Sen. Tom Bennett

Recognizes the City of Watseka on the 150th anniversary of its founding.

Designates May of 2017 as "Fibromuscular Dysplasia Awareness Month" in the State of Illinois.

Declares our intent to eradicate financial abuse of the elderly in Illinois. Designates June 15, 2017 as Illinois Elder Abuse Awareness Day in the State of Illinois.

Declares the intent to eradicate financial abuse of the elderly in Illinois. Urges the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois Department of Aging to work together to produce educational materials for elderly citizens of Illinois explaining their rights, the warning signs of financial exploitation, and appropriate reporting methods. Urges the 13 Illinois Area Agencies on Aging Ombudsperson programs to partner with long-term care facilities in their respective regions to provide appropriate educational information and reporting methods to clients and patients on an annual basis. Urges the Illinois State Bar Association Elder Law Section to work to develop appropriate legal materials for long-term care facilities and State's Attorneys that offer information on identifying and prosecuting financial abuse of elderly citizens. Urges the Illinois State Medical Society and the Illinois Nurses Association to provide their respective members with appropriate educational materials to assist with identifying and reporting suspected financial abuse of Illinois' older citizens.

Designates the month of May in 2015 and 2016 as Motorcycle Awareness Month in the State of Illinois.

Amends the Administration Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the Department of Human Services shall require a drug test to screen each individual who applies for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and that subject to federal approval, the Department shall require a drug test to screen each individual who applies for benefits under the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Contains provisions concerning notice; persons required to comply with the drug testing requirements; persons exempt from the drug testing requirements; reimbursements for the cost of the drug testing; and other matters. Effective July 1, 2016.

Amends the Illinois Estate and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Act. Increases the exclusion amount from $4,000,000 to $6,500,000 for persons dying on or after January 1, 2016. Effective immediately.

Amends the Firearm Concealed Carry Act. Eliminates provision that a licensee under the Act shall not knowingly carry a firearm into any public gathering or special event conducted on property open to the public that requires the issuance of a permit from the unit of local government. Effective immediately.

Amends the Driver Education Act in the School Code. Requires behind-the-wheel instruction to incorporate motorcycle safety and awareness to ensure that students understand their surroundings when operating a motor vehicle. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that on and after January 1, 2018, electronic benefits transfer ("LINK") cards used to obtain Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits or cash shall contain the name and photo of the primary cardholder and, at the option of the primary cardholder, the names of secondary holders who are authorized to use the card. Establishes that an individual may only use the LINK card if the photo on the card matches the user or he or she presents a current and valid photo identification that confirms that he or she is a secondary user listed on the card. Provides that on the effective date of the amendatory Act the Department of Human Services shall begin the process of transitioning to the use of LINK cards which contain the name and photo of the primary cardholder and list the names of all authorized users of the card. Requires the transition to be completed no later than January 1, 2018. Effective immediately.