Sen. Sue Rezin

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Changes references to "hearing examiner" to references to "administrative law judge" throughout the Act. Repeals provisions concerning emission allowances, conducting a study on billing practices and policies, conducting a study on strategic options for changing the structure of energy service markets, conducting a study on the feasibility of wheeling electricity in the State, rules for recovering costs of canceled facilities, recovery of additional charges refunded to customers, conducting a study on implementing promotional rates for industrial and commercial customers, alternative rate regulations, and conducting a study on patterns of entry and exit for each relevant market for telecommunications services. Removes references to repealed provisions. Makes conforming changes in the High Speed Internet Services and Information Technology Act. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides for the issuance of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm license plates to any Illinois resident who has earned the Southwest Asia Service Medal from the United States Armed Forces. Effective immediately.

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Makes changes to provisions concerning the licensure powers of the State Board of Education, the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board (including adding 2 members), types of licenses (including removing and adding certain endorsements on an educator license with stipulations), endorsements on professional educator licenses, educator testing, the minimum requirements for educators trained in other states or countries, application fees, license renewal, the Alternative Educator Licensure Program for Teachers, alternative route to superintendent endorsement programs, and the approval of educator preparation institutions. Effective July 1, 2018.

Amends the Governor Transition Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the orderly transition of the office of Governor.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) to identify and flag all college students who are potentially eligible to receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Provides that the factors to be used to determine potential SNAP eligibility shall be prescribed by the Department of Human Services by rule, but at a minimum the Department shall consider income information reported on a college student's Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Requires ISAC to develop a notice available electronically to institutions of higher education that includes, at a minimum, college student SNAP eligibility criteria, the Application for Benefits Eligibility's website address, and the Illinois Hunger Coalition's Hunger Hotline. Requires Illinois institutions of higher education that participate in the Monetary Award Program to provide the notice in writing to all students who are enrolled or accepted for enrollment and are identified by ISAC as potentially SNAP eligible and, if possible, to designate a public benefits liaison or single point person to assist students in taking the necessary steps to obtain public benefits if eligible. Contains provisions concerning: SNAP Employment and Training program requirements; protocols to identify and verify all potential exemptions to an eligibility rule described in a specified federal regulation and to identify and verify a student's participation in educational programs; and other matters. Requires the Department to adopt any rules necessary to implement specified provisions on or before October 1, 2017. Effective immediately.

Mourns the death of Cliff Banks of Oglesby.

Mourns the death of Lester Boe of Ottawa.

Mourns the death of Raymond Burdette Carlson of Ottawa.

Amends the School Code. In a Section concerning the debt limitations of school districts, provides that, in addition to all other authority to issue bonds, Waltham Community Consolidated School District 185 may incur indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $9,500,000 to build and equip a new school building and improve the site thereof if certain conditions are met, including (1) that the voters of the district approve an advisory question that recommends the building and equipping of a new school building at the general election held on November 8, 2016 and (2) that, prior to incurring the debt, the school board determines, by resolution, that the building and equipping of a new school building is required as a result of the age and condition of the district's existing buildings. Provides that the debt issued and any bonds issued to pay, refund, or continue to refund such debt must mature within not to exceed 25 years from their date, notwithstanding any other law to the contrary. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act. Provides that the Illinois Emergency Management Agency may by rule assess and collect reasonable fees for attendance at Agency-sponsored conferences and trainings to enable the Agency to carry out the requirements of the Act. Provides that any moneys received from these fees shall be deposited in the Emergency Planning and Training Fund and used by the Agency, subject to appropriation, for planning and training activities.