Amends the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. Requires a candidate nominated at a general primary to file a statement of economic interests by May 1 before the general election, in addition to the statement he or she filed before the general primary.
Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Makes a technical change in a Section of the sentencing Chapter of the Code concerning the definition of "victim".
Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Deletes language regarding joint and several liability in actions on account of bodily injury or death or physical damage to property, based on negligence, or product liability based on strict tort liability, and adds language providing that: in actions for bodily injury or death or physical damage to property based on negligence or product liability based on strict tort liability in which recovery is predicated upon fault, each defendant found liable is liable for only that percentage of the plaintiff's damages that represents the contributory fault chargeable to that defendant in the comparison of the plaintiff's fault with the fault of all tortfeasors whose fault was a proximate cause of the death, injury, loss, or damage for which recovery is sought; except when the plaintiff is barred from recovering damages because the plaintiff's contributory fault is more than 50% of the proximate cause of the injury or damage for which recovery is sought, the plaintiff is barred from recovering damages from a defendant in excess of the amount of damages obtained by applying the percentage of contributing fault of that defendant to the amount of the plaintiff's damages; and no defendant is jointly and severally liable for plaintiff's damages. Amends the Joint Tortfeasor Contribution Act by deleting and repealing certain provisions regarding contribution if the obligation of one or more of the joint tortfeasors is uncollectable and a plaintiff's right to recover the full amount of his judgment from any one or more defendants.
Honors retiring State Senator Chris Lauzen on 20 years of service to the citizens of his district and the State of Illinois.
Creates the Early Graduation Tuition Waiver Act. Provides that if a student graduates from grades 9 through 12 at a secondary school in this State that is recognized by the State Board of Education in less than 4 school years, then he or she is entitled to receive a tuition waiver to a public university in this State, with the length of the tuition waiver being equal to the difference between 8 semesters and the actual number of semesters the student was enrolled in grades 9 through 12. Provides that each year, the State Board shall receive and consider applications for these tuition waivers and award these tuition waivers to eligible applicants. Effective July 1, 2011.
Amends the Lobbyist Registration Act. Provides that a person required to register under the Act must include in his or her report a description of any business or familial relationship, or both, that the registrant has with a State official. Defines "familial relationship".
Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Creates the State Death Penalty Review Committee effective July 1, 2011 to develop standards to assist State's Attorneys in the exercise of discretion in seeking the death penalty on a first degree murder charge and to approve a State's Attorney's decision to seek the death penalty in first degree murder cases. Effective July 1, 2011.
Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that an inmate is ineligible for the award of meritorious good conduct credit if the inmate was convicted of: (1) a violent crime as defined in the Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act committed on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act or (2) a second or subsequent violation of driving under the influence or aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol or any other drug or drugs, or intoxicating compound or compounds, or any combination thereof committed on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Increases the education expense credit to 50% (instead of 25%) of qualified education expenses and increases the family limit to $1,000 (instead of $500). Effective immediately.
Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Uses a portion of the NPDES fees collected by the Environmental Protection Agency to finance clean water projects recommended by the DuPage River Salt Creek Workgroup (DRSCW). Requires all projects receiving grants from the Agency to be recommended by the DRSCW, in accordance with a project prioritization process and annual prioritized projects list. Establishes requirements for eligible projects. Establishes requirements for an organization to be certified as a Certified Local Watershed Organization (CLWO). Requires the Agency to adopt rules to implement these requirements. Creates the Illinois Local Watershed Fund as a special fund in the State treasury.
