Sen. John O. Jones

Creates the Family and Personal Protection Act. Permits the county sheriff to issue permits to carry concealed firearms to persons at least 21 years of age who meet certain requirements. Requires an applicant for a permit to have completed specified training requirements developed by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board consisting of classroom instruction and live firing exercises. Preempts home rule. Amends the Illinois Police Training Act and the Criminal Code of 1961 to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that the owner or owners of record of land may disconnect from a municipality, if (i) the land is located within a county with a population of less than 10,000, (ii) the land contains 10 or more contiguous acres not entirely encompassed by the municipality, and (iii) the land was annexed by the municipality not more than 5 years prior to the effective date of the amendatory Act. Sets forth the procedure for disconnection. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. Invalidates gubernatorial appointments made within 30 days before impeachment of a Governor. Prohibits a Governor from making appointments from impeachment until the earliest of (i) the Senate's dismissal of all articles of impeachment, (ii) conviction by the Senate, (iii) acquittal by the Senate, or (iv) 60 days after impeachment.

Amends the Legislative Commission Reorganization Act of 1984. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates a deduction in an amount equal to the amount paid by an individual taxpayer during the taxable year for unreimbursed expenses related to tuition, fees, and on-campus room and board at any college, university, or community college. Provides that the taxpayer is entitled to the deduction if the taxpayer is (i) a student at the college, university, or community college during the taxable year, or (ii) the parent or legal guardian of a student at the college, university, or community college. Exempts the deduction from the sunset provisions. Effective immediately.

Amends the Agricultural Statistics Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning statistical information.

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the School Code's construction.

Amends the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act, the Election Code, the University of Illinois Act, and the University of Illinois Trustees Act. Provides for a Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois consisting of 7 elected members (now, the Board consists of 9 members appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate), the Governor, and 3 student trustees. Provides that 3 members shall be elected from the First Judicial District and one member shall be elected from each of the 4 other judicial districts. Terminates the term of each appointed member of the Board when all of the new elected members take office. Provides for staggered terms for members initially elected under the amendatory Act and 6-year terms thereafter. Provides that the student trustees shall select one of their number to possess the right to cast a legally binding vote (now, the Governor designates which one of the student trustees possess the right to vote). Provides that if a student trustee has served more than one term and during one of those terms, he or she was selected to possess a legally binding vote, then he or she is ineligible to be selected again to possess a legally binding vote. Provides that if the student trustees fail to come to an agreement on which student trustee shall possess a legally binding vote, none of the student trustees may possess a legally binding vote for the remainder of their term. Makes related changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Creates the Farmer Protection Act. Provides that the release by a manufacturer of a genetically engineered plant shall constitute a private nuisance for which the manufacturer shall be liable only if the release (i) causes the presence of the plant within the property owned or occupied by a person for whom the plant presence was not intended and (ii) results in damage in any calendar year that exceeds $3,500. Provides that defenses at law or equity available in a private nuisance action apply to actions brought under this Act. Provides that a person owning or occupying the property upon which a nuisance release occurs does not have a duty to establish buffer zones, segregation protocols, or otherwise initiate measures to protect specifically against the potential release of genetically engineered plants. Provides that a person who is not in breach of a seed contract regarding the purchase or use of a genetically engineered plant and that unknowingly comes into possession of a genetically engineered plant shall not be liable for certain damages. Authorizes, under certain conditions, a seed supplier or, in some cases, the Director of Agriculture or his or her designee to enter upon real property farmed by another person for the purpose of obtaining crop samples. Authorizes the seed supplier to petition the circuit court for the county in which the real property is located for an order granting permission to enter upon the farmer's real property. Sets forth protocols for inspections. Provides that a farmer has a right of action against a seed supplier for violations of the Act and may recover certain damages. Effective immediately.