Sen. Linda Holmes

Amends the Fire Hydrant Act. Provides that whoever fails to comply with any of the provisions of the Act, after receiving written notice of noncompliance or violation from a fire protection district or municipality in whose jurisdiction a fire hydrant is located, shall be responsible for all reasonable costs that the fire protection district or municipality incurs to correct the noncompliance, including attorney's fees and legal expenses incurred by the fire protection district or municipality in recovering the costs from the responsible party. Effective immediately.

Creates the Heroin Crisis Act. Contains only a short title provision.

Amends the College Student Immunization Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning immunization reports.

Amends the Private Employment Agency Act. Makes changes to provisions concerning applications for original licensure, renewal of licenses, recordkeeping, definitions, investigative authority of the Department of Labor, grounds for discipline, and disciplinary proceedings. Provides that the Department shall provide on its website, accessible to the public, a list of all licensed employment agencies and all employment agencies whose license has been suspended or registration revoked. Provides that it is a violation of the Act for an employment agency to violate certain provisions of the Illinois Minimum Wage Law and the Wage Payment and Collection Act. Provides that it is a violation of the Act for a private employment agency to interfere with the rights granted to an employee by any wage law in the State. Provides that it is a violation of the Act for an employer to accept a referral of an individual for employment from an employment agency not licensed under the Act. Eliminates criminal penalties; provides civil penalties for both employment agencies and employers for violating the Act. Provides that all fees and civil penalties collected under the Act shall be deposited into the Wage Theft Enforcement Fund.

Amends the College and Career Success for All Students Act. Provides that a student who takes a College Board Advanced Placement examination and receives a score of 3 or higher on the examination is entitled to receive postsecondary level course credit at a public institution of higher education. Requires each public institution of higher education to comply with the same standard of awarding course credit to any student receiving a score of 3 or higher on a College Board Advanced Placement examination and applying the credit to meet a corresponding course requirement for degree completion at that institution of higher education. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Provides that the Capital Development Board may (rather than shall) draw specifications to permit independent bidding by prime bidders for each of the 5 subdivisions of work. Provides that the Board may draw specifications for a single prime bidder. Provides that a successful single prime bidder shall identify the name of the subcontractor and proposal costs for each of the 5 subdivisions of work, and that no identified subcontractor may be terminated without the written consent of the Board. Deletes provisions relating to the pilot program for single prime bidders and to the Capitol Building HVAC upgrade project. Effective immediately.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that aggravated assault of a peace officer, fireman, emergency management worker, or emergency medical technician: (1) performing his or her official duties; (2) assaulted to prevent performance of his or her official duties; or (3) assaulted in retaliation for performing his or her official duties is a Class 4 felony (rather than a Class A misdemeanor if a Category I, Category II, or Category III weapon is not used in the commission of the assault).

Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that local law enforcement, the State Board of Education, the Department of Human Services, and the Public Defender may designate representatives to serve on county juvenile justice councils. Provides that the Justice Advisory Council Director or his or her designee, or if the county has no Justice Advisory Council Director, the State's Attorney, shall serve as interim chairperson. Provides that the chairperson shall appoint additional members of the council which are representatives of local law enforcement, juvenile justice agencies, faith organizations, schools, businesses, and community organizations. Provides for the creation of Local Advisory Committees, and that 20% of the membership of these Committees must be local-justice involved youths aged 16-21. Provides that the duties and responsibilities of the Juvenile Justice Council includes facilitating community based collaboration and perspective on oversight, research, and evaluation of activities, programs, and policies directed towards and impacting the lives of juveniles.

Amends the Counties Code. Provides that a county may petition the circuit court to have property declared abandoned if the county's petition specifies that the property is not being maintained as shown by the county having to abate a violation more than 3 times within a 12 month period. Provides that a county may transfer an irregular public parcel at no cost to adjoining property owners after receiving no bids after a public auction or no offers after adopting a resolution to sell the irregular public parcel. Defines "irregular public parcel". Amends the Illinois Municipal Code to make similar changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Regional Transportation Authority Act. Provides that the Authority may issue, sell, and deliver additional Working Cash Notes before July 1, 2018 (now 2016) that are over and above and in addition to the $100,000,000 authorization. Effective immediately.