Amends the Illinois Geographic Information Council Act. Repeals provisions concerning the User Advisory Committee.
Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning State policy.
Makes appropriations and reappropriations for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2018. Effective immediately.
Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that within 90 days after filing an appearance (instead of prior to filing any other pleading other than a motion for an extension of time within which to plead), a party may object to the court exercising personal jurisdiction over the party. Deletes a provision that if a party files a responsive pleading other than a motion for an extension of time prior to filing a motion to dismiss or to quash service of process, the party waives all objections to the court's jurisdiction over the party's person. Provides instead that participating in the litigation does not waive objections to the court's jurisdiction. Deletes a provision stating that error in ruling against an objecting party is waived by that party taking part in further proceedings in the case unless the objection is on the basis of the party not being amenable to service by an Illinois court. Provides that the amendatory Act applies to actions filed on or after the effective date. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975. The following changes are effective until January 1, 2022: Provides that "Illinois conceived and foaled", as the term applies to a standardbred, includes a standardbred horse whose sire is a qualified Illinois stallion. Provides that semen from a stallion qualified for the Illinois Standardbred Breeders Fund may be transported outside the State. Removes the requirement that for a horse to qualify for an Illinois conceived and foaled race the mare must be in the State at least 30 days before foaling or remain in the State at least 30 days at the time of foaling. Removes the requirement that for a horse to qualify for an Illinois conceived and foaled race the mare must be inseminated within the State and the foal must be dropped in the State. Provides that the Director of Agriculture or his or her authorized agent shall not publish notice announcing disqualification of a stallion or his foals on the basis that the stallion owner, manager, or person associated has knowingly participated in the arrangements for transporting semen from a standardbred stallion registered under the Act out of State. Effective immediately.
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 Illinois Vehicle Code. Repeals a provision providing for the collection of an annual commercial distribution fee on vehicles of the second division weighing more than 8,000 pounds. Makes conforming changes. Effective July 1, 2018.
Amends the State Treasurer Act. Creates the Illinois Higher Education Savings Program. Provides for the implementation of and requirements for the Program. Provides for the State Treasurer's duties under the Program. Provides that the State Treasurer may adopt any rules that may be necessary to implement the Program. Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Illinois Higher Education Savings Program Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Defines terms.
Amends the Downstate Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Beginning July 1, 2017, increases the amount of employment as a teacher that a retired teacher may perform without impairing retirement status; allows 130 paid days or 700 paid hours in a school year. Effective immediately.
Amends Public Act 99-524 to make supplemental appropriations. Reduces certain appropriations from the Commitment to Human Services Fund for funeral and burial expenses from $8,775,000 to $575,000. Appropriates $8,200,000 from the Personal Property Tax Replacement Fund for those funeral and burial expenses. Appropriates $18, 635,000 from the Commitment to Human Services Fund to the Department of Human Services for costs associated with the Domestic Violence Shelters and Services Program. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.
