Creates the Debt Settlement Consumer Protection Act. Provides that it shall be unlawful for any person to operate as a debt settlement provider or engage in debt settlement service except as authorized by the Act and without first having obtained a license under the Act. Contains provisions concerning the (1) application for a license, (2) qualifications for licensure, (3) renewal of a license, (4) display requirements for a license, (5) temporary licensed locations, (6) denial of a license, (7) revocation or suspension of a license, (8) maintenance of records by a licensee, (9) examination of a licensee, (10) maintenance of trust funds by a licensee, and (11) other licensee businesses. With respect to the Director of Financial Institutions, contains provisions concerning the (1) adoption of rules by the Director, (2) penalties for violations of the Act, (3) procedure the Director may take to obtain an injunction, (4) review of decisions, (5) issuance of cease and desist orders. Contains provisions concerning (1) advertising practices, (2) individualized financial analysis, (3) required disclosures, (4) debt settlement contracts, (5) fees, (6) consumer settlement accounts, (7) cancellation of contracts, (8) obligations of good faith, (9) prohibited practices and noncompliance with the Act, and (10) civil remedies. Amends the Debt Management Service Act to exclude "debt settlement service" and attorneys engaged in specific practices from the Act. Amends the State Finance Act to provide that moneys collected under the Debt Settlement Consumer Protection Act shall be deposited into the Financial Institution Fund. Contains a severability clause. Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act to specify that a violation of the Debt Settlement Consumer Protection Act is a violation of the Act. Effective immediately.
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Amends the Electricity Infrastructure Maintenance Fee Law and the Illinois Municipal Code. Authorizes municipalities that impose certain taxes or fees on or collected by public utilities to conduct audits of those utilities to determine the accuracy of the taxes or fees paid to the municipality. Sets forth procedures under which a municipality may collect information from a public utility that is necessary to perform an audit. Sets forth procedures concerning the audit findings, liability for errors, penalties, confidentiality, and exemptions. Provides that a municipality may audit a community antenna television system operator franchised by the municipality to provide video services. Sets forth the procedures concerning the audit. Amends the Local Government Taxpayers' Bill of Rights Act. Limits the authority of municipalities (including home rule municipalities) to impose penalties with respect to certain taxes imposed under the Illinois Municipal Code or with respect to the municipal electricity infrastructure maintenance fee. Amends the Counties Code. Provides that a county may audit a community antenna television system operator franchised by the county to provide video services. Sets forth the procedures concerning the audit. Sets forth procedures concerning the audit findings, liability for errors, and confidentiality. Contains other provisions. Effective immediately.
Amends the Property Tax Code. Exempts property that is part of a special service area in which taxes are extended solely upon the value of the land from provisions of the Code concerning the assessment of subdivisions by not including the value of infrastructure improvements. Effective immediately.
Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that all third-party sales representatives engaged in the marketing of retail electricity supply, including exclusive and non-exclusive agents, must, prior to the customer signing a contract, disclose in writing that they are not employed by the electric utility operating in the applicable service territory and, if applicable, that they are compensated in whole or part on a commission basis. Provides that for telephonic solicitations, the disclosure may initially be made verbally prior to the customer signing a contract, with a follow-up written disclosure required prior to any customer contract being finalized. Includes the Illinois Power Agency and its employees from being exempt as being licensed agents, brokers, and consultants engaged in the procurement or sale of retail electricity supply for third parties and changes the requirements of parties already subject to licensure. Provides that any person or entity required to be licensed under specified provisions must, among other requirements, disclose in plain language in writing to all customers, prior to the customer signing a contract, the total anticipated remuneration to be paid to it by any third party over the period of the proposed underlying customer contract. Removes provisions requiring agents, brokers, and consultants to file copies of their verified financial statements with the Commission on an annual basis. Makes changes concerning disciplinary actions against agents, brokers, and consultants. Effective immediately.
Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that if a carcinogenic volatile organic compound is detected in the finished water of a community water system at a certain level, then the owner or operator of that system must submit a response plan that meets certain requirements to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. Requires the Agency to approve, and the owner or operator to implement, the plan. Upon completion of the plan, requires the owner or operator to submit a response completion report to the Agency. Provides that any action taken by the Agency to disapprove or modify a plan or report may be appealed to the Illinois Pollution Control Board. Defines "carcinogen", "community water system", "finished water", "maximum contaminant level", "method detection limit", and "volatile organic compound". Effective immediately.
Amends the Snowmobile Registration and Safety Act. Provides that a person convicted of operating a snowmobile required to be registered and numbered under the Act shall be fined $250 for a first offense and $500 for a second or subsequent offense. Raises the new, transfer-renewal, and renewal snowmobile registration fee from $18 to $30 and to $45 for the registration years beginning on or after January 1, 2017. Provides that 50 percent (rather than 33 percent) of those collected fees and trail use sticker fees shall be deposited into the Snowmobile Trail Establishment Fund, a special fund in the State treasury. Provides that snowmobiles that are not registered and numbered and that are not exempt from the registration and numbering requirement are required to display a trail use sticker, and the cost of the sticker is $25. Provides that no person shall operate, register or maintain registration of, and no owner shall permit another person to operate, register or maintain registration of, a snowmobile in this State unless the snowmobile is covered by a liability insurance policy. Provides that a person convicted of violating the mandatory insurance provision is guilty of a petty offense and shall be required to pay a fine in excess of $500, but not more than $1,000.
Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that subject to appropriation, any uninsured person as defined by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services in rules residing in Illinois who is younger than 65 years of age, who has been screened for breast and cervical cancer in accordance with standards and procedures adopted by the Department of Public Health for screening, and who is referred to the Department by the Department of Public Health as being in need of treatment for breast or cervical cancer is eligible for medical assistance benefits that are consistent with the benefits provided to those persons who are eligible for medical assistance pursuant to the federal Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Act of 2000. Provides that medical assistance coverage for such persons is not dependent on federal approval, but federal moneys may be used to pay for services provided under that coverage upon federal approval. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Extends the credit for affordable housing donations through the taxable year ending on December 31, 2016 (instead of 2011). Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Dental Practice Act. Provides that the Department may issue a temporary permit authorizing the practice in the State, without compensation, of dentistry or dental hygiene to an applicant who is licensed to practice dentistry or dental hygiene in another state, if the Department determines that: (1) the applicant's services will improve the welfare of Illinois residents and (2) the applicant is qualified and satisfies the criteria under the Act, except for having passed an examination as required by the Act for licensure. Provides that the Department may not require the applicant to pass an examination in order to receive a temporary permit under the Act. Provides that a temporary permit shall authorize the practice of dentistry or dental hygiene in a specified area of the State for a period of time not to exceed 10 consecutive days in a year and may be renewed by the Department. Provides that the Department may require an applicant to pay a fee for the issuance or renewal of the temporary permit. Effective immediately.
Amends the Day and Temporary Labor Services Act. Provides that a third party client is required to pay wages and related payroll taxes to a licensed day and temporary labor service agency for services performed by the day or temporary laborer for the third party client according to payment terms outlined on invoices, service agreements, or stated terms provided by the day and temporary labor service agency. Provides that a third party client who fails to comply is subject to the penalties provided in the Act. Provides that a day and temporary labor service agency aggrieved by a violation of the Act or any rule adopted under the Act by a third party client may file suit in circuit court of Illinois, in the county where the alleged offense occurred or where the day and temporary labor service agency which is party to the action is located, after a review by the Department of Labor of the alleged violation of the Act. Effective immediately.