Sen. Jason A. Barickman

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that each tax purchaser shall pay to the county collector an automation fee set by the county collector of not more than $10 for each item purchased (currently, each county collector may assess such a fee). Provides that the indemnity fee in counties with less than 3,000,000 inhabitants shall be not more than $20 (currently, the fee is $20). Makes changes concerning the fee imposed by the county board on each person purchasing property at a sale under the Code for payment of interest and costs.

Creates the Pollinator Friendly Solar Site Act. Provides that an owner of a ground-mounted solar site may follow practices that: (1) provide native perennial vegetation and foraging habitat which is beneficial to game birds, songbirds, and pollinators; and (2) reduce storm water runoff and erosion at the solar site. Provides that an owner or manager of a solar site with a generating capacity of more than 40 kilowatts implementing site management practices under the Act may claim that the site is "pollinator-friendly" or provides benefits to game birds, songbirds, and pollinators only if the site adheres to guidance set forth by the pollinator friendly scorecard published by the Department of Natural Resources in consultation with stakeholders. Provides that an owner making a beneficial habitat claim shall make the solar site's pollinator score card, and where available, related vegetation management plans, available to the public and provide a copy to the Department of Natural Resources and a nonprofit solar industry trade association of the State. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Provides that during the period beginning September 1 of the year of a general election and ending the day after the general election, the proper name or image of any executive branch constitutional officer or member of the General Assembly shall not be included in a public announcement on behalf of an executive branch constitutional officer, member of the General Assembly, or State agency related to any contract or grant awarded by a State agency. Amends the State Finance Act. Provides that appropriated funds may only be expended during the fiscal year for which they were appropriated. Provides that if any State agency receives a grant or contract from itself from appropriated funds, the recipient agency shall be restricted in the expenditure of these funds to the period during which the grantor agency was so restricted. Amends the Illinois Grant Funds Recovery Act. Provides that the Governor's Office of Management and Budget shall convene a subcommittee of the Illinois Single Audit Commission to provide recommendations to the General Assembly regarding the adoption of legislation. Amends the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act. Sets forth provisions concerning the stop payment system. Modifies a Section concerning the adoption of supplemental rules by the Governor's Office of Management and Budget. Modifies a Section concerning the annual report submitted by the Governor's Office of Management and Budget. Provides requirements for awarded grants. Sets forth provisions concerning the travel costs incurred by the employees of the recipient or subrecipient of an awarded grant. Requires nonprofit organizations to maintain State grant funds in an account which is separate from non-grant funds. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Defines "patient" for purposes of the Act. Provides that renewal applications shall be approved or denied within 60 business days, provided the applicant submitted his or her renewal application prior to the expiration of his or her Firearm Owner's Identification Card. Provides that if a renewal application has been submitted prior to the expiration date of the applicant's Firearm Owner's Identification Card, the Firearm Owner's Identification Card shall remain valid while the Department processes the application, unless the person is subject to or becomes subject to revocation under the Act. Provides that the cost for a renewal application shall be $10 which shall be deposited into the State Police Firearm Services Fund. Provides that the Department of State Police may, by rule in a manner consistent with the Department's rules concerning revocation, provide for the suspension of the Firearm Owner's Identification Card of a person whose Firearm Owner's Identification Card is subject to revocation and seizure under the Act for the duration of the disqualification if the disqualification is not a permanent grounds for revocation of a Firearm Owner's Identification Card under the Act. Provides that the cost for replacement of a lost, destroyed, or stolen card shall be $5 if the loss, destruction, or theft of the card is reported to the Department of State Police. Provides the fee shall be deposited into the State Police Firearm Services Fund. Makes other changes.

Amends the Illinois Physical Therapy Act. Provides that the limitation on determining a differential diagnosis shall not in any manner limit a physical therapist from establishing a relevant diagnosis. In the definition of "documented current and relevant diagnosis" and in provisions concerning disciplinary actions, removes language requiring a diagnosis to be substantiated by a physician, dentist, advanced practice registered nurse, physician assistant, or podiatric physician. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. In provisions concerning sales in error, provides that, in cases where improvements upon the property sold have been substantially destroyed or rendered uninhabitable or otherwise unfit for occupancy, the court may order the holder of the certificate of purchase to assign the certificate to the county collector, upon request of the county collector. Provides that the county collector may further assign the certificate to the county, acting as trustee for taxing districts, or to a taxing district having an interest in the taxes sold. Provides that, if the certificate of purchase is assigned to the county delinquent tax agent because the improvements have been substantially destroyed or rendered uninhabitable or otherwise unfit for occupancy, then the county delinquent tax agent shall extend the redemption period by 36 months.

Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Authorizes a brewer, class 1 brewer, or class 2 brewer to sell beer manufactured by any other brewer, class 1 brewer, or class 2 brewer to non-licensees and to sell cider. Authorizes a distributor licensee to sell beer, cider, or both beer and cider to brewers, class 1 brewers, and class 2 brewers that, pursuant to a specified provision of the Act, sell beer, cider, or both beer and cider to non-licensees at their breweries. Provides that (i) a person licensed to make wine under the laws of another state who has a winery shipper's license and annually produces less than 25,000 gallons of wine or (ii) a person who has a first-class or second-class wine manufacturer's license, a first-class or second-class wine-maker's license, or a limited wine manufacturer's license and annually produces less than 25,000 gallons of wine may make application to the Commission for a self-distribution exemption to allow the sale of wine to brewers, class 1 brewers, and class 2 brewers that, pursuant to a specified provision of the Act, sell beer, cider, or both beer and cider to non-licensees at their breweries. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Diversifying Higher Education Faculty in Illinois Act. Provides that the Program Board created to administer the grant program authorized by the Act shall be comprised of 11 (rather than 21) members. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Banking Act. Changes the number of additional members of the State Banking Board of Illinois from 11 to 12. Provides that one member of the Board shall be from a savings bank, and there shall also be an alternate member from a savings bank to attend meetings if and only if the sitting member from a savings bank is unable to attend the meeting. Changes the requirements for the 2 public members. Amends the Savings Bank Act. Repeals provisions relating to the Board of Savings Banks. Amends the Residential Mortgage License Act of 1987. Removes provisions relating to the Residential Mortgage Board. Effective immediately.

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Makes changes to provisions concerning the licensure powers of the State Board of Education, the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board (including adding 2 members), types of licenses (including removing and adding certain endorsements on an educator license with stipulations), endorsements on professional educator licenses, educator testing, the minimum requirements for educators trained in other states or countries, application fees, license renewal, the Alternative Educator Licensure Program for Teachers, alternative route to superintendent endorsement programs, and the approval of educator preparation institutions. Effective July 1, 2018.