Sen. Pamela J. Althoff

Mourns the death of Therese Duffy of Woodstock.

Mourns the death of Charles Sandford of Marengo.

Amends the Counties Code. Provides that a county board may by ordinance define, prevent, and abate nuisances including, but not limited to, noise pollution. Effective Immediately.

Amends the Electronic Products Recycling and Reuse Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Requires the township assessor or chief county assessment officer in a county with a population of more than 300,000 but less than 3,000,000 inhabitants to deliver to each person who makes a request a description or statement of any property assessed in that person's name or in which he or she holds ownership interest and the valuation placed on that property. Provides that the statement shall include a description of the method by which the assessment was derived. Provides that, in lieu of this statement, the assessor may include the equalization factors applied to the property and an explanation of how equalization affects the assessment. Requires continuing education for certain assessment officials. Provides that the county board may determine additional qualifications for board of review members above and beyond the statutory requirements. Provides that township assessors shall inform the supervisor of assessments of the type of software or other method by which assessments are conducted in the township. Requires assessors to maintain a list of all properties where the equalized assessed value has increased by more than 15% over the equalized assessed value of that property in the previous assessment year. Provides that the list shall be transmitted to the chief county assessment officer with the assessment books for that taxable year. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Labor and Storage Lien Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the creation of liens.

Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971. Makes technical changes in a Section concerning retired teacher benefits.

Amends the Illinois False Claims Act. Provides that no court has jurisdiction over a civil action relating to or involving a false claim regarding certain tax acts administered by the Department of Revenue unless the action is brought by the Attorney General. Provides that the Department of Revenue shall have the sole authority to bring an administrative action and that the Attorney General shall have the sole authority to bring a judicial action under the Act for a false claim, statement, or record pertaining to certain taxes administered by the Department of Revenue. Contains provisions concerning reporting, investigative, and enforcement procedures for allegations of false claims pertaining to certain taxes. Contains provisions governing the payment of rewards to persons who provide information that leads to recovery of funds under the new provisions. Provides that the appeal of a determination regarding an award may be appealed exclusively to the Court of Claims and must be filed within 30 days of the determination of the award. Makes a corresponding change in the Court of Claims Act.

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that if a defendant is accused of an offense of driving under the influence or aggravated driving under the influence as defined in the Illinois Vehicle Code, and if the defendant refused chemical testing requested by a law enforcement officer, evidence of the defendant's commission of another offense or offenses of driving under the influence or aggravated driving under the influence is admissible, and may be considered for its bearing on any matter to which it is relevant. Provides that in weighing the probative value of the evidence against undue prejudice to the defendant, the court may consider: the proximity in time to the charged or predicate offense; the degree of factual similarity to the charged or predicate offense; whether the predicate offense resulted in a finding of guilt; or other relevant facts and circumstances. Provides that if the prosecution intends to offer this evidence, it must disclose the evidence, including statements of witnesses or a summary of the substance of any testimony, at a reasonable time in advance of trial, or during trial if the court excuses pretrial notice on good cause shown. Provides that proof may be made by specific instances of conduct, testimony as to reputation, or testimony in the form of an expert opinion, except that the prosecution may offer reputation testimony only after the opposing party has offered that testimony.

Amends the Prevailing Wage Act. Defines "compensatory damages" and "actual damages" as the sum of economic and non-economic damages. Provides that any individual, contractor, or subcontractor who has been aggrieved by a filed false complaint may institute a civil action for damages, including, but not limited to, compensatory damages, legal fees, administrative fees, penalties assessed by the Department of Labor pursuant to the complaint, injunctive relief, and other appropriate equitable relief. Provides that no public body, including a home rule unit, is authorized to use as a basis for denying a contract to a contractor or subcontractor any complaint filed with the Department or any determination by the Department that the contractor or subcontractor has committed a violation under this Act, unless the contractor or subcontractor is debarred at the time of the bid. Effective immediately.