Sen. Brian W. Stewart

Amends the Criminal and Traffic Assessment Act. Provides that the county treasurer or the treasurer of the unit of local government shall (rather than may) create the following funds, if not already in existence: the Court Automation Fund; the Document Storage Fund; the Circuit Clerk Operations and Administration Fund; the State's Attorney Records Automation Fund; the Public Defender Records Automation Fund; the Circuit Court Clerk Electronic Citation Fund; and, in each county where a Children's Advocacy Center provides services, the Child Advocacy Center Fund.

Amends the University of Illinois Act. Provides that a county is entitled to a scholarship in the University of Illinois for the benefit of the children of persons who served in the armed forces of the United States until any time on or after August 2, 1990 and until Congress or the President orders that persons in service are no longer eligible for the Kosovo Campaign Medal or the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.

Amends the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the Illinois State Police.

Amends the Illinois Credit Union Act. Provides that an acquiring credit union shall be liable for a fee equal to 10% of the book value of the assets or liabilities, whichever is greater, of a bank that has been purchased by the credit union. Provides that the provision applies to all banks, savings banks, savings and loan associations, and credit unions chartered or holding a certificate of authority to do business under the laws of this State or any other state or under the laws of the United States. Defines "book value of the assets or liabilities of a bank".

Amends the Criminal and Traffic Assessment Act. Repeals the Act on January 1, 2023 (rather than January 1, 2022). Amends the Clerks of Courts Act. Provides that a Section concerning circuit court clerk fees is repealed on January 1, 2023 (rather than January 1, 2022). Effective immediately.

Amends the Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act. Provides that the Prisoner Review Board shall immediately inform a victim of the early release of the prisoner from State custody or of the prisoner's pardon, commutation, furlough, or granting of sentence credit, if the victim has previously requested notification of that information. Provides that when the defendant has been found guilty but mentally ill and is granted early release, pardon, commutation, or furlough, the Prisoner Review Board immediately shall notify the victim, if the victim has previously requested notification of that information. Provides that the notification shall be based upon the most recent information as to the victim's residence or other location available to the Board. Provides that when no such information is available, the Board shall make all reasonable efforts to obtain the information and make the notification. Provides that this notification requirement is in addition to any notification requirements pursuant to any other statewide victim notification systems. Provides that the Board must document notification efforts if the victim alleges lack of notification.

Proposes to amend the Suffrage and Elections Article of the Illinois Constitution. Provides for the recall of all State Executive Branch officers, legislative leaders, the Auditor General, members of the General Assembly, and local government officials. Makes changes to the procedures for the recall of the Governor. Effective upon being declared adopted.

Creates the Agritourism Liability Act. Provides that an agritourism operator is not liable for the injury or death of a participant resulting from the inherent risks of agritourism activities if the agritourism operator posts the prescribed warning notice. Provides that a participant assumes the inherent risks of an agritourism activity by engaging in the agritourism activity. Provides that no participant may pursue an action or recover from an agritourism operator for injury, loss, damage, or death of the participant resulting from any of the inherent risks of agritourism activities. Provides that nothing prevents or limits the liability of an agritourism operator if the agritourism operator: (1) commits an act or omission that constitutes willful or wanton disregard for the safety of the participant and that act or omission proximately causes injury, damage, or death to the participant; or (2) has actual knowledge or reasonably should know of an unusual dangerous condition on the land, facilities, or equipment used in the activity or the dangerous propensity of a particular animal used in such an activity, does not make the danger known to the participant, and the danger proximately causes injury, damage, or death to the participant. Provides that an agritourism operator shall post and maintain a warning notice in a clearly visible location at or near the entrance to the agritourism activity. Effective July 1, 2021.

Amends the Election Code. Beginning on January 1, 2022, requires the treasurer of a political committee to preserve certain records and accounts required by the Code for a period of 7 years (rather than a period of 2 years). Includes in the reasons the State Board of Elections may order a political committee to conduct an audit of its financial records: (1) sworn testimony or sentence entered upon a plea of guilty by a candidate or political committee officer admitting to conduct constituting a violation of certain provisions of the Code, (2) conviction of a candidate or political committee officer for a crime relating to misuse of political committee funds or for certain violations of the Code, (3) failure to comply with a Board order requiring certain filings, or (4) filing of a statement of organization by a political committee composed of one or more officers of, or formed for the same purpose as, or for the support of the candidacy of the same person as, a former political committee that was administratively terminated by the Board in the last 24 months. Provides that for certain audits, the audit period shall be within the discretion of the Board but may not exceed 7 years from the close of the most recent reporting period. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Forestry Development Act. Provides that in order to be eligible to submit a forest management plan to participate in the cost share program, a timber grower must own or operate at least 5 contiguous acres (instead of 10 contiguous acres) of land in this State on which timber is produced. Makes a corresponding change.