Sen. Thomas Cullerton

Amends the Downstate Public Transportation Act, the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, the Use Tax Act, and the Service Use Tax Act. Beginning July 1, 2018, instead of use and occupation tax collections being deposited into the General Revenue Fund and then transferred monthly by the Comptroller from the General Revenue Fund to the Downstate Public Transportation Fund, requires the Department of Revenue to deposit the designated fraction of the net revenue realized from those collections directly into the Downstate Public Transportation Fund. Effective July 1, 2018.

Amends the Park and Recreational Facility Construction Act of 2009. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning priorities for projects.

Amends the Sexual Assault Evidence Submission Act. Provides that the Department of State Police shall create and operate a statewide sexual assault evidence kit tracking system. Provides that the statewide sexual assault evidence kit tracking system shall: (1) track the location and status of sexual assault evidence kits throughout the criminal justice process, including the initial collection in examinations performed at medical facilities, receipt at local law enforcement agencies, and receipt and analysis at forensic laboratories; (2) allow medical facilities performing sexual assault forensic examinations, law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, State and local crime laboratories, and other entities who have physical custody of sexual assault evidence kits to update and track the status and location of sexual assault evidence kits; (3) allow victims of sexual assault to anonymously track and receive updates regarding the status of their sexual assault evidence kit; and (4) use technology to allow continuous access for appropriate personnel. Provides that the Department may phase in initial participation in the statewide sexual assault evidence kit tracking system by region, volume, or other appropriate classification. Provides that all entities who have custody of sexual assault evidence kits shall fully participate in the system by no later than July 1, 2019. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Build Illinois Act. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may also make loans or equity investments to small businesses with moneys in the State Small Business Credit Initiative Fund (currently, the Department make only make such loans and equity investments with moneys in the Build Illinois Bond Fund, the Illinois Capital Revolving Fund, or the Illinois Equity Revolving Fund). Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may make loans to small businesses of up to $2,000,000 (currently, $750,000) per project. Provides that moneys collected from the fees imposed under this Act connected with the Capital Fund shall be deposited into the Capital Fund. Provides that loans under the minority, veteran, female, and persons with a disability loan program shall not exceed $400,000 (currently, $100,000) without a waiver from the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Effective immediately.

Amends the Vital Records Act. Provides that the death certificate for an individual with a history of military service may include or may be amended to include the deceased individual's veteran status, the branch of the military that he or she served in, and the period of time that he or she served in the military. Effective immediately.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Removes cap on restitution. Removes intent requirement for hate crime committed in or causing damage to a place of worship. Provides that as a condition of probation or conditional discharge for hate crime, the court shall require the offender to perform public or community service of no less than 200 hours (even if that service is not established in the county where the offender was convicted of hate crime) and to enroll in an educational program discouraging hate crimes involving the protected class identified in the statute that gave rise to the offense committed. The educational program must be attended in-person. Expands organization that can provide the educational program. Clarifies that any hate crime victim who files a civil action shall be entitled to recover attorney's fees and costs. Provides that the parents or legal guardians, other than guardians appointed under the Juvenile Court Act, of an unemancipated minor shall be liable for the amount of any judgment for a hate crime for all (rather than actual) damages rendered against the minor in any amount not exceeding the amount provided under the Parental Responsibility Law. Requires if a person is convicted of hate crime in addition to one or more other convictions, that if imprisonment is to be imposed on the convictions the sentences must be served consecutively.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that beginning with the 2018 registration year, any individual who has a military-related special license plate issued under certain specified Sections of the Code may reclass his or her special license plate upon acquiring a new specified registration without a replacement fee or registration sticker cost.

Amends the Illinois Service Member Civil Relief Act. Provides that any person or service member who enters military service may, at any time after receiving military orders to relocate for a period of service of at least 90 days, terminate or suspend certain specified contracts for service. Provides that termination or suspension of a contract must be made by delivery of a written or electronic notice, along with a copy of the service member's official military orders calling him or her to military service, to the specified service provider. Provides that a termination or suspension of service is effective on the day notice is given. Provides that a service member who terminates or suspends a contract for services, and who is no longer in active military service, may reinstate the provision of service upon providing written or electronic notice to the service provider that he or she is no longer on active military service. Provides that nothing shall be construed to conflict with the provisions of the federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, or any other applicable provision of the Act.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that each school bus operated by a public or private primary or secondary school transporting students enrolled in grade 12 or below for a school related athletic event or other school approved extracurricular activity shall be registered as a school bus, comply with school bus driver permit requirements, comply with the minimum liability insurance requirements, and comply with all special requirements pertaining to school buses in the Code. Provides that a school bus that operates under the provision may be used to transport passengers other than students if certain conditions are met.

Amends the Department of Veterans Affairs Act. Changes the short title of the Act to the Department of Veterans' Affairs Act. Amends various Acts by correcting references to the Department of Veterans' Affairs Act and the Department of Veterans' Affairs and by eliminating references to the Illinois Veterans' Commission, which was the predecessor agency of the Department of Veterans' Affairs. Effective January 1, 2018.