Sen. Andrew Chesney

Amends the State Finance Act. Provides that State travel reimbursement rates for lodging and mileage for automobile travel, as well as allowances for meals, shall be set at the maximum rates established by the federal government for travel expenses, subsistence expenses, and mileage allowances. Provides that if the rates set under federal regulations increase or decrease during the course of the State's fiscal year, the effective date of the new rate shall be the effective date of the change in the federal rate. Makes conforming and other changes.

Amends the School Code. Prohibits a school district employee or volunteer or an independent contractor of a school district from placing a student in seclusion; defines seclusion. Provides that this prohibition does not apply to the use of seclusion in a court-ordered placement, other than a placement in an educational program of a school district, or in a placement or facility to which other laws or rules apply. Requires State Board of Education rulemaking. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Deletes language requiring certain applicants for temporary visitor's driver's licenses to demonstrate that they are ineligible to obtain a social security number. Provides that such applicants must present documentation, issued by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, authorizing the person's entry into (instead of "presence in") this country. Provides that a temporary visitor's driver's license, issued to a person who presents documentation from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services authorizing the person's presence in this country, is valid for 3 years (rather than 3 years or for the period of time the individual is authorized to remain in this country, whichever ends sooner). Effective immediately.

Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Provides that for any appeal permitted under the Act to the Director of the Illinois State Police for failure to act on a Firearm Owner's Identification Card application within 30 days or its denial, seizure, or revocation, the Director shall either grant or deny the appeal within 60 days of the receipt of the appeal. Provides that if the appeal is granted, the Director shall return the aggrieved party's Firearm Owner's Identification Card to the aggrieved party, or issue him or her a new Firearm Owner's Identification Card, as the case may be, no later than 7 business days after the appeal is granted. Provides that if the appeal is denied, the Director shall set forth in writing the specific reasons for the denial and shall cause the written denial to be mailed to the aggrieved party no later than 7 business days after the appeal is denied. Provides that if the Director fails to either grant or deny the appeal within 60 days of the receipt of the appeal, the appeal shall be considered granted, and the Director shall return the aggrieved party's Firearm Owner's Identification Card or issue him or her a new Firearm Owner's Identification Card, as the case may be, no later than 67 days from the date that the appeal was received. Provides that a denial shall be considered a final administrative order, regardless of whether there was a formal hearing in which evidence was taken, and the aggrieved party may seek judicial review of the final administrative order in accordance with the provisions of the Administrative Review Law and the Act. Provides that if administrative review is taken and if the circuit court then finds that the Director denied the appeal without reasonable cause, the circuit court may award the aggrieved party court costs and a reasonable attorney's fee to be paid by the State. Nothing herein limits the contempt power of the circuit court. Provides that when the word "shall" appears in this provision, it shall be construed as being mandatory and not discretionary.

Amends the Use Tax Act and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that the term "selling price" does not include the value of or credit given for traded-in tangible personal property (currently, beginning on January 1, 2020, with respect to motor vehicles, "selling price" does include the trade-in value). Effective immediately.

Amends the Stalking No Contact Order Act, the Civil No Contact Order Act, and the Domestic Violence Act of 1986. Provides that when a petition for an emergency stalking no contact order, civil no contact order, or emergency order of protection is filed, the petition and file shall not be public and shall only be accessible to the court, petitioner, counsel of record for either party, and State's Attorney for the county until the petition is served on the respondent. Provides that when an emergency stalking no contact order, civil no contact order, emergency order of protection is granted, the petition, order, and file shall not be public and shall only be accessible to the court, petitioner, counsel of record for either party, and State's Attorney for the county until the order is served on the respondent. Effective immediately.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Creates the Rural Illinois Utility Infrastructure Investment Program, under which the Illinois Commerce Commission shall make grants from the Rural Illinois Utility Infrastructure Investment Program Fund for qualified utility infrastructure projects. Amends the Gas Revenue Tax Act and the Electricity Excise Tax Law to provide that certain moneys collected under those Acts shall be deposited into the Fund. Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Rural Illinois Utility Infrastructure Investment Program Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Effective July 1, 2019.

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 concerning bail. Provides that the incarceration credit does not apply to a person incarcerated for a felony offense who committed the offense when he or she was released on bond, on pretrial release, in pretrial detention, or serving a sentence of incarceration for a separate offense. Effective immediately.

Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act and the Firearm Concealed Carry Act. Provides that a renewal application shall be accepted by the Illinois State Police if submitted within 180 days before the expiration of the applicant's Firearm Owner's Identification Card or concealed carry license. Provides that submission of a renewal application within that 180-day period shall not affect the expiration date of the applicant's Firearm Owner's Identification Card or concealed carry license.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit in an amount equal to the foster care expenses, not to exceed $1,000 in any taxable year, paid or incurred by the taxpayer with respect to a qualified dependent child. Provides that the credit may be prorated. Effective immediately.