Sen. Dan McConchie

Amends the Counties Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Provides that a craft distiller may make sales and deliveries to importing distributors and distributors and may make sales and deliveries of up to 25,000 gallons of spirits to retail licensees per year. Effective immediately.

Creates the Regulatory Sandbox Act. Creates the regulatory sandbox to enable persons to obtain limited access to the Illinois marketplace in order to test innovations in financial products or services. Provides requirements for approval to enter the regulatory sandbox, the application fee, and approval or denial time. Provides requirements for operating an innovation in the regulatory sandbox and extending a test period. Contains provisions regarding rules and judicial review of the administration of this Act. Makes conforming changes in the State Finance Act. Effective January 1, 2019.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that the research and development applies on a permanent basis. Provides that the credit may be carried forward for a period of 20 years (instead of 5 years). Makes changes concerning the calculation of the credit. Reinstates the training expense credit. Provides that the credit shall be 2.5% of such training expenses. Creates an apprenticeship income tax credit. Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that the manufacturing and assembling machinery and equipment exemption includes production related tangible personal property. Provides that the exemption for coal and aggregate exploration, mining, off-highway hauling, processing, maintenance, and reclamation equipment applies on a permanent basis. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. In a Section concerning valuation in years other than general assessment years, provides that the Section shall not be construed to prevent valuation changes under other Sections of this Code. Effective immediately.

Amends the Downstate Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that beginning in fiscal year 2020 and each year thereafter, the System shall calculate the projected amount of the increase in the employer normal cost of benefits, expressed as a percentage of salary and reflecting separate amounts for Tier 1 and Tier 2 benefits, resulting from any increase in salary over the preceding school year, expressed as a percentage of salary. Provides that except for a teacher who first becomes a teacher on or after the implementation date of certain benefits, if the amount of a teacher's salary for any school year beginning on or after July 1, 2019 exceeds the member's annual full-time salary rate with the same employer for the previous school year, then the teacher's employer shall pay to the System the projected amount of the increase in the employer normal cost of benefits, as determined by the System and reflecting whether the teacher will receive Tier 1 or Tier 2 benefits, resulting from the increase in the member's salary over the previous school year. Excludes earnings increases paid to members under contracts or collective bargaining agreements entered into, amended, or renewed before the effective date of the amendatory Act. Excludes earning increases paid to members who first become members on or after the implementation date of certain benefits. Defines "Tier 1 benefits" and "Tier 2 benefits". Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Automobile Renting Occupation and Use Tax Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the conversion and formation of school districts.

Amends the Illinois Pension Code with respect to the 5 State-funded retirement systems. Provides that beginning January 1, 2018, a person under one of those Articles who (i) has terminated service,(ii) has met the age and service requirement to receive a retirement annuity, (iii) has not received a retirement annuity under that Article, and (iv) meets certain other eligibility requirements may elect to receive, in lieu of any pension benefits under that Article, a lump sum accelerated pension benefit payment equal to 70% of the net present value of his or her pension benefits or may elect to receive a partial accelerated pension benefit payment in exchange for a specified reduction in pension benefits. Provides that if a person elects to receive an accelerated pension benefit payment, his or her credits and creditable service under that Article shall be terminated upon receipt of the accelerated pension benefit payment; except that the terminated service credit shall be used for the purposes of determining participation and benefits under the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971. Makes other changes. Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971 to make related changes. Amends the Illinois Finance Authority Act. Requires the Authority to issue bonds if the amount of those payments exceed the amount appropriated to each System for those payments. Amends the General Obligation Bond Act. Authorizes $250,000,000 in State Pension Obligation Acceleration Bonds to be sold to pay for accelerated pension benefit payments. Amends the State Pension Funds Continuing Appropriation Act to create a continuing appropriation for payments on those Bonds. Amends the State Finance Act to create the State Pension Obligation Acceleration Bond Fund. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Prompt Payment Act. Provides that for State fiscal year 2018 and future fiscal years, any bill approved for payment under provisions concerning late payment interest must be paid or the payment issued to the payee within 90 days of receipt of a proper bill or invoice. Provides that if payment is not issued to the payee within this 90-day period, an interest penalty of 0.3% (currently, 1%) of any amount approved and unpaid shall be added for each month, or 0.01% (currently, 0.033%) of any amount approved and unpaid for each day, after the end of this 90-day period, until final payment is made. Makes conforming changes.