Sen. Sue Rezin

Urges support for funding the physical infrastructure of early childhood education programs.

Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that the tax imposed on mid-range ethanol blends applies to (i) 80% of the proceeds of sales made on or after July 1, 2019 and on or before December 31, 2023 and (ii) 100% of the proceeds of sales made thereafter. Provides that the term "mid-range ethanol blend" means a blend of gasoline and denatured ethanol that contains not less than 20% but less than 51% denatured ethanol. Makes changes to the definitions of "gasohol" and "majority blended ethanol fuel" to adjust the required percentage of ethanol. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Natural Resources (Conservation) Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Natural Resources may implement an annual vehicle admission fee and daily access fee for entrance into Starved Rock State Park. Provides that the Department may implement a daily access fee to pedestrians and owners of vehicles who do not have a current annual vehicle sticker. Provides that the Department may establish a fee for individuals who use Starved Rock State Park without paying the annual vehicle admission fee or daily access fee. Creates the Starved Rock State Park Fund. Makes conforming changes to the State Finance Act. Effective January 1, 2020. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 30 ILCS 105/5.891 Provides that the Department of Natural Resources may by rule implement a parking fee requirement for entrance into Starved Rock State Park. Provides that moneys collected shall be deposited into the State Parks Fund (rather than the Starved Rock State Park Fund) with 80% of the fees collected allocated for infrastructure purposes of Starved Rock State Park and 20% of the fees collected allocated for public safety of Starved Rock State Park. Makes conforming changes. Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the bill as amended by Senate Amendment No. 1. Provides that any parking fee requirement for entrance into Starved Rock State Park shall not apply to residents of LaSalle County. Effective January 1, 2020.

Makes appropriations from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Public Health for Grants for Pediatric Cancer Research, Education, and Outreach. Effective July 1, 2019.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Modifies a Section concerning valuation of water and sewer utilities. Provides that the term "large public utility" means an investor-owned public utility that, among other specifications, regularly provides water or sewer service to customer connections (rather than regularly provides water or sewer service to more than 30,000 customer connections). Provides that in an acquiring large public utility's 2 rate cases after an acquisition, the large public utility shall (rather than may) file a rate tariff for an acquired water or sewer utility that establishes an annual rate of 2.5% or less, which shall apply to all customers of the utility going forward, regardless of the rates previously established by the district or tariff group into which the water or sewer utility is to be combined. Provides that any water or sewer utility system which may be purchased shall, before the purchase of the water or sewer utility system, require a vote by referendum of the voters of any affected unit of local government approving the purchase. Provides that a unit of local government that has approved the purchase of a water or sewer utility system may apply to the Illinois Commerce Commission for a docketed proceeding to negotiate the purchase of a buyback of a water or sewer utility system after 3 years after the purchase. Effective immediately.

Creates the State Power Purchase Agreement Act. Provides that the Smart Energy Design Assistance Center (SEDAC) is designated as the lead agency for the development and promotion of a program to facilitate the deployment of renewable energy power purchase agreements with State agencies. Provides for the selection of qualified renewable energy power purchase agreement project developers. Allows State agencies to enter into renewable energy power purchase agreements with renewable energy developers for the construction and use of solar or wind energy, or both, on State property controlled by the State agency or on which daily operations of the State agency occur. Provides further requirements concerning the awarding of contracts to developers and purchase of power under power purchase agreements. Specifies the duration of power purchase agreement contracts. Provides for third-party financing of renewable energy power purchase agreement projects. Provides for the use of moneys saved by State agencies by entering into renewable energy power purchase agreements. Provides for reporting to the Illinois Commerce Commission. Defines terms. Effective immediately.

Amends the Landlord and Tenant Act. Provides that a lessor of a dwelling unit shall disclose to lessees risks of flooding. Provides that the Act only applies to a dwelling unit located on or below the second story. Provides that, for every lease or rental agreement entered into on or after July 1, 2019, the lessor shall disclose that: (1) the property is located in a special flood hazard area or an area of potential flooding, if the lessor has actual knowledge of that fact; and (2) the lessor's insurance does not cover the loss of the lessee's personal possessions and it is recommended that the lessee consider purchasing renter's insurance and flood insurance to insure his or her possessions from loss due to fire, flood, or other risk of loss. Effective immediately.

Amends the General Provisions and State Employees Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that the alternative retirement annuity under the State Employees Article applies to a conservation police officer subject to the Tier 2 provisions. Provides that a conservation police officer subject to the Tier 2 provisions may convert up to 8 years of service credit established before the effective date of the amendatory Act as a conservation police officer under the State Employees Article into eligible creditable service by filing a written election with the Board under that Article, accompanied by a specified payment. Effective immediately.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides for licensure of persons and entities engaged in the procurement or sale of retail electricity supply, retail natural gas supply, energy efficiency products or services, or demand response services for third parties as energy services agents and energy services entities and for licensure of energy services course providers by the Illinois Commerce Commission. Provides for mandatory disclosures by energy services agents or energy services entities. Requires all energy services agents engaged in the marketing of retail electricity supply, retail natural gas supply, energy efficiency products or services, or demand response services, before providing any sales information to a potential customer, to disclose that they are not employed by the local utility within the territory they are selling retail electricity supply, retail natural gas supply, energy efficiency products, or demand response services. Requires the Commission to establish procedures for licensure as an energy services agent, energy services entity, or energy services course provider, and specifies certain criteria. Provides that the Commission has jurisdiction over disciplinary proceedings and complaints for violations. Requires the Commission to maintain a list of disciplined and suspended energy services agents and a list of all disciplined, suspended, or revoked energy services entities.

Declares March 27, 2019 as Elderly Women of Wisdom Day in Illinois to honor all women residing in skilled nursing facilities for their lifelong service to their families and communities.