Sen. Don DeWitte

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.

Amends the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. Provides that a county may not authorize or permit the sale of adult-use cannabis in any unincorporated territory that is within 1.5 miles of the corporate limits of a municipality that has prohibited the operation of adult-use cannabis dispensing organizations within the municipality.

Creates the Prescription Drug Repository Program Act. Requires the Department of Public Health to, by rule, establish a prescription drug repository program, under which any person may donate a prescription drug or supplies needed to administer a prescription drug for use by an individual who meets eligibility criteria specified by the Department. Sets forth requirements that prescription drugs or supplies must meet in order to be accepted and dispensed under the program. Provides that no drugs or supplies donated under the prescription drug repository program may be resold. Provides that nothing in the Act requires that a pharmacy or pharmacist participate in the prescription drug repository program. Provides for civil and criminal immunity for drug and supply manufacturers and individuals in relation to the donation, acceptance, or dispensing of prescription drugs or supplies under the prescription drug repository program. Imposes conditions on any rulemaking authority. Amends the Pharmacy Practice Act, the Wholesale Drug Distribution Licensing Act, the Senior Pharmaceutical Assistance Act, the Illinois Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, and the Cannabis and Controlled Substances Tort Claims Act to provide that persons engaged in donating or accepting, or packaging, repackaging, or labeling, prescription drugs to the extent permitted or required under the Prescription Drug Repository Program Act are exempt from provisions of those other Acts that might prohibit or otherwise regulate such activity. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Creates the Illinois Drug Reuse Opportunity Program Act. Provides that, notwithstanding any other law or rule, donors may donate drugs to recipients and recipients may receive donated drugs from donors. Provides that recipients shall only dispense or administer drugs to eligible patients, further donate drugs to another recipient, or dispose of drugs in accordance with specified provisions. Provides that drugs donated for use under the Act are considered nonsalable. Provides that, when dispensing a drug to an eligible patient, the recipient must do so at no cost to the eligible patient, except that a reasonable handling fee may be charged. Provides that recipients may only dispense or administer a prescription drug or provide an over-the-counter drug if specified requirements are met. Provides that recipients shall, to the greatest extent practicable, dispense drugs received under the Act to priority patients. Provides that drugs may be accepted under the Act only if specified requirements are met. Contains requirements for the further donation of drugs by a recipient. Contains provisions regarding the disposition of specified drugs. Provides that nothing in the Act requires that a pharmacy or pharmacist be a recipient of drugs under the Act. Provides that the Act shall supersede any inconsistent law or rule for activities conducted under the Act. Contains other provisions. Amends the Pharmacy Practice Act, the Wholesale Drug Distribution Licensing Act, the Senior Pharmaceutical Assistance Act, the Illinois Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, and the Cannabis and Controlled Substances Tort Claims Act to provide that persons engaged in donating or accepting, or packaging, repackaging, or labeling, prescription drugs to the extent permitted or required under the Illinois Drug Reuse Opportunity Program Act are exempt from provisions of those other Acts that might prohibit or otherwise regulate such activity.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that the additional standard exemption for taxpayers who have attained the age of 65 before the end of the taxable year and spouses of such taxpayers is $2,000 for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2022 (currently, $1,000). Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that provisions concerning delinquencies by lessees of property owned by a taxing district apply in all counties with a population of fewer than 3,000,000 inhabitants (currently, counties with more than 800,000 but less than 1,000,000 inhabitants). Provides that those provisions apply if the taxes remain unpaid 60 days after the final (currently, second) installment due date. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Professional Regulation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Division of Professional Regulation of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation shall waive all application fees and examination fees for active military personnel and their spouses. Provides that nothing in the amendatory Act waives the requirement that the person or spouse meet all other licensing requirements, including other fees required during the licensing process.

Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that a defendant in an action alleging malpractice or negligence against an architect, engineer, or surveyor may request an affidavit of merit within 56 days after the complaint or notice of the action is served on the defendant. Provides that within 56 days after a request for an affidavit of merit is made, the plaintiff in the action shall file an affidavit of merit signed by an individual who the plaintiff reasonably believes meets certain requirements. Provides that the court may grant one extension of time for filing an affidavit of merit. Provides for dismissal of an action, with or without prejudice. Provides that a defendant's objection to an affidavit of merit shall be raised in a motion filed within 90 days after the affidavit of merit is served. Provides that if the court determines that an affidavit of merit does not fully comply with the requirements, the court shall allow the plaintiff 56 days to file one or more affidavits of merit that correct the deficiencies identified by the court. Provides that a defendant shall participate in discovery in the action as required by court rules. Provides that an affidavit of merit is not required in an action for breach of contract against an architect, engineer, or surveyor that does not involve the standard of care.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates a child care credit in an amount equal to 25% of the federal tax credit for each qualifying child. Effective immediately.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that a prisoner serving a sentence for aggravated battery in which the victim was a peace officer committed on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act shall receive no more than 4.5 days of sentence credit for each month of his or her sentence of imprisonment.

Urges the General Assembly and the Governor to invest the money received through the American Rescue Plan Act to encourage women to return to the work force and to help stimulate the growth of women in the workforce, and particularly, urges the Child Care Funds be used to help fund child care and make it easily accessible for working mothers.