Sen. Terry Link

Mourns the death of Mark Joseph Gallagher of Beach Park.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that any campaign, party, or other organization or individual that engages in a vote by mail operation in which voters are sent applications for vote by mail ballots shall also provide the voter with a postage-paid return envelope addressed only to the appropriate local election authority for that registered voter. Provides that removing, tampering with, or otherwise knowingly making the postmark on the application unreadable by the election authority shall establish a rebuttable presumption of a violation.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that when a person who intends to be a write-in candidate for an uncontested office has not timely filed nomination papers but has filed a written statement or notice of his or her intent, no primary ballot shall be printed (rather than requiring a primary ballot to be prepared and a primary election held). Removes language concerning requirements for the written statement or notice. Removes language providing that an election authority has no duty to conduct a primary and prepare a ballot for a uncontested office, unless the written statement or notice is filed in a timely manner. Provides that where no primary is held, a person intending to become a write-in candidate shall re-file a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate for the consolidated election with the appropriate election authority or authorities. Provides that a write-in candidate's notarized declaration of intent needs to be filed no more than 106 days before a primary or election for write-in votes for the candidate to be counted. Provides that a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate shall include specified information, otherwise, the declaration shall not be accepted. Provides that persons intending to become write-in candidates for President and Vice President or Governor and Lieutenant Governor shall file a joint declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate that identifies the candidate for each office. Provides that a vote cast for either candidate shall constitute a valid write-in vote for the team of candidates.

Creates the Compostable Bags in Retail Establishments Act. Provides that no retail establishment in the State shall use or provide polyethylene or other non-compostable plastic film bags tinted green or brown for customers to bag products in stores, as carry out bags, or for home delivery. Provides that any film bags meeting the definition of compostable that retail establishments provide to customers for food or other products, such as vegetables bagged in stores prior to checkout, must be tinted green or brown and shall be clearly labeled "COMPOSTABLE", including language following the Federal Trade Commission's "Green Guides". Provides that no film bag that retail establishments provide to customers to bag products in stores, as carry out bags, or for home delivery may be labeled with the term "biodegradable", "degradable", "decomposable", or any similar terms, or in any way imply that the product will break down, fragment, biodegrade, or decompose in a landfill or other environment. Defines "carry out bag", "compostable", and "retail establishment". Effective January 1, 2018.

Appropriates $12,500,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Human Services for grants to the Illinois YouthBuild Coalition. Effective July 1, 2017.

Amends the Election Code. Changes the date for when lotteries for determining the order certain petitions were received from within 9 days following the last day for petition filing to within 5 days following the last day for petition filing. Provides that 5 (rather than 7) days' written notice of the time and place of the lottery shall be provided. Removes a requirement that the notice be sent to each organization of citizens entitled to have pollwatchers present. Provides that each simultaneous filer candidate may be served with notice concerning the lottery. Makes similar changes in provisions concerning minor political parties. Provides that any campaign, party, or other organization or individual that engages in a vote by mail operation shall also provide the voter with a postage-paid, pre-addressed return envelope addressed only to the appropriate local election authority. Provides that a permanent polling place for early voting must remain open through the end of the second day before election day (rather than through the end of the day before election day).

Amends the Renter's Financial Responsibility and Protection Act. Makes a technical change in a provision concerning prohibited practices.

Mourns the death of John J. Walkup, formerly of Waukegan.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, if a veteran (i) was a member of the United States Armed Forces, (ii) is 70 years of age or older during the taxable year, and (iii) has a household income of less than $65,000, then property that is used as a qualified residence by the veteran is exempt from taxation under the Code. Effective immediately.

Resolves that the Secretary inform the House of Representatives that the Senate has organized by the election of a President and other permanent officers and is ready to proceed with business of session.