Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that this Act may be referred to as the Freedom to Choose Act. Allows for the sale of motor vehicles on any 6 days of the week chosen by the business owner (instead of on any day but Sunday). Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. Provides that, among other restrictions, no legislator may accept or participate in any way in any representation case before the State of Illinois or any unit of local government in this State on any matter filed on or after February 1, 2018 that involves a challenge to any tax or proposed assessment of any tax or fee. Provides that the prohibition against participation in such a representation case does not apply in regards to a person with whom the legislator maintains a close economic association, unless a fee or compensation received regarding any matter that involves a challenge to any tax or proposed assessment of any tax or fee is received by the legislator directly or indirectly through any interest in a partnership, limited liability corporation, or other business entity. Modifies the term "representation case" to include matters before a unit of local government. Effective immediately.
Mourns the death of Ralph A. Nagel of Geneva.
Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Provides that licenses issued for day care centers, day care homes, and group day care homes shall be valid for 5 years (rather than 3 years) from the date issued. Provides that the person operating a motor vehicle for a day care center, group home, or child care institution shall currently hold a valid driver's license that has not been revoked or suspended for one or more traffic violations during the 5 years (rather than 3 years) immediately prior to the date of application. Provides that a day care center, day care home, or group day care home shall have the facility tested for radon at least once every 5 years (rather than 3 years). Provided that a day care center, day care home, or group day care home shall provide the Department of Children and Family Services with proof that the facility has been tested for radon within the last 5 years (rather than 3 years) as part of the initial application or renewal of the license.
Amends the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Illinois Transparency and Accountability Portal webmaster must compile and update notices and digital public records from all school districts and units of local government without websites (currently, must only compile and update for specified units of local government). Amends the Local Records Act. Provides that a school district or unit of local government may publish any notice, agenda, record, or other information or material required by law electronically instead of in a newspaper. Further provides that any requirement to store or maintain any public record in microfilm or microfiche form shall be satisfied by the school district or unit of local government's maintenance of such public record in digital form.
Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Provides that notice to parties in a contested case under the Act shall be served, among other forms of service, by electronic mail. Provides that parties in a contested case under the Act shall be notified, among other forms of notification, by electronic mail of any decision or order in that case. Provides that an agency may require all attorneys to designate an electronic mail address to which all documents required under certain specified Sections may be transmitted. Provides that if an attorney is required to designate an electronic mail address, he or she must designate one primary electronic mail address, and may designate no more than 2 secondary electronic mail addresses. Provides that an agency may request, but not require, an unrepresented party to designate an electronic mail address to which all documents required under certain specified Sections may be transmitted. Allows an agency to, by rule, make electronic mail the default option for service of documents. Provides that service by electronic mail is complete on the first business day following transmission.
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that unless some other speed restriction is established under a Chapter in the Code governing rules of the road, the maximum speed limit outside an urban district for any vehicle is 60 miles per hour (rather than 55 miles per hour) on all highways, roads, and streets that do not have 4 or more lanes of traffic and are not interstate highways and 75 miles per hour (rather than 70 miles per hour) on Interstate Route 355, Interstate Route 80, and every interstate west of Interstate Route 355 and south of Interstate Route 80.
Amends the Unemployment Insurance Act. Provides that if a business is transferred to another individual or entity that, at the time of transfer, has any substantial common ownership, management, or control of the transferor and transferee, then the experience rating records of the transferred business shall be transferred to the transferee. Effective January 1, 2018.
Amends the Township Code. Removes a restriction limiting townships to 126 square miles. Provides that an ordinance or petition to consolidate a township may contain a provision requiring a new tax rate for the consolidated area equal to the lowest property tax rate in the consolidated area preceding the consolidation. Provides that all townships within a coterminous, or substantially coterminous, municipality may be consolidated. Further provides that a county board may elect to restructure into a commission form of government after discontinuance of township organization (currently, a county is required to reorganize into a commission form of government). Amends the Property Tax Code and the Counties Code making conforming changes.
Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Provides that when a public institution of higher education proposes to discontinue operations, it shall file with the Board the original or legible true copies of all academic records of the institution. Provides for the specific contents of the records required to be filed. Provides that where it appears to the Board that any such records are in danger of being lost, hidden, destroyed, or otherwise made unavailable to the Board, the Board may seize and take possession of the records, on its own motion and without order of a court. Requires the Board to maintain a permanent file of all such records coming into its possession. Provides that, as an alternative to the deposit of records with the Board, the public institution of higher education may propose a different means for permanent retention of the records, subject to the approval of the Board. Effective immediately.
