Sen. Chapin Rose

Mourns the death of Terry R. Lieb of Monticello.

Mourns the death of former St. Joseph-Stanton Fire Chief Russell Chism.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that a public utility may apply for expedited review of a certificate of public convenience and necessity for the construction of any new high voltage electric service line that does not exceed 5 miles in length nor advance contiguously to a project filed with the Commission during 2012 (rather than any new high voltage electric service line) and related facilities. Provides that no transmission line may be constructed within 1.5 miles of specified areas. Provides that the amendatory changes shall apply on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act and to all applications filed before the effective date of the amendatory Act for which the Commission has not issued a decision before the effective date of the amendatory Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Illinois Enterprise Zone Act. Provides that, in calendar year 2013, the Department may certify an additional 10 Enterprise Zones in counties with a population of less than 50,000.

Urges the Governor to implement a regional HMO under the new Medicare Advantage Plan.

Amends the monetary award program provisions of the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that if a recipient of a grant is not permitted to continue attending a higher education institution because he or she is not earning the minimum grades needed to continue to attend the institution, then that person may not attend another institution the following academic year if he or she wants to receive a renewal of the grant. Provides that after one academic year of non-attendance has passed, the person is entitled to renewal of the grant upon enrolling at another institution; makes related changes. Requires the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to request that the Illinois Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators make recommendations on possible changes to how the Commission determines the number of grants to be offered and to whom they are offered. Requires an institution to have a comprehensive advising program for students who are recipients of grants, and requires grant recipients to participate in an institution's advising program as a condition of receiving a grant; makes related changes. Requires institutions to provide specified information concerning grant recipients to the Commission, if requested, to demonstrate the value of the program and determine where improvements could be made; makes related changes.

Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Strikes a clause preventing provisions of ordinances from being invalid when they impose greater restrictions or limitations on the acquisition, possession and transfer of firearms than are imposed by this Act. Provides that regulation of the ownership and possession of firearms and related items are the exclusive powers of the State. Provides that a local government may not require registration, reporting of the sale or transfer of a firearm, or may not keep a firearms registry. Provides that any existing or future local ordinances or resolutions imposing any registration requirement on firearms and related items are invalid or void. Effective immediately.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Specifies that any site or facility for the treatment, storage, or disposal of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) or PCB Items regulated under Subpart D of 40 C.F.R. 761 that is located less than 500 feet above an aquifer that currently provides the only source of potable water for a community water supply is a pollution control facility. Provides that, in the case of a site or facility for the treatment, storage, or disposal of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) or PCB Items regulated under Subpart D of 40 C.F.R. 761 that is located less than 500 feet above an aquifer that currently provides the only source of potable water for a community water supply, local siting approval must be obtained by the county board of each county located, in whole or part, within the aquifer's boundaries and the governing body of each municipality located, in whole or part, within the aquifer's boundaries. Provides that no site or facility for the treatment, storage, or disposal of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) or PCB Items regulated under Subpart D of 40 C.F.R. 761 that is located less than 500 feet above an aquifer that currently provides the only source of potable water for a community water supply shall commence or continue treating, storing, disposing of, or accepting for treatment, storage, or disposal any polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) or PCB Items, unless the owner or operator of that site or facility submits proof to the Agency that the operation of the facility on and after the effective date of the amendatory Act has been approved by ordinances duly adopted by the county board of each county located, in or whole in part, within the aquifer's boundaries and the governing body of each municipality located, in or whole or part, within the aquifer's boundaries. Effective immediately.

Amends the Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensure and Certification Act. Provides that the Department of Human Services shall establish a pilot project under which a community mental health or developmental services agency may pre-certify a community-integrated living arrangement to the Department before that living arrangement is constructed. Provides that the pre-certification must be based on a written agreement between parents or legal guardians which provides that the persons for whom those parents or guardians are responsible will reside in the living arrangement. Provides that the purpose of the pre-certification pilot project is to encourage a developer to construct a new community-integrated living arrangement for 8 residents.