Sen. Julie Morrison

Proposes to amend the Legislature Article of the Illinois Constitution. Provides that provisions concerning legislative redistricting apply to Congressional Districts. Requires that districts, in addition to being compact, contiguous, and substantially equal in population, must also comply with the federal Constitution and law, provide racial and ethnic minorities with equal opportunity to participate in the political process, provide racial and ethnic minorities who constitute less than a voting-age majority of a district with an opportunity to substantially influence the outcome of an election, respect geographic integrity of units of local government, respect communities sharing common social or economic interests, and not discriminate against or in favor of any political party or individual. Replaces the current method of legislative redistricting with the following: a 16-member commission, appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the most senior Supreme Court Judge of a different political party in accordance with specified criteria, shall adopt and file with the Secretary of State redistricting plans for Legislative, Representative, and Congressional Districts following a series of public hearings by August 1 of the year following a federal decennial census; permits the public to submit maps during the map drawing process for consideration by the Commission; and, if a redistricting plan is not adopted by August 1 of the year following a federal decennial census, then a seventeenth member shall be appointed to the Commission and redistricting plans shall be filed by September 1. Adds provisions concerning the membership of the Commission and budgetary matters related to the Commission. Removes the requirement for each Legislative District to be divided into two Representative Districts. Effective upon being declared adopted and applicable to redistricting beginning in 2021 and to the election of General Assembly members beginning in 2022.

Proposes to amend the Legislature Article of the Illinois Constitution. Limits a person's total service in any one of the following offices: Speaker of the House of Representatives, President of the Senate, Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, or Minority Leader of the Senate to a total of 5 General Assemblies. Applies to service on or after the second Wednesday in January, 2019. Does not apply to service to fill a vacancy in the office of Speaker of the House of Representatives, President of the Senate, Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, or Minority Leader of the Senate. Provides for purposes of calculation of a person's service under this provision, a General Assembly is the 2-year period from the convening of a General Assembly on the second Wednesday of January in an odd-numbered year until the convening of the next General Assembly on the second Wednesday of January in the next odd-numbered year. Effective upon being declared adopted in accordance with Section 7 of the Illinois Constitutional Amendment Act.

Amends the Illinois Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Provides that "ex parte communication" also includes situations when legislators impart or request material information or make a material argument regarding State university admissions or hiring or other personnel decisions at State agencies or universities. Modifies the term "interested party" to include a person or entity whose rights, privileges, or interests regard matters of university admissions or hiring or other personnel decisions at State agencies or universities. Adds the Illinois Board of Higher Education to the list of agencies required to report ex parte communications.

Amends the Illinois Trust and Payable on Death Accounts Act. Makes a technical change to the short title Section.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, for assessment years following the next general assessment after the effective date of the amendatory Act, no increase in assessment may exceed 20% per year. Provides exceptions if: (1) the property is sold, transferred, or conveyed during the taxable year; (2) significant improvements were made to the property; (3) a homestead exemption or other preferential method of assessment was removed with respect to that property during the taxable year; or (4) the increase was due to an equalization factor imposed by the township, county, or Department of Revenue. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides than an insurer that amends, delivers, issues, or renews a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or a qualified health plan that provides coverage for hospital or medical treatment and for treatment of a mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorder or condition shall submit an annual report to the Department of Insurance or, with respect to medical assistance, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services on or before March 1 containing specific information. Provides that the Director of Insurance cannot certify an insurer's policy if the insurer fails to submit all specific information required.

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. Effective immediately.

Amends the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides for a credit against withholding taxes in an amount equal to 25% of the wages or salary paid by a private employer to an Illinois employee while the employee is on organ donation leave if the employer grants all of its employees the option of taking a paid leave of absence of at least 30 days for the purpose of serving as an organ donor or bone marrow donor. Provides that the credit may not exceed $20,833.33 for each employee who takes organ donation leave. Provides that such a leave of absence must be taken without loss of pay, vacation time, compensatory time, personal days, or sick time for at least the first 30 days of the leave of absence. Effective immediately.