Sen. Kyle McCarter

Amends the Counties Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Creates the Hydraulic Fracturing Act. Contains only a short title provision.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Illinois Pension Code. With respect to the 5 State-funded retirement systems: Provides a new funding formula for State contributions, with a funding goal of 100% for fiscal years 2016 through 2047 and 90% thereafter. Provides that no additional service credit may be accrued and no automatic increase in a retirement annuity shall be received. Provides that the pensionable salary of an active participant may not exceed that individual's pensionable salary as of the effective date. Provides that State-funded retirement systems shall establish self-directed retirement plans for all active participants and all employees hired on or after the effective date. Provides that all active participants shall have the option of participating in a self-directed retirement plan. Provides that these changes are controlling over any other law. In the Sections that were amended by Public Act 98-599, deletes the changes made by Public Act 98-599.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends provisions of the Unemployment Insurance Act concerning ineligibility for benefits after a discharge for misconduct. Provides that "misconduct" means the violation (rather than the deliberate and willful violation) of a reasonable rule or policy of the employing unit governing the individual's behavior in performance of his or her work, provided the violation has harmed the employing unit or other employees or has been repeated by the individual despite a warning or other instruction (rather than explicit instruction) from the employing unit.

Amends the Township Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the use of terms.

Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that each applicant for a State Habitat Stamp shall pay a $5 fee and receive the stamp unless the applicant is an Illinois landowner who wishes to hunt on their own land or is a spouse, child, sibling, in-law, or niece or nephew of the Illinois landowner and who permanently resides in Illinois, then the landowner or the specified family member shall be exempt from the $5 fee.

Amends the Project Labor Agreements Act. Prohibits the State Board of Education and the Capital Development Board from requiring a project labor agreement for any school construction project or grant. Authorizes a board of education to exempt any school construction project from the requirements of the Act. Amends the Downstate Teachers Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Incrementally shifts the System's normal costs to local school districts, but only if certain State mandates are funded by the State. Includes provisions concerning billing, review, and payment. Amends the School Code. Makes changes in provisions concerning mandates for public and private schools. Repeals the Driver's Education Act. Amends the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act. Prohibits school districts from entering into, amending, or renewing certain technology-related collective bargaining agreements. Amends the Prevailing Wage Act. Provides that a board of education may exempt school construction projects undertaken in the district from the Act. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.