Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that all third-party sales representatives engaged in the marketing of retail electricity supply, including exclusive and non-exclusive agents, must, prior to the customer signing a contract, disclose in writing that they are not employed by the electric utility operating in the applicable service territory and, if applicable, that they are compensated in whole or part on a commission basis. Provides that for telephonic solicitations, the disclosure may initially be made verbally prior to the customer signing a contract, with a follow-up written disclosure required prior to any customer contract being finalized. Includes the Illinois Power Agency and its employees from being exempt as being licensed agents, brokers, and consultants engaged in the procurement or sale of retail electricity supply for third parties and changes the requirements of parties already subject to licensure. Provides that any person or entity required to be licensed under specified provisions must, among other requirements, disclose in plain language in writing to all customers, prior to the customer signing a contract, the total anticipated remuneration to be paid to it by any third party over the period of the proposed underlying customer contract. Removes provisions requiring agents, brokers, and consultants to file copies of their verified financial statements with the Commission on an annual basis. Makes changes concerning disciplinary actions against agents, brokers, and consultants. Effective immediately.
Sponsored bills
Amends the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act in the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that the redevelopment projects in the TIF districts created by ordinance that were adopted on (i) December 13, 1993, (ii) February 12, 2001, and (iii) April 23, 2001 by the Village of Crete must be completed by December 31 of the 35th year (now, the 23rd year) after the year in which the respective ordinances were adopted. Makes revisory changes. Contains a non-acceleration clause. Effective immediately.
Creates the Afterschool Youth Development Project Act. Provides that because it is the policy of this State to provide all young people between the ages of 6 and 19 with access to quality afterschool programs through a State commitment to sufficient and sustainable funding for programs that promote positive youth development, the Illinois Youth Development Council is created. Provides that the purpose of the Council is to provide oversight and coordination to the State's public funds currently invested to support positive youth development programs and activities and to set system-wide policies and priorities to accomplish 5 specified objectives. Provides that the Council shall be governed by a board of no less than 28 and no more than 32 members and that the Council shall reflect the regional, racial, socio-economic, and cultural diversity of the State to ensure representation of the needs of all Illinois youth. Contains provisions concerning Council member appointments; the establishment of an independent Youth Advisory Group; the major objectives of the Council; afterschool demonstration programs; reporting requirements; and other matters. Provides that the Council shall be created within the Department of Human Services and that the Department shall provide resources to the Council including administrative services and data collection. Effective immediately.
Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, if a taxpayer has been awarded a disabled veterans standard homestead exemption, and that taxpayer subsequently becomes a resident of a facility licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act or a facility operated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, then the exemption shall continue (i) so long as the residence continues to be occupied by the qualifying person's spouse or (ii) if the residence remains unoccupied but is still owned by the person who qualified for the homestead exemption.
Creates the Community Youth Employment Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall administer a competitive grant program to provide 2,500 youths with stipends and supervision over a 6-week summer work period. Sets forth criteria for receiving grants under the Act. Provides a budget for the use of grant moneys awarded. Effective immediately.
Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Permits a husband or wife to testify as to any communication or admission made by either of them to the other or as to any conversation between them during marriage when either is charged with or under investigation for (rather than just charged with) criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual assault, predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, criminal sexual abuse, or aggravated criminal sexual abuse and the victim is a minor under 18 years of age in either spouse's care, custody, or control at the time of the offense. Effective immediately.
Amends the Mortgage Foreclosure Article of the Code of Civil Procedure. Defines "loss mitigation" as a program or mechanism designed to maximize the opportunity for a mortgagor to retain ownership of the mortgaged real estate and cure delinquencies on his or her mortgage or for a mortgagor and mortgagee to mitigate losses that would result from foreclosure by using alternatives to foreclosure. Provides that a foreclosure complaint shall include a statement as to loss mitigation. Provides that a judgment of foreclosure shall include a finding by the court that the mortgagee has complied with applicable loss mitigation requirements or there are no applicable loss mitigation requirements, and provides that if the court finds that the mortgagee has not complied with applicable loss mitigation requirements, the court shall stay the matter until the court determines that the mortgagee has complied with those requirements. Adds failure by the mortgagee to fulfill applicable loss mitigation requirements as a condition under which the court shall not enter an order confirming a judicial sale.
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Defines "railroad track equipment" as all vehicles operated upon rails for the purpose of the maintenance of railroads including, but not limited to, all hi-rail vehicles and on-track roadway maintenance machines. In provisions concerning approaching trains, provides that approaching railroad track equipment shall be treated the same as approaching trains.
Amends the Railroad Police Act. Requires allegations of abuse of authority or misconduct by members of a railroad police force to be investigated by the Illinois State Police.
Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that it is unlawful for a minor under 17 years of age to knowingly disseminate any material that depicts nudity or other sexual conduct by electronic transfer or capture of images of the person's self image or image of another minor under 17 years of age. Provides that a violation is a Class B misdemeanor. Provides that it is unlawful for a minor under 17 years of age to knowingly request another minor under 17 years of age to violate this provision and distribute that image or images to another person or persons. Provides that a violation is a Class A misdemeanor. Provides that it is unlawful for a minor under 17 years of age to knowingly obtain an image in violation of these provisions and distribute the image or images by means of uploading the nude image on an Internet website with the intent to injure the reputation of the other person or with the intent to cause emotional distress to the other person and to maintain an Internet website or webpage which is accessible to one or more third parties for a period of at least 24 hours. Provides that a violation is a Class 4 felony. Permits the court to impose additional specified penalties.