Sen. Rickey R. Hendon

Amends the Chicago School District Article of the School Code. Provides for the election (instead of appointment) of members of the Chicago Board of Education, with 2 members elected from a northern regional district, 2 members elected from a southern regional district, 2 members elected from a western regional district, and one member elected at large. Provides that successor Inspectors General shall be appointed by the Board instead of the Mayor. Effective immediately.

Proposes to amend the Suffrage and Elections Article of the Illinois Constitution. Provides for elections to recall State executive branch officers, members of the General Assembly, and elected officers of units of local government, if the annual compensation of the office exceeds $21,000. Provides for successor elections to fill the vacant term of a recalled officer or member. Provides for petitions to be filed with the State Board of Elections and sets requirements for petitions. Provides for the State Board of Elections to proclaim the election and set the date. Provides for objections to petitions. Provides that the recall provisions are self-executing and judicially enforceable. Effective upon being declared adopted.

Amends the Property Tax Code. In a provision setting forth requirements for the issuance of a tax deed, provides that the requirement that all forfeitures and sales occurring subsequent to the tax sale must be redeemed applies only to forfeitures and sales of subsequent years' taxes. Provides that liens for delinquent taxes must be merged into the tax deed grantee's title even if the liens are included in a subsequent sale. Makes corresponding changes in a Section concerning sales in error. Provides that the amendatory Act is declarative of existing law.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Requires an addition modification to base income of an amount equal to the contribution component of any nonqualified withdrawal or refund from a tuition savings program that was previously deducted from base income and that did not result from the death or disability of the beneficiary. Effective immediately.

Creates the Debt Settlement Consumer Protection Act. Provides that it shall be unlawful for any person to operate as a debt settlement provider or engage in debt settlement service except as authorized by the Act and without first having obtained a license under the Act. Contains provisions concerning the (1) application for a license, (2) qualifications for licensure, (3) renewal of a license, (4) display requirements for a license, (5) temporary licensed locations, (6) denial of a license, (7) revocation or suspension of a license, (8) maintenance of records by a licensee, (9) examination of a licensee, (10) maintenance of trust funds by a licensee, and (11) other licensee businesses. With respect to the Director of Financial Institutions, contains provisions concerning the (1) adoption of rules by the Director, (2) penalties for violations of the Act, (3) procedure the Director may take to obtain an injunction, (4) review of decisions, (5) issuance of cease and desist orders. Contains provisions concerning (1) advertising practices, (2) individualized financial analysis, (3) required disclosures, (4) debt settlement contracts, (5) fees, (6) consumer settlement accounts, (7) cancellation of contracts, (8) obligations of good faith, (9) prohibited practices and noncompliance with the Act, and (10) civil remedies. Amends the Debt Management Service Act to exclude "debt settlement service" and attorneys engaged in specific practices from the Act. Amends the State Finance Act to provide that moneys collected under the Debt Settlement Consumer Protection Act shall be deposited into the Financial Institution Fund. Contains a severability clause. Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act to specify that a violation of the Debt Settlement Consumer Protection Act is a violation of the Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that local authorities utilizing one or more centralized parking meter systems for the regulation of the standing or parking of vehicles must keep the pathway located within all centralized parking meter systems clear of ice and snow. Defines "centralized parking meter system", "parking meter", "parking meter zone", and "pathway".

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates a deduction in an amount equal to any amount awarded to the taxpayer during the taxable year by the Court of Claims for time unjustly served in a State prison. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that where traffic signals are not in place, vehicles must stop and yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk rather than yielding the right-of-way by slowing down or stopping if need be. Provides that on a school day when children are present and so close that a potential hazard exists because of the close proximity of the motorized traffic and when traffic signals are not in place or in operation, vehicles must stop and yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk rather than yielding the right-of-way by slowing down or stopping if need be to so yield. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Provides that a purchasing agency, chief procurement officer, associate procurement officer, or State purchasing officer may not enter into an agreement (i) to purchase or lease goods on behalf of a State agency unless 100% of the goods to be purchased or leased under the agreement are made or assembled in the United States or (ii) to procure services on behalf of a State agency unless 100% of the services to be procured under the agreement are provided within the United States. Requires each vendor, bidder, contractor, or subcontractor who submits a bid or enters into a procurement agreement with a State agency to certify compliance with these requirements. Authorizes certain exemptions from these requirements. Requires the purchasing agency, chief procurement officer, associate procurement officer, or State purchasing officer to terminate agreements for noncompliance and to collect from the vendor, contractor, or subcontractor an amount equal to 25% of the value of the agreement as liquidated damages if, during the life of an agreement, the vendor, contractor, or subcontractor violates these requirements. Prohibits a contractor, subcontractor, vendor, or bidder that violates these requirements from receiving any State contracts for a period of 5 years after the violation. Authorizes a State agency to bring a civil action in State or federal court to compel enforcement of this Act. Permits courts to award reasonable attorney fees and costs to the State agency. Effective immediately.

Mourns the death of Lucious Hunter.