Sen. Andrew Chesney

Amends the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act. Provides that in any 12-month period the Governor shall have the authority to issue only one proclamation per disaster and that any further proclamation for the disaster that triggered the original proclamation shall be in force only after a two-thirds vote of each chamber of the General Assembly approves a joint resolution containing the exact language of the proclamation and which the Governor must follow. Provides that the Governor shall have no authority to amend or change the language of the proclamation as approved by joint resolution.

Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Provides that no procurement contract for the construction, alteration, operation, repair, maintenance, or improvement of any mass transit facility, or equipment thereof, in excess of $1,000,000 shall be awarded to or executed with any vendor that receives support from a nonmarket economy country, as defined under specified federal law. Provides that nothing in the provisions is intended to contravene any existing treaties, laws, trade agreements, or regulations of the United States or subsequent trade agreements entered into between any foreign countries and the State or the United States.

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that in a prosecution of a case involving the injury, health, or safety of a cat or dog, the court may, on its own motion or motion of any party, appoint a special advocate to assist the court, as deemed appropriate by the court, and represent the interests of justice regarding the health or safety of the cat or dog. Amends the Department of Agriculture Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Agriculture shall compile a list comprised of pro bono attorneys and law students from each county who may serve as special advocates for these cases.

Amends the Department of State Police Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of State Police shall establish an electronic system to accept online payments for assessments for certain minor traffic violations issued under the Criminal and Traffic Assessment Act. Provides that the Department shall determine which violations are subject to the system and shall provide notice to a person who is eligible for its use. Provides that the Department shall charge a nominal fee of $2.50 for each transaction to maintain the system. Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Deletes reference to: 20 ILCS 2605/2605-440 new Adds reference to: 30 ILCS 525/2 from Ch. 85, par. 1602 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Governmental Joint Purchasing Act. Authorizes the Division of Forensic Services of the Department of State Police to purchase supplies and services made available by the Federal Acquisition Regulations System, and as allowed for by the federal government for state governmental entities. Provides that such procurements made by the Division of Forensic Services are presumptively approved methods of source selection under the Illinois Procurement Code without further source selection approval required from the chief procurement officers established under the Illinois Procurement Code. Makes conforming changes.

Amends the Election Code. Prohibits a political committee from making certain expenditures to provide a defense in any criminal case or a defense in a civil case pertaining to misconduct by a person in his or her capacity as a public official, sexual harassment claims, or discrimination claims. Requires that a person found to have used campaign contributions in violation of the Code shall return contributions to the contributor or pay to the State if the contributor cannot be identified or reimbursed. Requires the political committee to include information on the contributions returned to the contributor or paid to the State in the committee's quarterly report to the State Board of Elections.

Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Changes the definition of "recurrent requester" to exclude requests made by members of the General Assembly and requests made to access and disseminate information pertaining to public policy and the administration of State government. Exempts from disclosure under the Act certain records in which opinions of a public body or its agents are expressed. Provides that the exemption does not apply if the records were produced in connection with the preparation of a report that is required to be publicly produced by an agency of the executive branch. Provides that the public body shall include with each denial of a request for public records an index that includes specified information. Provides that except in the case of a recurrent requester, a public body denying a request for public records shall place in an interest-bearing escrow account or other segregated account of the public body the sum of $7,500 for each request denied. Provides that the deposited funds shall remain in the account for a period of 60 days after the date of the public body's final denial of a request, or, if a requester has sought review of the denial or challenged the denial in court, until the review process has been completed or a final order has been entered. Provides that if a determination is made that the public body improperly denied a request to inspect or copy a public record, the deposited funds shall be awarded to the requester in addition to or as part of any other award. Makes other changes.

Amends the Lobbyist Registration Act. Provides that the term "official" as used under the Act includes specified officials of a unit of local government. Modifies the terms "lobby" and "lobbying" to include communications with units of local government for the ultimate purpose of influencing any executive, legislative, or administrative action, and further specifies such actions. Modifies the term "lobbyist" to mean a natural person who, on behalf of any person other than himself or herself, or as any part of his or her duties as an employee of another, undertakes to influence or lobby for any executive, legislative, or administrative action for State government or a unit of local government. Amends the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act to provide that no legislator may engage in lobbying as that term is defined under the Lobbyist Registration Act (currently, as defined under the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act) for compensation.

Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Provides that any (i) member of the General Assembly, (ii) person whose appointment to office is subject to the advice and consent of the Senate, or (iii) head of a department, commission, board, division, bureau, authority, or other administrative unit within the government of this State who takes office on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act shall not, within a 3-year period immediately following termination of that person's most recent term of office, register as a lobbyist and engage in lobbying with members of the General Assembly. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. Provides additional required economic interests to be listed by specified persons on a statement of economic interests filed under the Act. Defines "relative".

Amends the Consumer Installment Loan Act. Defines "title-secured loan". Provides that for title-secured loans entered into or renewed on or after the effective date of the Act: (i) a licensee shall not contract for or receive a charge exceeding 36% annual percentage rate on the unpaid balance of the amount financed for a title-secured loan; (ii) the loan contract shall provide for repayment of the principal and charges within specified maximum loan terms; (iii) upon or after default, a licensee shall not charge a borrower any finance charges, interest, fees, or charges of any kind; and (iv) the loan may be refinanced if the original principal of the loan has been reduced by at least 60%. Provides that nothing in these provisions abrogates a borrower's right to collect any surplus arising from the sale of a motor vehicle under the Uniform Commercial Code.