Sen. Tom Bennett

Amends the Firearm Concealed Carry Act. Provides that notwithstanding whether the laws of the state or territory where the non-resident resides related to firearm ownership, possession, and carrying, are substantially similar to the requirements to obtain a license under the Act, the Department of State Police shall by rule allow for a non-resident license application if the applicant is an active duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States stationed in this State or the spouse of an active duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States stationed in this State. Provides that the applicant shall pay the resident license or renewal fees (rather than the non-resident fees). Effective immediately.

Amends the Domestic Captive Insurance Companies Article of the Illinois Insurance Code. Makes changes to provisions concerning definitions. Prohibits captive insurance companies from issuing certain types of insurance. Provides that the Department of Insurance may not issue a certificate of authority to a captive insurance company unless the company possesses and maintains unencumbered capital and surplus in an amounted determined by the Director of Insurance after considering specified factors. Provides that the amount of capital and surplus may not be less than specified for classes of captive insurance companies. Makes changes to the reports a captive insurance company must submit to the Director. Allows, upon written application to the Director, the annual report to be filed at a fiscal year's end, rather than on or prior to March 1. Allows a captive insurance company to make loans to its affiliates with the prior approval of the Director. Adds additional requirements for a captive insurance company to provide reinsurance. Provides that annually, 10% of the premium tax revenues collected under certain provisions of the Code to be transferred to the Department for the regulation of captive insurance companies. Reduces fees for the filing of certain documents from $7,000 to $2,000. Removes certain requirements to issue letters of credit. Allows the Director to approve captive reinsurance pools under certain circumstances. Makes provisions concerning standards for risk management of controlled unaffiliated businesses, captive managers, dividends, and confidentiality. Allows the Director to adopt rules to enforce the provisions. Repeals a provision concerning minimum surplus. Makes other changes.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that licensed medically complex for the developmentally disabled facilities (MC/DD) (rather than licensed long-term care facilities for persons under 22 years of age) that serve severely and chronically ill patients (rather than pediatric patients) shall have a specific reimbursement system designed to recognize the characteristics and needs of the patients they serve. Sets forth certain reimbursement rates for MC/DD facilities for date of services starting July 1, 2018. Requires MC/DD facilities to document within each resident's medical record the conditions or services using the minimum data set documentation standards and requirements to qualify for exceptional care reimbursement. Provides that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall be responsible for reimbursement calculations and direct payment for services. Imposes an assessment and licensing fee on MC/DD facilities. Creates the Medically Complex for the Developmentally Disabled Provider Fund for the purpose of receiving and disbursing assessment moneys, including making payments to intermediate care facilities for persons with a developmental disability that are also licensed as MC/DD facilities and making payments of any amounts which are reimbursable to the federal government. Makes other changes. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Medically Complex for the Developmentally Disabled Provider Fund. Effective immediately.

Repeals the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Amends various Acts to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. Creates the Workers' Compensation Transparency Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall collect and review information and data on the effects of the changes in workers' compensation law enacted by the General Assembly and that the purpose of the collection and review of information is to make as transparent as possible all information relating to the medical treatment, legal representation, and benefits paid to injured workers in this State. Repeals the language creating the Task Force on April 1, 2023. Repeals certain requirements relating to reports and promulgation of rules concerning workers' compensation insurance by the Department of Insurance on April 1, 2023. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Provides that a school district may offer a driver education course in a school by contracting with a commercial driver training school to provide both the classroom instruction part and the practice driving part or either one without having to request a modification or waiver of administrative rules of the State Board of Education. Provides that if a district chooses to contract with a commercial driver training school, then the district must provide evidence to the State Board of Education that the school holds a license issued by the Secretary of State. With respect to the requirement that a driver education course consist of at least 6 clock hours of practice driving in a car having dual operating controls in order for a school district to receive reimbursement from the State, provides that the State Board of Education may allow, in lieu of not more than 5 clock hours of practice driving in a dual control car, such practice driving instruction as it determines is the equivalent of such practice driving in a dual control car. Allows school districts to adopt a policy to permit proficiency examinations for the practice driving part of the driver education course at any time after the completion of 3 hours of practice driving under direct individual instruction. Effective immediately.

Proposes to amend the Legislature and Executive Articles of the Illinois Constitution. Provides that a person may not be elected to the office of State Senator or State Representative, or a combination of those offices, for terms totalling more than 16 years; service before the second Wednesday in January of 2021 shall not be considered in the calculation of a person's service. Provides that a person may not be elected to any single Executive Branch office for terms totalling more than 8 years; service before the second Monday in January of 2021 shall not be considered in the calculation of a person's service.

Amends the Illinois Estate and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Act. Provides that, for persons dying on or after January 1, 2019, the exclusion amount shall be the applicable exclusion amount calculated under Section 2010 of the Internal Revenue Code, including any deceased spousal unused exclusion amount (currently, the exclusion amount for Illinois estate tax purposes is $4,000,000). Effective immediately.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the organization of the Department of Corrections and the Department of Juvenile Justice.

Amends the Downstate Police and Downstate Firefighter Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that, subject to appropriation, beginning with fiscal year 2018, a municipality that has a fund created after July 1, 2012 may apply to the Department of Insurance for reimbursement for administrative costs associated with the creation and administration of the fund, including, but not limited to, legal fees, actuarial analyses, continuing education for board members, and other qualified costs, as determined by the Department of Insurance. Provides that reimbursement may only be made for administrative costs associated with the first 5 years after the fund is created. Provides that a municipality that established a fund pursuant to a referendum is not eligible for reimbursement. Authorizes rulemaking. Effective immediately.