Sen. Laura Murphy

Amends the Small Business Job Creation Tax Credit Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

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

Mourns the death of Jim Janak of Park Ridge.

Creates the Conservation Housing Development Act. Provides that a person seeking to construct a new housing development, if the plan includes the removal of trees, shall apply to the Department of Natural Resources for approval before construction may begin. Provides that the Department may forward the request to a unit of local government to enforce the Act on its behalf. Provides that the Department, or if the Department has granted authority to a unit of local government, shall approve a request for tree removal if: (1) the trees are diseased, infested with pests, or have been seriously damaged by fire, lightning, storm, or other injury; (2) dictated by good forestry practice if removal is beneficial to remaining trees; or (3) the trees have been designated for removal on an approved tree preservation plan. Provides that a tree preservation plan prepared by a registered arborist or landscape architect indicating the location, species, size, and condition of existing trees shall be submitted in conjunction with all applications for approval to the Department. Provides that the tree preservation plan shall indicate the location of the trees to be preserved and the methods which will be used to preserve the trees. Makes other changes. Effective January 1, 2020.

Amends the Fair Patient Billing Act. Provides that before pursuing a collection action against an insured patient for the unpaid amount of services rendered, a health care provider must review a patient's file to ensure that the patient does not have a Medicare supplement policy or any other secondary payer health insurance plan. Provides that if, after reviewing a patient's file, the health care provider finds no supplemental policy in the patient's record, the provider must then provide notice to the patient, and give that patient an opportunity to address the issue. Provides that if a health care provider has neither found information indicating the existence of a supplemental policy, nor received payment for services rendered to the patient, the health care provider may proceed with a collection action against the patient in accordance with specified provisions. Defines "supplemental policy". Makes a conforming change.

Amends the Interscholastic Athletic Organization Act. Requires an association or other entity that has as one of its purposes promoting, sponsoring, regulating, or in any manner providing for interscholastic athletics or any form of athletic competition among schools and students within this State to allow a student for whom it is determined that special education services are needed under the School Code to participate in interscholastic athletics and other forms of athletic competition for as long as the student is eligible for such special education services, which, for purposes of the School Code, means through the day before the student's 22nd birthday.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that a taxpayer who has been granted a homestead exemption for veterans with disabilities need not reapply if he or she has been found by the Department of Veterans' Affairs to be permanently and totally disabled.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that before a municipality may annex an area under 60 acres, the corporate authorities of the municipality must conduct at least 2 public hearings no less than 30 business days apart. Provides that during the first public hearing, the corporate authorities must provide persons interested in the annexation the opportunity to be heard. Provides that during the second or subsequent public hearing, the corporate authorities may adopt an ordinance annexing the area only if the municipality obtains consent to annex the area through a petition signed by: more than 70 percent of the registered voters of the area; and more than 70 percent of the owners of land in the area if the registered voters of the area do not own more than 70 percent of the land in the area. Provides that if the municipality cannot obtain consent it may file a petition in the circuit court in the county that the land is to be annexed requesting relief and that relief shall only be granted for existing public health and safety reasons that cannot be resolved without the annexation.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates a credit for taxpayers who (1) have an adjusted gross income of $200,000 or less and (2) are college or university students or may claim a college or university student as a dependent. Provides that the credit shall be equal to a portion of the tuition and fee expenses paid by the taxpayer during the taxable year on behalf of the qualifying student. Sets forth the amount of the credit. Effective immediately.

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