Sen. Jil Tracy

Amends the Rivers, Lakes, and Streams Act. Provides that the Department of Natural Resources shall (1) for levee improvements provide notice of submissions, a detailed timeline, specific requirements, and any internal review procedures to the submitter within 90 days; (2) for rural construction along navigable waterways permit a water surface profile increase of 0.5 feet; (3) for urban construction permit a water surface profile increase of 0.1 feet; and (4) require a mitigation analysis only if water surface profile increases exceed an induced head study. Effective immediately.

Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Deletes language providing that an action may be commenced in any county if all defendants are nonresidents of the State, and replaces it with language providing that if no defendants that are joined in good faith and with probable cause for the purpose of obtaining a judgment against them are residents of the State, an action may be commenced only in the county in which the transaction or some part thereof occurred out of which the cause of action arose. Makes various changes in provisions defining the residence of certain corporations, voluntary unincorporated associations, and partnerships. Deletes language providing that actions against an insurance company incorporated under the laws of this State or doing business in this State may be brought in any county in which the plaintiff or one of the plaintiffs resides. Provides that if no defendants are residents of this State, and the transaction, or some part thereof, out of which the cause of action arose did not occur in this State, the action must be dismissed for lack of proper venue. Makes changes in relation to motions claiming improper venue. Provides that the changes made by the amendatory Act apply to actions filed on or after its effective date. Effective immediately.

Amends the Soil and Water Conservation Districts Act. Makes a technical change to a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Downstate Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. In a Section relating to return to teaching in a subject shortage area without loss of retirement annuity, extends the eligible employment period through June 30, 2018. Effective immediately.

Creates the Military Emergency Direct Insurance Contingency Act and the Military Emergency Direct Insurance Contingency Program under the Act. Provides for the administration of the program by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Sets forth eligibility requirements for veterans. Requires the Department to purchase or provide health care benefits for eligible veterans that are identical to the benefits provided to adults under the State's Medicaid program, except for nursing facility services and non-emergency transportation. Includes provisions for co-payments and monthly premiums for health care services. Gives the Department a charge upon claims and causes of action and a right of subrogation, and gives the Department the right to recover the reasonable value of benefits provided. Requires an annual report to the General Assembly by January 1 of each year beginning in 2014. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code to add cross-references to the Military Emergency Direct Insurance Contingency Act. Repeals the Veterans' Health Insurance Program Act of 2008. Repeals the Military Emergency Direct Insurance Contingency Act on January 1, 2017. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Budget Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the goal of the General Assembly and the Governor is that the appropriation amount for the next State fiscal year to the State Board of Education for school districts be enacted and become law before March 1, so that school districts are able to make informed budget decisions and not forced to give layoff notices to teachers and noncertified personnel when the school districts prepare their annual budget for their next fiscal year. Effective immediately.

Directs the Illinois Auditor General to investigate individual expenditures of the Illinois State Capitol West Wing renovations and determine whether said spending was appropriate and prudent.

Amends provisions of the Unemployment Insurance Act imposing repayment and ineligibility as penalties for knowingly making a false statement or knowingly failing to disclose a material fact for the purpose of obtaining benefits. Provides that knowingly making a false statement by an individual includes but is not limited to a false statement that he or she has sought work. Provides that knowingly failing to disclose a material fact by an individual includes but is not limited to the fact that he or she voluntarily left work, refused an offer of work, or has been discharged from work and the reason for the discharge. Provides that an individual who thereby obtains any sum as benefits for which he or she is not eligible has committed unemployment insurance fraud. Requires a statement on the Department of Employment Security's website and on specified forms stating that it is a crime to knowingly provide false, incomplete, or misleading information to any party to an unemployment security benefits transaction for the purpose of committing fraud, and describing penalties. Provides that an employer or other person from whom law enforcement or the Department of Employment Security requests information regarding unemployment insurance fraud shall take all reasonable actions to promptly provide the information requested, subject to any legal privilege protecting the information, and shall disclose information when he or she has a reasonable belief that a violation will be, is being, or has been committed, subject to any legal privilege protecting the information.

Amends the Department of Natural Resources (Conservation) Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Natural Resources shall allow individuals camping in campsites owned or managed by the Department to use golf carts within areas designated as camping grounds. Authorizes the Department to charge an additional fee of $5 per day for the privilege of using a golf cart within camping grounds. Provides that only one golf cart shall be allowed for each individual tent or trailer campsite at any one time. Effective immediately.

Amends the Solicitation for Charity Act. Reduces specified penalty registrations to $25 from $200 and a late annual report filing fee to $50 from $100.