Sen. Melinda Bush

Amends the Counties Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning county board elections.

Proposes to amend the Legislature and Executive Articles of the Illinois Constitution. Provides that a person who has served four 2-year terms as Speaker of the House of Representatives, President of the Senate, Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, or Minority Leader of the Senate may not be reelected to the same office. Provides that service before the second Wednesday in January of 2017 shall not be considered in the calculation of a person's service. Provides that a person may not be elected to the office of Governor or Lieutenant Governor for terms totaling more than 8 years for each office. Provides that service before the second Monday in January of 2017 shall not be considered in the calculation of a person's service. Effective upon being declared adopted.

Amends the Illinois Identification Card Act and the Illinois Vehicle Code. Allows the issuance of an identification card or a driver's license with a veteran designation to a member of the armed forces, including a member of any reserve component or National Guard unit, regardless of whether he or she served on active duty. Defines "reserve duty". Makes conforming changes.

Amends the Illinois Nuclear Safety Preparedness Act. Makes a technical change in a Section relating to fees.

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning block grants for school districts other than the Chicago school district.

Amends the Election Code. Changes specified references to the required postmark date for vote by mail ballots to "no later than election day" to conform to other changes from Public Act 98-1171. Provides that in the event that the return address of an application for ballot by a physically incapacitated elector is that of a facility licensed or certified under specified Acts and the applicant is a registered voter in the precinct in which such facility is located, the ballots shall be prepared and transmitted to a responsible judge of election no later than 9 a.m. on the Friday, Saturday, Sunday, or Monday (previously, only Saturday, Sunday, or Monday) immediately preceding the election as designated by the election authority. Provides that the period for early voting by personal appearance begins the 15th (rather than 40th) day preceding an election. Provides that the envelope in which a vote by mail ballot is returned to the election authority may be delivered by any person authorized by the voter. Provides that any person who, having voted once, knowingly during any election (previously, on the same election day) where the ballot or machine lists any of the same candidates and issues listed on the ballot or machine previously used for voting by that person (a) files an application to vote in the same or another polling place or (b) accepts a ballot or enters a voting machine (except to legally give assistance under the Code), commits a Class 3 felony. Provides that certificates of nomination and nomination papers for the nomination of candidates for school district offices to be filled at consolidated elections shall be filed with the county clerk or county board of election commissioners of the county (rather than with the "election authority") in which the principal office of the school district is located not more than 113 nor less than 106 days before the consolidated election. Effective immediately.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that the Environmental Protection Agency may approve the operation of one-day household composting collection events. Establishes requirements for the compost collection events. Requests for approval shall be submitted on forms prescribed by the Agency. Provides that the Agency shall establish a pilot program to permit the operation of no more than 3 permanent drop-off sites for household organic waste collection. Establishes requirements for the permanent drop-off sites. Effective immediately.

Amends the Counties Code. Makes a technical change to a Section concerning the county recorder's fee.

Creates the Carpet Stewardship Act. Provides that, for all carpet sold in this State, producers shall, individually or through a stewardship group, implement and finance a statewide carpet stewardship program that manages the product by reducing the product's waste generation, promotes its reuse and recycling, and provides for negotiation and execution of agreements to collect, transport, and process the product for end-of-life recycling and reuse. Provides that the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency must approve each carpet stewardship plan for the plan to be valid. Establishes requirements for review of the plans, carpet stewardship assessments, requirements for producers, retailers, and distributors of carpet. Requires stewardship groups to submit annual reports to the Agency and pay specified administrative fees. Provides enforcement provisions for the Act. Establishes requirements for State procurement of carpet in the future. Effective January 1, 2016.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.