Sen. Craig Wilcox

Amends the General Assembly, State Employees, State Universities, Downstate Teachers, and Judges Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. Requires each System to prepare and implement a defined contribution plan by July 1, 2023 that aggregates State and employee contributions in individual participant accounts that are used for payouts after retirement. Provides that a Tier 1 or Tier 2 participant may irrevocably elect to participate in the defined contribution plan instead of the defined benefit plan and may also elect to terminate all participation in the defined benefit plan and to have a specified amount credited to his or her account under the defined contribution plan. Makes related changes in the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971. Effective immediately.

Amends the Quincy Veterans' Home Rehabilitation and Rebuilding Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that, instead of a distinctive electric vehicle registration plate, the Secretary of State may require an electric vehicle decal to be displayed on any registration plate otherwise available for motor vehicles of the same class as the electric vehicle. Provides that the owner of a motor vehicle of the first division or a motor vehicle of the second division weighing 8,000 pounds or less propelled by an electric engine and not utilizing motor fuel who qualifies for any veteran license plate offered by the Secretary of State shall pay the same registration fee as that charged for the qualifying plate. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2023 registration year, upon the request of the vehicle owner, an electric vehicle owner may register an electric vehicle with any qualifying registration, and an additional $100 surcharge shall be collected in addition to the applicable registration fee. Provides that the $100 additional fee is to identify the vehicle as an electric vehicle. Provides that the $100 additional fee is an annual, flat fee that shall be based on an applicant's new or existing registration year for the vehicle's corresponding weight category. Provides that a designation as an electric vehicle shall not alter a vehicle's registration. Provides that $1 of the additional fees shall be deposited into the Secretary of State Special Services Fund and the remainder of the additional fees shall be deposited into the Road Fund. Provides that the Secretary shall adopt any rules necessary to implement the new provisions.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that an apprentice who is hired by the taxpayer through the United States Department of Defense SkillBridge internship program is considered a qualifying apprentice for the purpose of the apprenticeship education expense credit. Provides that, in the case of an employee participating in the SkillBridge program, the credit shall be equal to $3,500 per qualifying apprentice. Effective immediately.

Amends the Quincy Veterans' Home Rehabilitation and Rebuilding Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act. Provides that the Prisoner Review Board shall immediately inform a victim of the early release of the prisoner from State custody or of the prisoner's pardon, commutation, furlough, or granting of sentence credit, if the victim has previously requested notification of that information. Provides that when the defendant has been found guilty but mentally ill and is granted early release, pardon, commutation, or furlough, the Prisoner Review Board immediately shall notify the victim, if the victim has previously requested notification of that information. Provides that the notification shall be based upon the most recent information as to the victim's residence or other location available to the Board. Provides that when no such information is available, the Board shall make all reasonable efforts to obtain the information and make the notification. Provides that this notification requirement is in addition to any notification requirements pursuant to any other statewide victim notification systems. Provides that the Board must document notification efforts if the victim alleges lack of notification.

Proposes to amend the Suffrage and Elections Article of the Illinois Constitution. Provides for the recall of all State Executive Branch officers, legislative leaders, the Auditor General, members of the General Assembly, and local government officials. Makes changes to the procedures for the recall of the Governor. Effective upon being declared adopted.

Creates the Agritourism Liability Act. Provides that an agritourism operator is not liable for the injury or death of a participant resulting from the inherent risks of agritourism activities if the agritourism operator posts the prescribed warning notice. Provides that a participant assumes the inherent risks of an agritourism activity by engaging in the agritourism activity. Provides that no participant may pursue an action or recover from an agritourism operator for injury, loss, damage, or death of the participant resulting from any of the inherent risks of agritourism activities. Provides that nothing prevents or limits the liability of an agritourism operator if the agritourism operator: (1) commits an act or omission that constitutes willful or wanton disregard for the safety of the participant and that act or omission proximately causes injury, damage, or death to the participant; or (2) has actual knowledge or reasonably should know of an unusual dangerous condition on the land, facilities, or equipment used in the activity or the dangerous propensity of a particular animal used in such an activity, does not make the danger known to the participant, and the danger proximately causes injury, damage, or death to the participant. Provides that an agritourism operator shall post and maintain a warning notice in a clearly visible location at or near the entrance to the agritourism activity. Effective July 1, 2021.

Amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act concerning the illegal manufacture or delivery, or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver, or the possession of a controlled substance analog. Provides that a "controlled substance analog" or "analog" means a substance, other than a controlled substance, which is not approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration or, if approved, is not dispensed or possessed in accordance with State or federal law, and that has a chemical structure substantially similar to that of a controlled substance (rather than a controlled substance in Schedule I or II), or that was specifically designed to produce an effect substantially similar to that of a controlled substance (rather than a controlled substance in Schedule I or II). Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law in the Property Tax Code. Provides that a taxing district shall reduce its aggregate extension base for the purpose of lowering its limiting rate for future years upon referendum approval initiated by the submission of a petition by the voters of the district. Provides that the extension limitation shall be: (a) the lesser of 5% or the average percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for the 10 years immediately preceding the levy year for which the extension limitation is being calculated; or (b) the rate of increase approved by the voters. Effective immediately.