Amends the Election Code. Provides that a vacancy in the office of U.S. Senator shall be filled at a special election. Provides for a temporary gubernatorial appointment until the special election is held. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Reduces the rate of tax to (i) 3% for individuals, trusts, and estates, and (ii) 4.8% for corporations. Makes corresponding changes concerning the distribution of tax proceeds. Effective immediately.
Creates the Chicago Opportunity Scholarship Act and amends the Illinois Income Tax Act and the State aid formula provisions of the School Code. Establishes the Chicago Opportunity Scholarship Program, a pilot program that expires on June 30, 2024. Provides that under the program, the custodian of a qualifying pupil is entitled to a Chicago Opportunity Scholarship to pay for qualified education expenses at a participating Chicago nonpublic elementary school. Requires the principal of each low-performing school and of each overcrowded school in the Chicago school district to notify custodians of qualifying pupils of the availability of scholarships. Sets forth provisions concerning a request for a scholarship, the issuance and payment of a scholarship, the amount and renewal of a scholarship, pupil assessment, the State longitudinal data system, and funding. Provides that students receiving scholarships are considered nonpublic school students who have been voluntarily placed in a private setting. Provides that the amount of a redeemed scholarship shall not be considered base income and shall not be taxable for Illinois income tax purposes. Requires the State Board of Education to submit a report to the General Assembly. Provides criminal penalties for certain violations. Requires the State Board to adopt rules to implement the Act. Provides that the Act is repealed on July 1, 2024. Effective June 30, 2014.
Amends the Open Meetings Act, the Counties Code, the Township Code, and the Illinois Municipal Code to require that, before the county board, the township board, or the corporate authorities of a municipality may vote on an officer's or employee's increase in earnings that exceeds his or her earnings for the previous calendar year by more than 6%, the county board, the township board, or the corporate authorities shall conduct a public hearing addressing the proposed increase in earnings. Requires publication of notice of the public hearing. Pre-empts home rule powers. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF), Cook County, State Employees, State Universities, Downstate Teachers, and Chicago Teachers Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. For participants who first become participants on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act, prohibits (i) payments for unused sick or vacation time from being used to calculate pensionable earnings and salary and (ii) unused sick or vacation time from being used to establish service credit. Effective immediately.
Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning definitions.
Creates the Pension Funding and Fairness Act. Provides that the maximum annual percentage change in State fiscal year spending may not exceed the inflation adjustment factor plus the population adjustment factor. Provides that, in order to adopt an increase in State spending beyond that limit or an increase in State revenue, the measure must be approved by a three-fifths supermajority vote of each chamber of the General Assembly and must be approved by a majority of voters. Provides for the imposition of an emergency tax. Establishes the Past Due Paydown Fund, into which the Comptroller shall transfer any amount necessary up to the total past due operating debt owed by the State, and provides that the General Assembly may authorize transfers, appropriations, and allocations from the fund to fund only the costs of paying down the remaining past due debt. Requires any remaining funds to be transferred into the State Budget Stabilization Fund. Establishes the State Budget Stabilization Fund to fund the costs of State government up to the expenditure limit in years when State revenues are less than the amount necessary to finance expenditures. Limits the fund from exceeding 8% of the total General Fund revenues received in the immediately preceding fiscal year, and requires the transfer of any excess into the Taxpayer Relief Fund. Establishes the Taxpayer Relief Fund, and provides that, if the amount in that fund exceeds 1% of General Fund expenditures, then the General Assembly shall enact legislation to provide for the refund to taxpayers of amounts in the fund. Contains provisions concerning annual pension payments. Amends the State Finance Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.
Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, beginning in taxable year 2013 and through taxable year 2015, the total amount due on each property tax bill in each taxable year may not exceed the total amount due for that property in taxable year 2012. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement by the State. Effective immediately.
Amends the Election Code. Provides that when a vacancy in nomination occurs on or after the general primary but more than 90 days before certification of candidates for the general election ballot, other than because no candidate's name appeared on the general primary ballot and no write-in candidate was nominated, the vacancy may be filled only at a special primary election on a date set by the State Board of Elections but at least 30 days before the date of certification. Permits a vacancy in nomination occurring less than 91 days before certification of candidates for the general election ballot but more than 15 days before the general election to be filled by the political party's nominating committee only if the vacancy is due to the candidate's death or incapacitating illness. Adds inability to fulfill the duties of the office sought due to illness as an event creating a vacancy in nomination. (Now, a vacancy in nomination occurring on or after the general primary and before the 15th day before the general election is filled by the party's nominating committee by certain deadlines based upon when the vacancy occurs). Effective June 1, 2011.
Amends the Property Tax Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the tax exemption for property used for religious purposes.
