Amends the Line of Duty Compensation Act. Changes the definition of "killed in the line of duty" to include losing one's life while on active duty in connection with, among other operations, Operation Freedom's Sentinel, Operation New Dawn, and Operation Inherent Resolve. Effective immediately.
Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. In a provision limiting medical assistance recipients to one pair of adult eyeglasses every 2 years, provides that the limitation does not apply to an individual who needs different eyeglasses following a surgical procedure such as cataract surgery. Effective immediately.
Amends the Compulsory Attendance Article of the School Code. Allows a child to be absent from school on a particular day or days or at a particular time of day for the reason that his or her parent or legal guardian is an active duty member of the uniformed services and has been called to duty for, is on leave from, or has immediately returned from deployment to a combat zone or combat-support postings. Provides that such a student shall be granted 10 days of excused absences in any school year and, at the discretion of the school board, additional excused absences to visit the student's parent or legal guardian relative to such leave or deployment of the parent or legal guardian. Requires the student and parent or legal guardian to obtain assignments from the student's teacher prior to any period of excused absence and for ensuring that such assignments are completed by the student prior to his or her return to school from such period of excused absence. Effective immediately.
Amends the Local Government Reduction and Efficiency Division of the Counties Code. Provides that the Division applies to all counties (currently, only applies to DuPage, Lake, and McHenry Counties). Excludes specified boards from the definition of "unit of local government". Provides how the status and rights of employees, including those represented by an exclusive bargaining representatives, are affected by the dissolution of a unit of local government under the Division. Provides for the assumption of obligations of the dissolving unit of local government by the entity absorbing the dissolving unit as they relate to representation rights and collective bargaining agreements. Amends the Township Code. Removes a restriction limiting townships to 126 square miles. Provides for the consolidation of 2 or more townships which share a boundary, the merging of one township into 2 other townships, and the dissolution of all townships (currently, only allowed in specified townships) within a coterminous, or substantially coterminous, municipality. Makes other changes. Amends the Election Code. Specifies procedures for township consolidation, merger, and discontinuance referenda. Amends the Illinois Drainage Code. Provides that specified counties may, by resolution, dissolve drainage districts wholly within their borders and drainage districts only partially within its borders under specified circumstances. Amends the Illinois Highway Code. Provides that specified township road districts may be abolished by public referendum. Effective on January 1, 2018, but this Act does not take effect at all unless Senate Bills 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 of the 100th General Assembly become law.
Mourns the death of Fred T. Heinritz of Appleton, Wisconsin.
Amends the Military Code of Illinois. Provides that families of Illinois National Guard members who have died while on active duty or during training shall be presented with the State flag of Illinois, appropriate for use as a burial flag, upon application of a member of the family of the deceased Illinois National Guard member. Provides that the Adjutant General or the Adjutant General's designee shall present the State flag of Illinois to the family of the deceased member of the Illinois National Guard.
Amends the Department of Veterans Affairs Act. Provides that the Department of Veterans Affairs shall provide informational resources and education to veterans returning from deployment regarding service animals for individuals with disabilities including, but not limited to, resources and education on service animals that guide people who are blind, pull a wheelchair, alert a person with hearing loss, protect a person having a seizure, assist a person with a traumatic brain injury, and calm a person with post-traumatic stress disorder during an anxiety attack or psychiatric episode.
Amends the Flag Display Act. Provides that in lieu of notice being provided by the Department of Veterans' Affairs, any other State or federal entity, agency, or person holding such information may notify the Governor of the death by hostile fire of an Illinois resident member of the United States armed forces. Provides that if such notice is provided to the Governor by an entity, agency, or person other than the Department of Veterans' Affairs, then the obligation to notify the Governor of an Illinois resident soldier's death shall be considered fulfilled.
Amends the Department of Veterans Affairs Act. Provides that the Illinois Veterans' Advisory Council shall investigate the re-entry process for service members who return to civilian life after being engaged in an active theater. Provides that by July 1, 2018 and by July 1 of each year thereafter, the Council shall present a specified annual report. Provides that such investigation and annual report responsibilities shall be a continuation of the investigation and annual report responsibilities of the Illinois Discharged Servicemember Task Force. Provides that through July 1, 2017, the Task Force shall present the specified annual report. Provides that as soon as is practicable after the Task Force presents its final report due by July 1, 2017, any information collected by the Task Force in carrying out its duties under specified provisions shall be transferred to the Council. Provides that the Task Force is dissolved on July 1, 2018. Amends the Board of Higher Education Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.
Amends the State Police Act. Provides that a person who has been honorably discharged who served in a combat mission by proof of hostile fire pay or imminent danger pay during deployment on active duty or has at least 4 years of full active and continuous military duty and received an honorable discharge before hiring is deemed to have met the collegiate educational requirements for an appointment of a Department of State Police officer. Provides that any person seeking a promotion to the rank of Sergeant and above shall meet the Department's educational requirements. Effective July 1, 2017.
