Sen. Dan Kotowski

Amends the Short Term Borrowing Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning cash flow borrowing.

Amends the Charter Schools Law of the School Code. Removes provisions allowing the State Charter School Commission to reverse a school board's decision to deny, revoke, or not renew a charter; makes related changes. In a provision concerning a charter school proposed to be jointly authorized by 2 or more school districts and the school boards unanimously denying the charter school proposal with a statement that the school boards are not opposed to the charter school, but that they yield to the Commission in light of the complexities of joint administration, allows the charter applicant to submit the proposal to the Commission and requires the Commission to follow the same process and be subject to the same timelines for review as a school board.

Amends the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board.

Amends the State Budget Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Governor's Office of Management and Budget to post on its official website the Governor's submitted budget within one week of its submission. Provides that all outcomes for Statewide prioritized budget goals shall be further defined into sub-outcomes. Provides that the report submitted by the commission established by the Governor outlining how to achieve those goals and outcomes shall include all sub-outcomes and must be posted on the Governor's Office of Management and Budget's official website by the January 1 following the report's November 1 submission date. Provides that the working group created to make the State budgeting process the most transparent shall report its findings to the Governor, the General Assembly, and the commission by January 1, 2016 (currently, January 1, 2015). Extends the date of repeal of the working group from January 1, 2016 to January 1, 2017.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that the research and development credit applies on a permanent basis. Provides that the credit may be carried forward for a period of 20 years (instead of 5 years). Increases the amount of the research and development credit by providing that the increase in qualifying expenditures shall be an increase over 50% (instead of 100%) of the average of the qualifying expenditures for each year in the base period.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that smoking cessation products shall not be subject to prior approval as a result of the 4-prescription limit.

Appropriates $1,269,774 from the General Revenue Fund to the Court of Claims to pay claims in conformity with awards and recommendations made by the Court of Claims. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Finance Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Provides that a person who is not a federally licensed importer, manufacturer, or dealer and who desires to sell or transfer a firearm of a size that may be concealed upon the person to another person, who is not a federally licensed importer, manufacturer, or dealer, shall do so only at the place of business of a federally licensed firearm dealer. Provides that the federally licensed firearm dealer shall conduct a background check on the prospective recipient of the firearm and follow all other applicable federal, State, and local laws as if he or she were the seller of the firearm. Provides that the purchaser or transferee may be required by the federally licensed firearm dealer to pay a fee not to exceed $10 per firearm, plus other authorized fees. Makes exceptions for (i) the transfer of a firearm between spouses, a parent and child, or other family members, (ii) transfers by persons acting pursuant to operation of law or a court order, or (iii) transfers on the grounds of a gun show. Provides that the Department of State Police shall develop an Internet based system for individuals to request the Department of State Police to conduct an instant criminal background check prior to the sale or transfer of a handgun. Provides that the Department of State Police shall have the system completed and available for use by July 1, 2016.

Amends the Firearm Concealed Carry Act. Adds any building, real property, or parking area under the control of a church, synagogue, temple mosque, or other place of worship, to the places where concealed carry of a firearm under the Act is prohibited.