Sen. Don Harmon

Amends the College and Career Success for All Students Act. Provides that a student who takes a College Board Advanced Placement examination and receives a score of 3 or higher on the examination is entitled to receive postsecondary level course credit at a public institution of higher education. Requires each public institution of higher education to comply with the same standard of awarding course credit to any student receiving a score of 3 or higher on a College Board Advanced Placement examination and applying the credit to meet a corresponding course requirement for degree completion at that institution of higher education. Effective immediately.

Amends the Animal Welfare Act. Requires that, within 24 hours after the intake of any dog or cat into a shelter, the dog or cat must be scanned for the presence of a microchip and examined for other currently acceptable methods of identification, including, but not limited to, identification tags, tattoos, and rabies license tags. Provides that the shelter director shall give notice of not less than 7 business days to the owner, agent, or caretaker prior to release of the animal to a foster home or different shelter or the adoption or euthanasia of the animal. Requires that, prior to transferring the dog or cat to another animal shelter or to a rescue group or for purposes of euthanization, the dog or cat shall be scanned again for the presence of a microchip and examined for other means of identification. Defines "owner" and "shelter director".

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that the period within which a prosecution must be commenced does not include any period in which the sexual assault evidence is collected and submitted to the Illinois State Police until the completion of the analysis of the submitted evidence, including but not limited to collection of evidence of a sexual assault using the Illinois State Police sexual assault evidence collection kit. Defines "completion of the analysis of the submitted evidence", "sexual assault", and "sexual assault evidence".

Amends the Local Records Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the local records advisor.

Amends the Pawnbroker Regulation Act. Provides that every pawnbroker shall record an accurate account and description of all goods, articles, and other things purchased or received for the purpose of resale or loan collateral by the pawnbroker from any source, including other pawnshop locations owned by the same pawnbroker, not in the course of a pledge or loan, the time of such purchase or receipt and the name and address of the person or business which sold or delivered such goods, articles, or other things to the pawnbroker. Further provides that no personal property received on deposit or pledge or purchased by any pawnbroker shall be sold or permitted to be redeemed or removed from the place of business or transferred to another pawnshop location of such pawnbroker for a period of 7 days (rather than 48 hours) after the delivery of the copy and statement required by the Act. Prohibits any pawnbroker from receiving or purchasing any article if the serial number or manufacturer's identification number on the article has been altered or removed in any way.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that individual or group policies of accident and health insurance amended, delivered, issued, or renewed after the effective date of the Act shall cover charges incurred, and anesthetics provided, in conjunction with dental care that is provided to a covered individual in a dental office, oral surgeon's office, hospital, or ambulatory surgical treatment center if the individual is under age 26 and has been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder as defined in Section 10 of the Autism Spectrum Disorders Reporting Act.

Amends the Foreign Language Court Interpreter Act. Provides that whenever any person is party or witness in a civil action in this State, the court shall, upon its own motion or that of a party, determine whether the person is capable of understanding the English language and is capable of expressing himself or herself in the English language so as to be understood directly by counsel, court, or jury. Provides that if the court finds the person incapable of so understanding or so expressing himself or herself, the court shall appoint an interpreter for the person whom he or she can understand and who can understand him or her. Provides that the interpreter shall be sworn to truly interpret or translate all questions propounded or answers given as directed by the court. Provides that the court shall determine a reasonable fee for all interpreter services, which shall be paid out of the general county funds. Provides that "interpreter" includes a sign language interpreter.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Requires the Illinois Commerce Commission to include in its annual report filed with the Joint Committee on Legislative Support Services of the General Assembly, the Public Counsel, and the Governor a description of the availability of solar energy production by residential and small business consumers and the benefits of utilizing smart grid technology to enhance solar energy availability, and a description of any barriers to improving utilization and adoption of consumer-owned solar energy production.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that an electric utility or an alternative retail electric supplier may not charge an early termination fee in excess of $50.

Amends the School Code. With regard to recognition standards for student performance and school improvement, prohibits the State Board of Education from having separate performance standards for students based on race or ethnicity.