Sen. Jil Tracy

Amends the Illinois Local Library Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning penalties.

Amends the Prevailing Wage Act. Provides that prevailing wage need not be paid to workers engaged in the construction or demolition of public works when employed by or working on behalf of nonprofit organizations for educational purposes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Wildlife Code. Defines "hunting license" as an electronic or physical license authorizing the person to take a certain type of animal during a specified period of time. Effective immediately.

Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that, if none of the parties joined in good faith as defendants in a civil case are residents of this State, an action against those defendants may be commenced in this State only in the county in which the transaction out of which the cause of action arose, or some part of that transaction, occurred. Provides that a corporation organized under the laws of or authorized to do business in this State is a resident only of any county in which it has its registered office or other office (rather than being a resident of any county in which it does business). Makes similar changes regarding partnerships and voluntary unincorporated associations. Deletes language providing that an insurance company incorporated under the laws of or doing business in this State may be sued in any county in which one of the plaintiffs resides. Provides that, if none of the defendants in a civil action are residents of this State, and no part of the transaction out of which the action arose occurred in this State, the action must be dismissed for lack of proper venue. Makes other changes. Provides that the changes apply to causes of action filed on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act.

Amends the Personnel Code. Provides for a partial personnel jurisdiction exemption for rehabilitation/mobility instructors and rehabilitation/mobility instructor trainees at the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired. Removes the sunset date for the partial personnel jurisdiction exemption for all positions within the Illinois School for the Deaf and the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired requiring licensure by the State Board of Education. Effective immediately.

Amends provisions of the Unemployment Insurance Act concerning ineligibility for benefits after a discharge for misconduct. Provides that "misconduct" means the violation (rather than the deliberate and willful violation) of a reasonable rule or policy of the employing unit governing the individual's behavior in performance of his or her work, provided the violation has harmed the employing unit or other employees or has been repeated by the individual despite a warning or other instruction (rather than explicit instruction) from the employing unit.

Amends the Unemployment Insurance Act. Provides that the Department of Revenue shall maintain a public database, as provided under the State Tax Lien Registration Act, as a lien registry for the filing of liens upon employer assets authorized under the Unemployment Insurance Act. Provides that liens created before January 1, 2020 must be filed with the office of the recorder in the county where the subject property is located. Provides that on and after January 1, 2020 notice of the lien shall be filed in the lien registry. Sets forth the information required for the lien registry.

Creates the Full and Fair Noneconomic Damages Act. Provides that, in determining noneconomic damages, the fact finder may not consider: (i) evidence of a defendant's alleged wrongdoing, misconduct, or guilt; (ii) evidence of the defendant's wealth or financial resources; or (iii) any other evidence that is offered for the purpose of punishing the defendant, rather than offered for a compensatory purpose. Provides for bifurcated trials before the same jury in cases involving punitive damages, if requested by any defendant. Outlines the procedure for the bifurcated trials. Provides for court post-trial review of noneconomic damage awards pursuant to specified non-exclusive factors. Includes legislative findings, definitions, and applicability language. Effective immediately.

Amends the Stalking No Contact Order Act and the Civil No Contact Order Act. Provides that an order issued under either of those Acts may require or recommend the respondent to undergo counseling for a specified duration with a social worker, psychologist, clinical psychologist, psychiatrist, family service agency, alcohol or substance abuse program, mental health center guidance counselor, agency providing services to elders, program designed for domestic violence abusers or any other guidance service the court deems appropriate. Provides that the court may order the respondent in any intimate partner relationship to report to an Illinois Department of Human Services protocol approved partner abuse intervention program for an assessment and to follow all recommended treatment.

Re-enacts and changes various provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure relating to product liability actions that were added by Public Act 89-7, which was held to be void in its entirety by the Illinois Supreme Court in Best v. Taylor Machine Works, 179 Ill. 2d 367 (1997). Effective immediately.