Sen. Linda Holmes

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the School Code's construction.

Creates the Credit for Prior Learning Act. Requires each public university to submit its policies and procedures for students to earn credit for prior learning to the Board of Higher Education for review and approval and each community college to submit its policies and procedures for students to earn credit for prior learning to the Illinois Community College Board for review and approval. Provides that, at a minimum, these procedures shall include a listing of the types of documentation acceptable and the dates of inclusion for which prior learning is acceptable. Requires the Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board to adopt rules to permit public higher education institutions to award credit for prior learning after the assessment of prior learning experiences for documented learning that demonstrates achievement of all terminal objectives for a specific course or courses.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit for taxpayers who purchase a new accessible residence, or retrofit an existing residence to improve accessibility and provide universal visitability. Provides that the credit may not exceed $5,000 for the purchase of a new residence or for the retrofitting of an existing residence. Provides that the total amount of tax credits granted for any fiscal year shall not exceed $2,000,000. Provides that the credit is exempt from the Act's automatic sunset provision.

Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that, beginning on August 31, 2014, graphic arts machinery and equipment is included in the manufacturing and assembling machinery and equipment exemption. Provides that the manufacturing and assembling machinery and equipment exemption is exempt from the Acts' automatic sunset provisions. Provides that the Manufacturer's Purchase Credit for purchases of graphic arts machinery and equipment applies permanently on and after September 1, 2004. Effective immediately.

Creates the Research Dogs and Cats Adoption Act. Requires (i) an institution of higher education or corporation located in this State that receives public funds, federal or State, for scientific, educational, or research purposes or (ii) a facility that provides research in collaboration with an institution of higher education with the use of public funds and that confines dogs or cats for scientific, educational, or research purposes and plans on euthanizing the dog or cat for other than scientific, educational, or research purposes must first offer the dog or cat to an animal rescue organization. Sets forth provisions concerning an agreement with an animal rescue organization and immunity. Effective immediately.

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. 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 Illinois Insurance Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the purpose of the Article regarding nonprofit risk organizations.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance must provide coverage for medically necessary preventative physical therapy for insureds diagnosed with multiple sclerosis without any treatment limitation or calendar year maximum. Removes requirements that coverage under this provision be subject to the same waiting period, cost sharing limitation, treatment limitation, calendar year maximum, or other limitation as provided for other physical or rehabilitative therapy benefits.

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the School Code's construction.

Creates the Paint Stewardship Act. Requires each producer to join the representative organization. Requires the representative organization to submit a plan to the Director of the Environmental Protection Agency for the establishment of a paint stewardship program. Sets forth requirements for the program. Requires the representative organization, in conjunction with an independent auditor, to propose, and the Agency to approve, a fee that will be added to the cost of all architectural paint sold to retailers and distributors in this State. Creates a state-action antitrust exemption for actions taken under the Act. Prohibits, after the implementation of the paint stewardship program, a producer, distributor, or retailer from selling or offering for sale architectural paint to any person in the State if the producer is not a member of the representative organization. Authorizes the imposition of civil penalties for violations of the Act. Sets forth fees for the program. Provides that no person shall incinerate architectural paint or industrial maintenance coatings in this State after July 1, 2017. Effective on January 1, 2016.