Sen. Jil Tracy

Creates the Transparency in Lawsuits Protection Act. Provides that the purpose of the Act is to ensure that any Act, regulatory or otherwise, enacted in this State shall not create a private right of action unless such a right is expressly stated in the Act. Provides that any Act enacted in this State creating a private right of action shall contain express language providing for such a right and that courts of this State shall not construe a statute to imply a private right of action in the absence of such express language. Applies to any action that has not yet been initiated or is pending on the effective date of the Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Finance Act, Counties Code, Illinois Municipal Code, Metro-East Park and Recreation District Act, Local Mass Transit District Act, Regional Transportation Authority Act, and Water Commission Act of 1985. Provides that the amounts transferred into the Tax Compliance and Administration Fund shall be reduced from 1.5% to 1%. Effective July 1, 2019.

Creates the Department of Health and Human Services Act and amends various Acts. Abolishes the Department of Human Services, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, and the Department on Aging and transfers the functions of those agencies to the Department of Health and Human Services, which is created. Provides that the Secretary of Health and Human Services is the head of the new agency and transfers the staffs, records, and unexpended funds of the abolished agencies to the Department of Health and Human Services. Provides that the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall take all steps necessary to accomplish administrative efficiencies, staff reductions, containment of costs, and reallocation of existing resources and that the Secretary shall submit a report on those accomplishments to the General Assembly and the Governor. Makes conforming changes in other Acts. Effective July 1, 2020.

Amends the Governor's Office of Management and Budget Act. Provides that the Governor's Office of Management and Budget shall publish a summary of each budget bill, which shall be written in comprehensive and clear language.

Amends the Automatic Telephone Dialers Act. Redefines "recorded message" to mean any artificial or recorded communication that includes or introduces an advertisement or constitutes telemarketing without live voice interaction (rather than any taped communication soliciting the sale of goods or services without live voice interaction). Prohibits an autodialer from providing inaccurate caller ID information in violation of a specified federal law and regulations of the Federal Communications Commission. Provides that it is a violation of the Act to play a recorded message (rather than a prerecorded message) placed by an autodialer without (i) the prior express written consent of the called party or (ii) the prior express written consent of the called party if the call is made by or on behalf of a tax-exempt nonprofit organization or is a call that delivers a health care message made by, or on behalf of, a covered entity or its business associate as those terms are defined in a specified provision of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. Defines "telemarketing" and "prior written consent".

Amends the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. Provides that, for purposes of determining the partisanship of any person who is appointed by the Governor to an office that either requires specific partisanship or limits the number of appointees from a single political party that may be appointed, the vote of that person in the 3 general primary elections immediately preceding the effective date of the appointment shall determine his or her partisanship for that person's term of office. Provides that a person who did not vote, or who voted but did not request a partisan ballot, in the 3 general primary elections immediately preceding the effective date of the appointment or who voted but requested partisan ballots for 2 or more different political parties in the 3 general primary elections immediately preceding the effective date of the appointment shall be deemed an independent for purposes of determining partisanship for that person's term of office.

Amends the Renewable Energy Facilities Agricultural Impact Mitigation Act. Provides that the Department of Agriculture shall establish a form and database on the Department's website for complaints or comments that concern a commercial renewable energy facility.

Amends the State Budget Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides for the submission of the State budget by the Governor on either the third Wednesday in February or the date of the Governor's Budget Address, whichever occurs first (currently, the third Wednesday in February only). Provides that the State budget shall be submitted with all proposed appropriation and budget implementation legislation to the General Assembly.

Creates the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act. Provides that neither the State nor any of its subdivisions may authorize the use of, appropriate, or expend funds to pay for an abortion or to cover any part of the costs of a health plan that includes coverage of abortion or to provide or refer for an abortion, unless a woman who suffers from a physical disorder, physical injury, or physical illness that would, as certified by a physician, place the woman in danger of death if an abortion is not performed. Makes various conforming changes. Permits the Department of Human Services to make grants to nonprofit agencies and organizations that do not use those grants to refer or counsel for, or perform, abortions. Contains provisions regarding applicability and preempts home rule. Effective July 1, 2019.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that each eligible student is entitled to a refundable income tax credit in an amount equal to $500. Provides that, if the eligible student may be claimed as a dependent on another taxpayer's return, then the taxpayer claiming the eligible student may claim the credit; however, only one taxpayer may claim the credit for any particular student. Effective immediately.