Sen. John Curran

Creates the Ivory Ban Act. Provides that it shall be unlawful for any person to import, sell, offer for sale, purchase, barter, or possess with intent to sell, any ivory, ivory product, rhinoceros horn, or rhinoceros horn product. Provides that these provisions do not apply to specified antique weapons or musical instruments. Establishes penalties for violation of the Act. Provides that the Department of Natural Resources may permit, under terms and conditions as the Department may adopt by rule, the import, sale, offer for sale, purchase, barter, or possession with intent to sell, of any ivory, ivory product, rhinoceros horn, or rhinoceros horn product for bona fide educational or scientific purposes, unless this activity is prohibited by federal law. Provides that the Department may adopt any rules necessary for the implementation of the Act.

Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Authorizes a brewer, class 1 brewer, or class 2 brewer to sell beer manufactured by any other brewer, class 1 brewer, or class 2 brewer to non-licensees and to sell cider. Authorizes a distributor licensee to sell beer, cider, or both beer and cider to brewers, class 1 brewers, and class 2 brewers that, pursuant to a specified provision of the Act, sell beer, cider, or both beer and cider to non-licensees at their breweries. Provides that (i) a person licensed to make wine under the laws of another state who has a winery shipper's license and annually produces less than 25,000 gallons of wine or (ii) a person who has a first-class or second-class wine manufacturer's license, a first-class or second-class wine-maker's license, or a limited wine manufacturer's license and annually produces less than 25,000 gallons of wine may make application to the Commission for a self-distribution exemption to allow the sale of wine to brewers, class 1 brewers, and class 2 brewers that, pursuant to a specified provision of the Act, sell beer, cider, or both beer and cider to non-licensees at their breweries. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Child Passenger Protection Act. Provides that when any person is transporting a child in this State who is under the age of 2 years in a motor vehicle of the first division or motor vehicle of the second division weighing 9,000 pounds or less, he or she shall be responsible for properly securing the child in a rear-facing child restraint system, unless the child weighs 40 or more pounds or is 40 or more inches tall.

Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Provides that each State agency entering into or maintaining a contract for the purchase of food under the Code shall adopt a policy that permits the donation of leftover food procured by State funds. Provides that the policy shall address any daily food operations run by the agency, including one-time events, and shall contain a list of nearby soup kitchens, food pantries, and other non-profit organizations where leftover food can be donated. Requires each State agency to circulate its policy to all agency employees, and submit its food donation policy to the Department of Central Management Services on an annual basis beginning December 31, 2018. Effective immediately.

Amends the Freedom of Information Act. To the list of exemptions under the Act, adds certain records that relate to or affect the security of detention facilities requested by persons who are committed to the Department of Human Services Division of Mental Health. Effective immediately.

Amends the Criminal Identification Act. Provides that a trafficking victim as defined by the Criminal Code of 2012 shall be eligible to petition for the immediate sealing of his or her criminal record upon the completion of his or her last sentence if his or her participation in the underlying offense was a direct result of human trafficking under the Criminal Code of 2012 or a severe form of trafficking under the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act. Provides that a petitioner under this provision, in addition to other requirements provided by law, shall include in his or her petition a clear and concise statement that: (1) he or she was a victim of human trafficking at the time of the offense; and (2) that his or her participation in the offense was a direct result of human trafficking under the Criminal Code of 2012 or a severe form of trafficking under the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act. Provides that if an objection is filed alleging that the petitioner is not entitled to immediate sealing, the court shall conduct a hearing and the court shall determine whether the petitioner is entitled to immediate sealing under the provision. Effective immediately.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that a county board in a county in which there is no city, village, or incorporated town with a board of election commissioners that has established a county board of election commissioners may, by ordinance or resolution, dissolve the county board of election commissioners and transfer its functions to the county clerk.

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.

Mourns the death of Edward P. Smith of Shorewood.