accounts if the funds are good funds and the title insurance company, title insurance agent, or independent escrowee and the financial institution, as defined by the Act, are known to each other and agree to the use of these funds.

Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Access to Justice Act of 2013. Amends the Counties Code. Provides that county law library facilities may include self-help centers and other legal assistance programs for the public as part of the services it provides on-site and online, the expense of which shall be borne by the county. Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Changes the definition of "civil legal services provider", "eligible client", and "indigent person" and defines "court-sponsored pro bono program" as a pro bono program established by or in partnership with a court in this State for the purpose of providing free civil legal services by an organized panel of pro bono attorneys. Makes a provision regarding the waiver of fees and costs relating to filing, appearing, transcripts on appeal, and service of process applicable to representation by attorneys in court-sponsored pro bono programs.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides the Act may be cited as "Kelsey's Law". Prohibits the issuance of a graduated driver's license to a person under 18 if the person has a traffic citation for which a disposition has not been rendered. Allows the Secretary of State to cancel a minor's driver's license if the Secretary determines that at the time of license issuance, the minor held an instruction permit and had a traffic citation for which a disposition had not been rendered. Allows prosecutors to request the court to invalidate any driver's license if the driver is convicted of a violation of the Illinois Vehicle Code or similar local ordinance, the violation of which was the proximate cause of the death or Type A injury of another.

Amends the Criminal Identification Act, the Criminal Code of 2012, the Cannabis Control Act, the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act, and the Unified Code of Corrections. Creates Second Chance Probation. Provides that whenever any person who has not previously been convicted of, or placed on probation or conditional discharge for, any felony offense under the laws of this State, the laws of any other state, or the laws of the United States, including probation under Section 410 of the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, Section 70 of the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act, Section 10 of the Cannabis Control Act, subsection (c) of Section 11-14 of the Criminal Code of 2012, Treatment Alternatives for Criminal Justice Clients (TASC) under Article 40 of the Alcoholism and Other Drug Abuse and Dependency Act, or prior successful completion of the Offender Initiative Program under Section 5-6-3.3 of this Code, and pleads guilty to, or is found guilty of, a probationable felony offense of possession of a controlled substance that is punishable as a Class 4 felony; possession of methamphetamine that is punishable as a Class 4 felony; theft that is punishable as a Class 3 felony based on the value of the property or punishable as a Class 4 felony if the theft was committed in a school or place of worship or if the theft was of governmental property; retail theft that is punishable as a Class 3 felony based on the value of the property; criminal damage to property that is punishable as a Class 4 felony; criminal damage to government supported property that is punishable as a Class 4 felony; deceptive practices; forgery; possession of cannabis which is punishable as a Class 4 felony; or possession or use of another's credit or debit card, the court, with the consent of the defendant, may, without entering a judgment, sentence the defendant to probation. Establishes the terms and conditions of the probation. Provides that upon fulfillment of the terms and conditions of probation, the court shall discharge the person and dismiss the proceedings against the person. Provides that upon violation of a term or condition of probation, the court may enter a judgment on its original finding of guilt and proceed as otherwise provided by law.

Amends the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. In a provision concerning eligibility for benefits under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, provides that the Department of Human Services shall disregard the value of all assets held by the family. Effective immediately.

Amends the Prevailing Wage Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning construction of the Act.

Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Provides that an Article concerning leases for real property or capital improvements does not apply to leases that are entered into by the governing board of the University of Illinois, Southern Illinois University, Illinois State University, Eastern Illinois University, Northern Illinois University, Western Illinois University, Chicago State University, Governors State University, or Northeastern Illinois University in connection with a transaction for the financing of buildings, structures, or facilities which, as determined by the governing board of that university, are required by, or necessary for the use or benefit of, the university, through the issuance of bonds by the Illinois Finance Authority. Effective immediately.

Amends the Electronic Fund Transfer Act. Removes the requirement for a person operating a terminal to disclose surcharges for usage of the terminal by a sign on the terminal. Effective immediately.

Amends the Probation and Probation Officers Act. Provides that in a county with a population exceeding 2,000,000, the Redeploy Illinois Oversight Board may authorize the Department of Human Services to enter into an agreement with that county to reduce the number of commitments by the same percentage as is required by this Section of other counties, and with all of the same requirements of the Act, including reporting and evaluation, except that the agreement may encompass a clearly identifiable geographical subdivision of that county. Provides that the geographical subdivision may include, but is not limited to, a police district or group of police districts, a geographical area making up a court calendar or group of court calendars, a municipal district or group of municipal districts, or a municipality or group of municipalities.

Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Provides that no person licensed as a manufacturer of beer by any licensing authority, or any partnership, corporation, subsidiary, limited liability company, trust, agent, affiliate, or other form of business enterprise thereof, shall have any interest, directly or indirectly, in a holder of a distributor's license or importing distributor's license. Provides that the Illinois Liquor Control Commission shall notify all persons licensed by the State Commission as a manufacturer of beer, brewer, or non-resident dealer of the required written disclosures prescribed by the Commission. Provides a process for revocation of licenses for violation of these provisions. Defines "person" for the purposes of the Act. Effective immediately.