Sen. Terry Link

Mourns the death of William Dalrymple Frost of Lake Forest.

Amends the Probate Act of 1975. Provides that a claim for punitive damages survives in an action that survives.

Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning downstate firefighters.

Amends the Line of Duty Compensation Act. Includes court security officers in the definition of "law enforcement officer". Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975. Removes language limiting the authority of non-host licensees (i) to carry host track simulcast programs and to accept wagers on all races included as part of the simulcast program of horse races within North America upon which wagering is permitted and (ii) to accept wagers on all horse races conducted at race tracks located outside of North America included as part of the simulcast program upon which wagering is permitted. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

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.

Mourns the death of former Illinois State Representative Vincent A. Persico.

Amends the Counties Code. Provides that a county with 2 or more adjoining fire protection jurisdictions, or 2 or more adjoining law enforcement jurisdictions (municipal police departments and township enforcement offices), lying wholly within the county's borders may consolidate the adjoining fire protection jurisdictions or the law enforcement jurisdictions by (i) adoption of a resolution by the county board or (ii) filing a petition (subject to the petition requirements of Section 28-3 of the Election Code) with the county board signed by at least 10% of the registered voters of each fire protection or law enforcement jurisdiction. Provides for filing, form, and notice requirements for petitions, resolutions, and referendum. Provides that if a consolidation referendum passes, the fire protection or law enforcement jurisdictions will continue to function as separate entities until a Board of Fire or Police Commissioners are appointed by the county board with the consent of all municipal and township boards. Once the Board of Fire or Police Commissioners is appointed, provides that the new consolidated fire protection or law enforcement jurisdiction shall have all the powers, rights, duties and obligations of the fire protection or law enforcement jurisdictions from which it was consolidated.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the Secretary of State may issue Blue Star Banner plates to residents of Illinois that have a spouse, parent, sibling, or child actively serving in the United States Armed Forces.

Amends the Video Gaming Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.