Sen. Susan Garrett

Amends the Electronic Products Recycling and Reuse Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the School Code. Provides that each school board employing an employee who is an elected trustee of the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund shall make available to the elected trustee at least 20 days of paid leave of absence per year for the purpose of attending meetings of the Fund's Board of Trustees, committee meetings of the Board, and seminars regarding issues for which the Board is responsible. The Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund shall reimburse affected school districts for the actual cost of hiring a substitute employee during such leaves of absence. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Pension Code. In provisions concerning Public Pension Division examinations or investigations of pension funds (i) provides that the Division of Insurance may retain attorneys, independent actuaries, independent certified public accountants, and specialists as examiners as deemed necessary by the Director of Insurance and removes language providing that the costs of these professionals shall be borne by the pension fund that is the subject of the examination and (ii) in provisions concerning the examination of downstate police and fire pension funds, provides that, beginning on December 31, 2016, the schedule of each examination shall be such that each fund shall be examined once every 5 years (was, once every 3 years). Increases the annual compliance fees with respect to a downstate police or fire pension fund from 0.02% (2 basis points) of the total assets of the pension fund, but not more than $8,000 to 0.03% (3 basis points) of the total assets of the pension fund, but not more than $12,000. Effective immediately.

Amends the Consumer Installment Loan Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning a license required to engage in the business of making loans of money in a principal amount not exceeding $25,000.

Amends the Public Community College Act. Provides that the Board of Trustees of Community College District No. 512 may establish and offer a pilot program under which the district may offer bachelor's degrees in 2 fields of study if certain conditions are met, including requiring (i) that the degree programs not compete with any nearby public university and the public universities in this State have the right of first refusal to offer the Bachelor of Applied Science Degree programs on the community college campus or a community college extension site, (ii) that the district identify and document unmet workforce needs, (iii) that the degree programs not require any additional funding from local taxes, the State, or the community college students not enrolled in the program, (iv) that the Board of Higher Education approve the offering of the degree programs, and (v) that the pilot program expire 4 years after the initial offering of the degree programs, unless otherwise extended by law. Prohibits Community College District No. 512 from becoming a primarily baccalaureate degree-granting, 4-year institution of higher learning. Effective July 1, 2009.

Creates the Green Jobs Training Fund Act. Creates the Green Jobs Training Fund as a special fund in the State Treasury. Provides that the purpose of the Fund shall be to support the development and implementation of worker skills training and education programs in energy efficiency and renewable energy industries. Authorizes the Director of Labor to use money from the Fund to establish 2 competitive grant programs: (i) an Energy Training Partnership Grant program, which would authorize the Director to award grants to eligible entities in order to produce economically self-sufficient program participants and a skilled workforce for eligible industries and (ii) a Pathways out of Poverty Grant program, which would authorize the Director to award grants to eligible entities that meet certain requirements. Limits grants made under either of these programs to $500,000 total over no more than 2 years. Requires the Department of Labor to report certain information to the General Assembly and Governor each year.

Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Permits persons or their staff charged by a unit of local government with the duty of investigating the conduct of law enforcement officers to inspect and copy law enforcement records maintained by law enforcement agencies that relate to a minor who has been arrested or taken into custody before his or her 17th birthday. Effective immediately.

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that when the Senate adjourns on Thursday, November 04, 2010, it stands adjourned until the call of the President; and the House of Representatives stands adjourned until the call of the Speaker.

Amends the Toll Highway Act. Provides that the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority (the Authority) has the power to employ and discharge, subject to (rather than without regard to) the requirements of any civil service or personnel Act. Creates the Office of the Toll Highway Inspector General under the direction and supervision of the Toll Highway Inspector General (Inspector General) as a fully independent office with separate appropriations. Provides that the Governor shall appoint the Inspector General, and provides for appointment procedures and the minimum qualifications for the Inspector General. Contains provisions concerning the term, filling vacancies, compensation, ethics, and removal of the Inspector General. Provides that the Inspector General shall have jurisdiction over the Authority and all officers and employees of, and vendors and others doing business with, State agencies within the jurisdiction of the Authority. Provides that subject to a person's privilege against self-incrimination, any person who fails to appear in response to a subpoena, answer any question, or produce any books or papers pertinent to an investigation or who knowingly gives false testimony in relation to an investigation by the Inspector General is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. Provides that the annual budget for the Inspector General shall be set to 0.5% of the Authority's total revenue for the immediately preceding fiscal year.

Amends the Governor's Office of Management and Budget Act. Provides that, by January 1 of each year, the Office shall submit an economic and fiscal policy report to the General Assembly. The report must outline the long-term economic and fiscal policy objectives of the State, the economic and fiscal policy intentions for the upcoming fiscal year, and the economic and fiscal policy intentions for the following 2 fiscal years. The report must highlight the total level of revenue, expenditure, deficit or surplus, and debt with respect to each of the reporting categories. The report must be posted on the Office's Internet website and allow members of the public to post comments concerning the report. Effective immediately.