Amends the Gas Revenue Tax Act, the Telecommunications Excise Tax Act, and the Electricity Excise Tax Act. Provides that businesses that are primarily engaged in manufacturing are exempt from taxation under the Acts. Provides that the Acts' automatic sunset provisions do not apply to the exemption.
Amends the Governmental Joint Purchasing Act. Provides that a chief procurement officer (now, the Department of Central Management Services) may authorize the purchase of personal property, supplies, and services jointly with a governmental entity of this or another state. Provides that, under a joint purchase agreement of governmental units, one of the governmental units shall conduct the competitive selection process (now, letting of bids). Provides that the purchase of all personal property, supplies, and services under the Act shall be based on competitive solicitations (now, competitive sealed bids). Effective immediately.
Amends the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.
Proposes to amend the Legislature Article of the Illinois Constitution in relation to the passage of bills. Provides that a bill that takes effect after January 1, 2013 and amends the Illinois Pension Code or a successor Act must be limited to one of the following: (i) amendments affecting a single pension fund, retirement system, entity, or plan established or to be established under the Code or successor Act, (ii) amendments to a single plan or general provision that governs a related group of pension funds or retirement systems, (iii) amendments necessarily affecting more than one pension fund or retirement system, such as transfers of participants or credits, or (iv) amendments for the codification, revision, or rearrangement of laws. Effective upon being declared adopted.
Amends the Trusts and Trustees Act. Adds provisions authorizing an investment trust advisor, distribution trust advisor, and trust protector to be designated in the governing instrument of a trust. Adds provisions concerning the powers of an authorized trustee who has the absolute discretion to invade the principal of a trust. Adds provisions authorizing establishment of a Domestic Asset Protection Trust. Adds provisions concerning the modification or termination of an irrevocable trust. Contains provisions concerning definitions, conditions and requirements, applicability, and other matters. Effective immediately.
Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that a non-expert's opinion or inference testimony is limited to opinions or inferences that are rationally based on his or her perception, helpful to a clear understanding of his or her testimony or the determination of a fact in issue, and not based on scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge. Sets forth requirements regarding: qualifications, testimony, disclosure, and compensation of expert witnesses; bases of expert opinion testimony; limitations on expert testimony; pre-trial hearings and disclosures concerning expert witnesses; precedents to be followed in interpreting the new provisions; interlocutory appeals of rulings on the admissibility of expert evidence; standards to be followed by reviewing courts in determining the admissibility of expert testimony; severability; and other matters. Applies to actions commenced on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act and pending actions in which a trial has not been scheduled or in which a trial has been scheduled more than 90 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Effective immediately.
Amends the State Finance Act. Provides that, beginning on June 30, 2013 (now, 2021), certain payments payable from appropriations that may have otherwise expired may be paid out of the expiring appropriation during the 4-month period ending on October 31. Provides for a $2,000,000,000 limitation on the aggregate amount of payments to be made without regard for fiscal year limitations for outstanding liabilities related to fiscal year 2012 and a $0 limitation for outstanding liabilities related to fiscal year 2013 and fiscal years thereafter.
Amends the Probate Act of 1975. In provisions concerning inheritance from or through a natural parent and for determining the property rights of any person under any instrument, provides that an adopted child is not a child of a natural parent whose parental rights were terminated by the adoption (rather than that an adopted child is not a child of a natural parent), nor is the child a descendant of a natural parent or of any lineal or collateral kindred of a natural parent, unless specified conditions apply.
Amends the General Provisions Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that a Public Act that amends the Code and takes effect after January 1, 2013 must be limited to one of the following: (i) amendments to a single Article of the Code, (ii) amendments affecting a single pension fund, retirement system, entity, or plan established under the Code, or (iii) revisory matters. Any amendment to the Code that violates this requirement is null and void.
Amends the Property Tax Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning exemptions for property used for charitable purposes.
