Sen. Michael W. Frerichs

Amends the School Code. Provides that after June 1, 2012 persons may not be nominated for General Assembly scholarships and that General Assembly scholarships may not be awarded after that date unless the nomination is made prior to that date. Prevents both second nominations for any lapsed General Assembly scholarship and nominating persons to the unused or unexpired parts of any vacated General Assembly scholarship after June 1, 2012. Effective immediately.

Creates the Wind Energy Facilities Construction, Deconstruction, and Siting Act. Provides that every commercial wind energy operator that is the owner of a commercial wind energy facility located on land owned by another person or entity shall enter into an agricultural impact mitigation agreement with the Illinois Department of Agriculture to preserve the integrity of any agricultural land that is impacted by commercial wind energy facility construction. Provides that the commercial wind energy operator is responsible for deconstruction of the commercial wind energy facility and for all costs associated with deconstruction of that facility and associated facilities. Provides that a county or municipality shall approve or disapprove the request for siting approval of a commercial wind energy facility within the specified areas of a county or municipality. Provides that the Department shall adopt rules that are necessary and appropriate for the implementation and administration of the Act. Provides that a county or municipality may require setback standards that are not to exceed certain specifications. Effective July 1, 2012.

Amends the School Code and the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that if a school board designates the area within 1,000 feet of a school to be a safe school zone, then the principal of that school and the local law enforcement agency may prohibit persons, other than residents, from entering the safe school zone without a legitimate purpose (as jointly defined by the school board and the local law enforcement agency). Creates the offense of criminal trespass to school land, a Class A misdemeanor.

Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Creates a winery special use license. Provides that a winery special use license shall allow an Illinois first-class or second-class wine-maker or a first class or second class wine-manufacturer to transfer some of its wine inventory from its licensed premises to the premises specified in the local liquor authority license for sale at retail only at premises specified in the local authority license and only for the dates and times specified. Provides that a winery special use license shall be granted for a period not to exceed 12 months and may be renewed annually, provided that the applicant submits proof satisfactory to the State Commission that the applicant will provide dram shop liability insurance to the maximum limits and will obtain local authority approval. Provides that a winery special use licensee shall only sell its own manufactured wine.

Amends the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the setting of child support.

Creates the Seniors Pharmaceutical Assistance Relief Program Act. Provides that it is the purpose of this Act to ensure that the State's senior population has access to affordable prescription drugs. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, beginning July 1, 2012, to establish and administer a Seniors Pharmaceutical Assistance Relief Program with the cooperation of local area agencies on aging. Contains provisions concerning eligibility standards; application standards; and rulemaking. Effective July 1, 2012.

Amends the Illinois Oil and Gas Act. Provides that the Director of Natural Resources shall adopt rules that require, prior to such hydraulic fracturing, the owner or operator to perform a suitable mechanical integrity test of the casing or of the casing-tubing annulus or other mechanical integrity test methods using procedures that are established by administrative rule. Provides that each owner or operator that begins extracting natural gas from shale shall report to the Department specified information within 30 days after the completion of all stages of the hydraulic fracturing stimulation. Requires that the owner or operator shall post the chemical disclosure information on certain specified websites. Provides that the owner or operator shall provide information to the Director as to the amounts, handling, and, if necessary, disposal at an identified appropriate disposal facility, or reuse of the well stimulation fluid load recovered during flow back, swabbing, or recovery from production facility vessels. Provides that the storage of the well stimulation fluid load shall be protective of an underground source of drinking water by the use of either tanks or lined pits. Provides that nothing in the provision shall be construed to require or allow disclosure of trade secrets or commercial information that is exempt from inspection or copying when provided to the Department together with a claim made pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act that such information is proprietary, privileged, or confidential and that disclosure may cause competitive harm to the person or business. Provides that the provision only applies to the extraction of natural gas from shale.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. In the provision concerning firemen's continuance privilege, changes the definition of "retirement or disability period" to include the period when the disabled or retired fireman, if not enrolled in the municipal group insurance plan at the time of disability or retirement, may elect to enroll in the municipal group insurance plan during open enrollment. Provides that the disabled or retired fireman, if not enrolled in the municipal group insurance plan at the time of disability or retirement, may elect to enroll during open enrollment but not after the fireman becomes eligible for federal Medicare coverage and not more than once. Provides that the fireman must be insurable and must pay the cost of the insurance premium in order to reenter the insurance plan. Effective immediately.

Makes appropriations from the General Revenue Fund for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the State Universities Civil Service System. Effective July 1, 2012.

Appropriates $25,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Capital Development Board for grants for architectural and engineering studies and construction of a cooperative high school in Vermilion County involving Jamaica High School, Oakwood High School, and Catlin High School. Effective July 1, 2012.