Sen. Kimberly Lightford

Amends the State Revenue Sharing Act and the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that, from each income tax payment that the Department of Revenue receives, the Department must deposit certain amounts directly into the Local Government Distributive Fund (currently, the Department deposits the tax payment into the General Revenue Fund and the Treasurer then transfers a percentage of the net revenue to the Local Government Distributive Fund). Effective immediately.

Amends the Criminal Identification Act. Provides that a petitioner may petition the circuit court to expunge the records of his or her arrests when he or she has been convicted of or placed on supervision for a misdemeanor that occurred more than 15 years before the filing of the petition if the person has not committed another offense within that period, other than minor traffic offenses. Provides that prior to the granting of the petition, the Director of State Police shall certify that the person has no other records of arrest and conviction within that time period, other than minor traffic offenses. Provides that the circuit court clerk shall charge a $150 fee per offense plus court costs for the expungement. Provides that the fees shall be deposited in the State treasury in a special fund known as the Misdemeanor Expungement Fund. Provides that the Secretary of Human Services shall disburse moneys in the fund as grants to certain specified organizations.

Amends the Real Estate Appraiser Licensing Act of 2002. Provides that a county or municipal engineer employed by a county or municipality or a consulting engineer under contract with a municipality (rather than only a county engineer employed by a county) is not required to have a license to perform a valuation in an amount less than $10,000 that is performed pursuant to certain federal law.

Creates the Best Candidate for the Job Act. Provides that an employer may not inquire into or require disclosure of a job applicant's criminal record or criminal history before the candidate has been notified that the candidate has been selected for a job interview or has been offered a conditional offer of employment. Requires consideration of the nature and gravity of a candidate's conviction record, the time elapsed since the conviction, and whether the conviction has a direct bearing on the candidate's fitness before excluding a candidate. Authorizes civil remedies. Provides that the Department of Labor may impose penalties for violations. Effective January 1, 2015.

Amends the Critical Health Problems and Comprehensive Health Education Act. Provides that training on how to properly administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation and how to use an automated external defibrillator shall be included as a basis for health education curricula in all secondary schools in this State and shall be a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma. Effective July 1, 2014.

Mourns the death of poet Maya Angelou.

Mourns the death of Janice Faye Tyler.

Proposes to amend the Bill of Rights Article of the Illinois Constitution concerning crime victim's rights. Provides that in addition to other rights provided in the Constitutional provision, a crime victim has the right to: (1) be free from harassment, intimidation, and abuse; (2) refuse to disclose information that is privileged or confidential by law; (3) timely notification of all court proceedings; (4) be heard at any proceeding involving a post-arraignment release decision, plea, sentencing, post-conviction or post-adjudication release decision, and any post-arraignment proceeding in which a right of the victim is at issue; (5) receive a report related to the defendant's sentence when available to the accused; and (6) have the safety of the victim and the victim's family considered in denying or fixing the amount of bail, determining whether to release the defendant, and setting conditions of release after arrest and conviction. Provides that a victim, victim's lawyer, or the prosecuting attorney may assert the victim's constitutional rights in court. Provides that nothing in this Constitutional provision creates any cause of action for compensation or damages against the State, any political subdivision of the State, any officer, employee, or agent of the State or of any of its political subdivisions, or any officer or employee of the court. Effective upon being declared adopted.

Proposes to amend the Suffrage and Elections Article of the Constitution. Provides that no person shall be denied the right to register to vote or to cast a ballot in an election based on race, color, ethnicity, status as a member of a language minority, sex, sexual orientation, or income. Effective upon being declared adopted.

Mourns the death of Bishop Glaudis Lawrence, III.