Sen. Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant

Mourns the death of Maurice E. "Skip" Keniley of O'Fallon.

Amends the Illinois Notary Public Act. Provides that if the Secretary of State implements an electronic application system for the appointment of notaries public, then each applicant for appointment as a notary public shall use that system to apply for appointment as a notary public. Authorizes persons making an electronic application for appointment as a notary public to sign and verify electronically the oath that is required of all notaries public. Repeals a provision that would have terminated, as of July 1, 2013, the requirement that a notary public officially sign, at the time of a notarial act, every notary certificate and affix the rubber stamp seal clearly and legibly using black ink, so that it is capable of photographic reproduction. Provides that identification documents are documents that are valid at the time of the notarial act, issued by a state agency, federal government agency, or consulate, and bearing the photographic image of the individual's face and signature of the individual (now, the definition of that term is scheduled to be repealed on July 1, 2013). Effective June 30, 2013.

Mourns the death of James T. Seddon of Joliet.

Mourns the death of Melanie J. Benson.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning a committed person's grievances.

Amends the Public Funds Investment Act. Provides that park districts, forest preserve districts, and conservation districts may, like municipalities and counties, invest public funds in interest-bearing bonds of any political subdivision or agency of the State of Illinois, whether the interest earned is taxable or tax-exempt under federal law. Provides that bonds shall be registered in the name of the municipality, park district, forest preserve district, conservation district, or county. Effective immediately.

Amends the Criminal Identification Act and the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that upon a petition by a person who has been convicted of a Class 3 or Class 4 felony and who has served in the United States Armed Forces or in the National Guard of this or another state and has received an honorable discharge from the Armed Forces or National Guard and who meets specified requirements, the Prisoner Review Board shall hear by at least 3 members and, with the unanimous vote of a panel of 3 members, issue a certificate of eligibility for expungement recommending that the court order the expungement of all official records of the arresting authority, the circuit court clerk, and the Department of State Police concerning the arrest and conviction for the Class 3 or 4 felony. Excludes a person convicted of a sex offense, crime of violence, or firearm offense. Provides that if a person has applied to the Board for a certificate of eligibility for expungement and the Board denies the certificate, the person must wait at least 4 years before filing again or filing for a pardon with authorization for expungement from the Governor unless the Governor or Chairman of the Prisoner Review Board grants a waiver. Effective immediately.

Amends the Park Commissioners Land Sale Act. Deletes the date of repeal. Effective immediately.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that domestic battery is a Class 4 felony if the defendant has one or 2 prior convictions under the Code for domestic battery. Provides that domestic battery is a Class 3 felony if the defendant had 3 prior convictions under the Code for domestic battery. Provides that domestic battery is a Class 2 felony if the defendant had 4 or more prior convictions under the Code for domestic battery.

Amends the School Code. Provides that any school district with an enrollment of less than 750 students shall be dissolved and its territory annexed by the regional board of school trustees upon the filing of a petition. Provides that if, pursuant to petition, all of the territory of a district is to be annexed to another district, then the annexing district and the annexed district need not be contiguous if certain requirements are met and documented. Provides that 2 or more school districts not contiguous to each other, each of which has an enrollment in grades 9 through 12 of less than 600 students, may jointly operate one or more cooperative high schools if certain requirements are met and documented. Provides that (i) any 2 or more entire elementary districts that are not contiguous, (ii) any 2 or more entire high school districts that are not contiguous, or (iii) any 2 or more entire unit districts that are not contiguous may be organized into a combined school district if certain requirements are met and documented. Provides that if (1) a petition is filed for the reorganization of 2 or more school districts that requires a new school building to effectively educate students, (2) the change is granted and approved at an election, and (3) no appeal is taken, then, with the approval of the regional superintendent of schools, the change may become effective after one or more of the school districts have been awarded school construction grants; provides for the voiding of a petition. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.