Sen. Mike Halpin

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates a deduction for the full amount of union dues paid by the taxpayer during the taxable year if the taxpayer was not allowed a federal deduction under the Internal Revenue Code. Provides that, if any amount of union dues representing federal miscellaneous itemized deductions was allowed as a federal deduction, then the amount allowed as an Illinois deduction shall be a percentage of the union dues disallowed under the Internal Revenue Code. Provides that the deduction is exempt from the Act's automatic sunset provision. Effective immediately.

Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that a court appointed special advocate or guardian ad litem may be removed by the court from a case upon finding that the court appointed special advocate or guardian ad litem has made a materially false statement under oath.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Creates an assessment freeze homestead exemption for persons with a disability. Sets forth the amount of the exemption. Provides that applicants must reapply on an annual basis. Effective immediately.

Amends the Arts Council Act. Authorizes the Illinois Arts Council to provide grants for public broadcasting programs from amounts appropriated for that purpose. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code, the Swimming Facility Act, the Humane Care for Animals Act, the Pedestrians with Disabilities Safety Act, the Criminal Code of 2012, and the Unified Code of Corrections. Defines "service animal" for the purposes of those Acts as an animal that has completed a formal training program for the purposes of assisting or accommodating a person's sensory, mental, physical, or psychiatric disability, including, but not limited to, a person with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or a traumatic brain injury, by performing tasks for the benefit of that person that are directly related to the person's disability. Amends the Insurance Code. Provides that an individual or group policy of accident and health insurance amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act shall provide coverage for the purchase of a service animal that has completed a formal training program for the purposes of assisting or accommodating a person's sensory, mental, physical, or psychiatric disability, including, but not limited to, a person with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or a traumatic brain injury, by performing tasks for the benefit of that person that are directly related to the person's disability, provided that the insured's health care provider certifies in writing that a service dog is medically necessary.

Creates the Bicentennial Mississippi River Region Redevelopment Historic Tax Credit Act. Provides that an income tax credit is granted to an eligible taxpayer who makes expenditures pursuant to a qualified rehabilitation plan for the rehabilitation of a historic structure located a qualified county. Provides that the credit is available for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2019 and ending on or before December 31, 2029. Provides that the credit is equal to 25% of the amount of the eligible expenditure. Contains provisions concerning eligible expenditures. Provides that eligible taxpayers must apply with the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity within 6 months after the effective date of the Act. Provides that the credit may be carried forward for up to 10 years and may be carried back for up to 3 years. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. Provides that beginning July 1, 2018, and quarterly thereafter, the Department of Human Services shall submit to the General Assembly a written report providing, at minimum, for each State-operated mental health center and State-operated developmental center: (1) the number of employees; (2) the number of patient or resident initiated workplace violence incidents which occurred, including the number which were a direct assault on staff and the number which were a violent incident to which staff responded; (3) the number of employees impacted in each incident; and (4) the rate of workplace violence that quarter expressed as total number of employees impacted to total number of employees. Effective immediately.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a prosecution may be commenced at any time when the victim is under 18 years of age at the time of the offense for: solicitation to meet a child, child pornography, posting of identifying or graphic information on a pornographic Internet site or possessing graphic information with pornographic material, non-consensual dissemination of private sexual images, grooming, or traveling to meet a minor.

Amends the Address Confidentiality for Victims of Domestic Violence Act. Provides that a person who is a victim of, among other things, sexual assault or stalking may apply for the address confidentiality program under the Act.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Creates the Quad Cities Outsourcing Prevention Task Force. Provides that the Task Force will consist of 11 members appointed by the President and minority leader of the Senate, the Speaker and minority leader of the House of Representatives, the Director of the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the county board chairman of Rock Island County, and the Governor. Provides that the Governor shall appoint one member from the organization that represents the largest number of businesses in the Quad Cities (the Cities of East Moline, Moline, and Rock Island) and the county board chairman of Rock Island County shall appoint one member from an organization that represents union workers. Provides that the members of the Task Force shall not receive compensation and shall hold meetings at least quarterly. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall provide administrative and other support to the Task Force. Provides that on or before January 1, 2019, the Task Force shall prepare and submit a report to the General Assembly and the report shall, at a minimum: (1) recommend how the State can keep employers and jobs in Illinois; (2) identify and describe best practices to prevent outsourcing of Illinois jobs; and (3) identify employment sectors most affected by outsourcing. Provides that the Division creating and concerning the Task Force shall be repealed 2 years after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Effective immediately.