Sen. Linda Holmes

Designates March of 2012 as MS Awareness Month in the State of Illinois.

Amends the General Assembly Compensation Act and the State Finance Act. Provides, in both Acts, that, beginning in State fiscal year 2012, any amount that is appropriated in a fiscal year to provide office allowances for General Assembly members and that remains unexpended at the end of the lapse period shall be used by the Comptroller to pay the past due operating debt of the State. Effective immediately.

Amends various Acts to eliminate the following Boards and Commissions: the Internet Privacy Task Force, the Advisory Council on Youth HIV/AIDS Prevention Messages, the governing board of the David A. Wirsing Food Animal Institute, the Board of the Southwest Suburban Railroad Development Authority, the Illinois Health Policy Center Advisory Panel, the Health Care Worker Task Force, the Revenue Commission for Community Service, the Maternal and Child Health Advisory Board, and the Advisory Council on Spinal Cord and Head Injuries. Repeals the Illinois Geographic Information Council Act, the Commission on Children and Youth Act, the Illinois Plain Language Task Force Act, the Riverdale Development Authority Act, the Illinois Urban Development Authority Act, and the Downstate Illinois Sports Facilities Authority Act. Effective July 1, 2012.

Amends the Personnel Code. Deletes a paragraph requiring the Director of the Department of Central Management Services to conduct research and planning regarding the total manpower needs of all offices, departments, agencies, boards, and commissions of the executive branch. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Provides that the Director (rather than the chief procurement officer) of the Department of Central Management Services shall determine for all State agencies which goods produced by persons in facilities of the Department of Corrections shall be purchased from Illinois Correctional Industries. Effective immediately.

Amends the Personnel Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Illinois Underground Utility Facilities Damage Prevention Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Governmental Joint Purchasing Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Comptroller's Records Act. Removes a provision requiring certificates of destruction to be signed by 2 witnesses. Amends the State Finance Act. Provides that, upon written approval by the office of the Comptroller, a State agency may maintain an original voucher for travel expenses at the office of the State agency. Provides that a State agency that maintains an original travel voucher at its office is not exempt from submitting a detailed travel voucher as prescribed by the office of the Comptroller. Provides that interest penalties payable under the State Prompt Payment Act associated with a voucher for which payment is issued after June 30 may be paid out of the next year's appropriation. Provides that the Comptroller may issue payments against outstanding liabilities that were received prior to the lapse period deadline, until all liabilities are paid. Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Provides that whenever certain grants or contract liabilities exceeding $20,000 (now, $10,000) are incurred by any State agency, a copy of the contract or grant shall be filed with the Comptroller within 30 days (now, 15 days) thereafter. Provides that the Comptroller may require these copies to be filed electronically. Provides that any cancellation or modification to any such contract liability shall be filed with the Comptroller within 30 days (now, 15 days) after its execution. Amends the Governmental Account Audit Act, the Counties Code, and the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that any financial report of a governmental unit under the jurisdiction of one of those Acts shall include the name of the purchasing agent who oversees all competitively bid contracts for that unit. Effective immediately.