Sen. Jason A. Barickman

Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. Provides that employers have the right to select medical providers. Authorizes employers to establish a network of providers and require employees to select providers from the network. Eliminates the employee's ability to secure his or her own provider at the employer's expense. Repeals provisions concerning the establishment and operation of preferred provider programs.

Amends the School Code with respect to a provision concerning third party non-instructional services. Provides that, notwithstanding any other law of this State, nothing in the Code prevents a board of education from entering into a contract with a third party for non-instructional services currently performed by any employee or bargaining unit member or from laying off those educational support personnel employees upon 30 days written notice to the affected employees (instead of allowing a board of education to enter into a contract with a third party for non-instructional services currently performed by any employee or bargaining unit member or lay off those educational support personnel employees upon 90 days written notice to the affected employees if certain conditions are met). 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. Provides requirements for documentation, certification, and reporting of awarded grants. Sets forth provisions concerning the travel costs incurred by the employees of the recipient or subrecipient of an awarded grant who are in travel status on official business of the recipient or subrecipient. Makes conforming changes in the Governor's Office of Management and Budget Act and the State Comptroller Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Regulatory Sunset Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Unemployment Insurance Act. Provides that upon payment of an annual administrative fee not exceeding $100, during the first 3 calendar quarters an employer may pay its quarterly contributions due for wages in equal installments. Establishes a schedule for payment of the contributions. Provides for the accrual of interest. Authorizes the issuance of necessary rules. Provides that payment on a quarterly basis is not available for calendar years when there are outstanding bonds under the Illinois Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund Financing Act.

Amends the Prevailing Wage Act. Provides that a prevailing wage determined at the time of bid submission shall continue for the duration of the contract.

Amends Public Act 99-409. Increases the amount appropriated to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for expenses and grants connected with energy programs from $3,000,000 to $15,000,000. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the State aid formula.

Amends the School Code with respect to the debt limitations of school districts. Allows Paxton-Buckley-Loda Community Unit School District 10 to issue bonds with an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $28,500,000 if, among other conditions, (i) the voters of the district approve a proposition for the bond issuance at an election held on or after November 8, 2016; (ii) prior to the issuance of the bonds, the school board determines that the projects as described in said proposition, relating to the building and equipping of one or more school buildings or additions to school buildings, are required as a result of the age and condition of the District's existing buildings; and (iii) the bonds are issued, in one or more issuances, not later than 5 years after the date of the referendum approving the issuance of the bonds. Provides that the debt incurred on the bonds and any refunding bonds shall not be considered indebtedness for purposes of any statutory debt limitation and such bonds must mature within not to exceed 25 years from their date. Effective immediately.

Amends the Prevailing Wage Act. Deletes provisions regarding investigatory hearings by the Department of Labor regarding new wage classifications. Requires the creation of any new prevailing wage classification to be promulgated by administrative rule by the Department of Labor in accordance with the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act.