Sen. Thomas Cullerton

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit in an amount equal to the amount paid by the taxpayer during the taxable year for the purpose of purchasing acoustical materials, other materials, labor, and professional services to soundproof a residential home located at an eligible address against aircraft noise generated by an airport governed by the provisions of the Permanent Noise Monitoring Act. Provides that the credit may not reduce the taxpayer's liability to less than zero; however, the credit may be carried forward. Provides that the credit is exempt from the Act's automatic sunset provisions. Effective immediately.

Amends the Boxing and Full-contact Martial Arts Act. Changes the definition of "amateur" to allow the person to receive a stipend for an athletic club or sponsor of the contestant to cover the cost of training and participation expenses not to exceed $1,500. Provides that "full-contact martial arts" includes, but is not limited to, mixed martial arts and kickboxing techniques. Defines "incumbent sanctioning body". Allows amateur boxing or full-contact martial arts contests sponsored by a State, county, or municipal entity to be conducted by a sanctioning body approved by the Act without oversight by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Provides that specified qualified entities are exempt from oversight by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and must notify the Department of their intent to sponsor events covered under the Act. Adds provisions for sanctioning bodies. Effective immediately.

Amends the Freedom of Information Act to provide that in the case of sexual assault or sexual abuse by a school district employee or volunteer, nothing in the Act prohibits a school district from disclosing the disciplinary records of that person. Amends the School Code to require a school board to report all credible cases of sexual assault or sexual abuse by a licensed educator to the State Board of Education, to establish a hearing procedure for student victims, and to ensure that a licensed educator under investigation by the State Superintendent of Education is reassigned to non-classroom duty. Provides that, beginning with the 2019-2020 school year, the State Board of Education must monitor all fingerprint-based criminal history records checks and any other database checks conducted by a school district or regional superintendent for applicants for employment with a school district. Makes changes concerning educator licensure and allegations of physical or sexual abuse. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012 to create the criminal offense of sexual conduct or sexual relations with a student by an authority figure. Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 to require an arresting enforcement agency to share its reports pertaining to the arrest of a licensed educator with the superintendent of any school district that employs the educator (or, in the case of the arrest of a superintendent, with the school board of any school district that employs the superintendent). Amends the Personnel Record Review Act to provide that the Act does not prohibit a school district from divulging internal investigative findings and discipline to another school district. Effective immediately.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency shall reevaluate the current air pollution operating permit of any facility emitting ethylene oxide and conduct a 90-day public hearing process on such permits. Provides that no air pollution operating permit shall be renewed if the facility is in violation of any federal or State standards or current studies pertaining to ethylene oxide. Provides that a facility emitting ethylene oxide at levels higher than federal or State standards shall immediately cease operations until the level of emissions are reduced below both federal and State standards. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that, beginning with the next registration year after the effective date in which the Secretary of State distributes newly designed standard registration plates for motor vehicles, the Secretary of State shall issue one registration plate (instead of 2) for newly registered motor vehicles and the registration plate shall be attached to the rear (instead of front and rear) of the motor vehicle.

Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities and community colleges in Illinois. With respect to employment contracts entered into with the president or all chancellors of a public university or an employee of a community college district, provides that severance under the contract may not exceed 6 months (rather than one year) of salary and applicable benefits.

Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Provides that a public body that asserts that a record is exempt from disclosure has the burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that release of the record would harm an interest protected by the asserted exemption. Removes the requirement that, before imposing specified civil penalties, the court find that a public body willfully and intentionally failed to comply with the Act or otherwise acted in bad faith. Provides that in assessing the civil penalty, the court shall consider in aggravation or mitigation, among other factors, whether the public body acted in bad faith and the extent to which the public body delayed the resolution of the request or lawsuit. Provides that, under specified circumstances, the court shall (rather than may) impose an additional penalty of up to $1,000 for each day the violation continues.

Creates the Law Enforcement Support Program Confidentiality Act. Provides that information, omissions, confessions, or other communication obtained by a participant in a peer support program involving a peer support counselor from a law enforcement officer, public safety employee, peace officer, firefighter, or emergency services personnel shall be considered confidential information and shall not be released to any person or entity, including, but not limited to, a court, administrative agency or tribunal, or public officer or employer, unless: (1) to the extent it appears necessary to prevent the commission of an act that is likely to result in a clear imminent risk of serious physical injury or death of a person or persons; (2) when required by court order; or (3) when, after full disclosure has been provided, the person who made the confession, admission, or other communication has given specific written consent. Effective immediately.

Creates the Public University Administrative Cost Decrease Act. Provides that all public universities shall annually submit a cost certification that certifies the level of spending dedicated to administrative costs for the current academic year. Provides that beginning with the 2020-2021 academic year, a Board of Trustees of a public university may not enact a budget that contains tuition or fee increases above that of the tuition and fees set in the 2017-2018 academic year until the Auditor General has verified that the cost certification submitted by the public university and due in the same calendar year of the proposed tuition or fees increase has shown a decrease of administrative costs by 25%. Amends the Illinois State Auditing Act. Makes related changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Public Safety Employee Benefits Act. Provides that the regulation of the provision of benefits for public safety employees is an exclusive power of the State and that units of local government, including home rule units, may not regulate the provision of benefits under the Act. Provides for retroactive application. Effective immediately.