Sen. William E. Brady

Mourns the death of Marine Cpl. Daniel Baker of Tremont.

Makes appropriations for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Illinois Power Agency for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2018, as follows: Other State Funds $55,923,100.

Amends the School Code. Beginning with the 2018-2019 school year, requires every public high school to include in its curriculum instruction in the free enterprise system through a course lasting at least one semester, which each student entering the 9th grade in the 2018-2019 school year or a subsequent school year must successfully complete as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma. Requires the State Board of Education to adopt free enterprise content standards and develop the curriculum, carry out appropriate professional development training for teachers of the course, and submit a report to the General Assembly on course implementation. Sets forth minimum areas of instruction to be included in the course.

Amends the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that certificates of registration that are issued or renewed on or after July 1, 2017 shall expire one year (currently, 5 years) after the issuance or last renewal of that certificate of registration. Effective immediately.

Creates the Autonomous Driving Act. Contains only a short title provision.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, for the 2015 taxable year and thereafter, the exemption for veterans with disabilities carries over to the surviving spouse of a veteran who was killed in the line of duty in the current taxable year or any preceding taxable year. Provides that, for the 2016 taxable year and thereafter, the exemption for veterans with disabilities carries over to the surviving spouse of a veteran who did not obtain the exemption before death, but who would have qualified for the exemption in the current taxable year if he or she had survived. Effective immediately.

Amends the Civic Center Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning a civic center authority's power to incur obligations.

Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Merges all Article 3 police officers' pension funds and Article 4 firefighters' pension funds into the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) on January 1, 2020. Creates a Transition Board, which is responsible for planning, overseeing, and administering the consolidation. Authorizes the Transition Board to undertake numerous activities necessary for the consolidation, including making arrangements for the transfer of assets and liabilities and for making recommendations to IMRF for an appropriate system of determining, administering, receiving, and enforcing the required municipal contributions to the fund. Makes conforming and other changes. Provides that a person first employed as a police officer or firefighter on or after January 1, 2020 shall participate and earn benefits in IMRF as an employee under the IMRF Article (rather than participating and earning benefits under the Downstate Police or Downstate Firefighter Articles). Amends the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL) of the Property Tax Code to exclude from the definition of "aggregate extension" special purpose extensions made for contributions to IMRF for benefits under the Downstate Police and Downstate Firefighter Articles. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately, except that certain changes to the Illinois Pension Code and PTELL of the Property Tax Code take effect January 1, 2020.

Amends the Regulatory Sunset Act. Extends the repeal date of the Environmental Health Practitioner Licensing Act from January 1, 2019 to January 1, 2029. Effective immediately.

Makes appropriations for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2017, as follows: General Funds $169,624,700; Other State Funds $27,000; Total $169,651,700.