Sen. Kyle McCarter

Mourns the death of United States Marine Corps Corporal Aaron J. Ripperda of Marine.

Amends the Election Code. Requires that a person seeking to vote on election day present a government-issued photo identification card to the election judge (now, required only when voting early). Effective immediately.

Amends the Unemployment Insurance Act. Provides that an individual shall be ineligible for benefits for any week in a benefit year which begins on or after January 1, 2013, unless, subsequent to the beginning of his immediately preceding benefit year with respect to which benefits were paid to him or her, he or she was reemployed and had earnings equal to or in excess of his or her current weekly benefit amount in each of four calendar weeks that are either for services in employment, or have been or will be reported pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Insurance Contributions Act by each employing unit for which such services are performed and that submits a statement certifying to that fact.

Amends the Election Code. Requires that a person seeking to vote on election day present a government-issued photo identification card to the election judge (now, required only when voting early). Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act. Provides that a child welfare agency that is religiously based or owned by, operated by, or affiliated with a bona fide religious organization may decline an adoption or foster family home application, including any related licensure and placement, from a party to a civil union if acceptance of that application would constitute a violation of the organization's sincerely held religious beliefs and, if an agency declines an application, it must provide the applicant with information on how to contact the Department of Children and Family Services to obtain information concerning other regional licensed child welfare agencies. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois State Auditing Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the definition of "Office of Auditor General".

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that as a condition of initial eligibility for any benefits under the Code, an applicant must pass a drug screening. Provides that as a condition of continued eligibility for benefits, a recipient must pass random drug screenings as prescribed by the Department of Human Services or the Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Administration Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Creates the Workforce Preparation Task Force to study and report on ways that promote the economic self-sufficiency of individuals who receive benefits under the State's General Assistance program, with the underlying intention to reduce the overall number of individuals receiving benefits under the program through increased levels of sustainable employment skills. Requires the Task Force to outline in its final report to the General Assembly and the Governor a 5-year plan that utilizes existing State resources and programs to reduce the overall number of general assistance recipients by one-third through enrollment in and successful completion of appropriate educational or job-training programs that can directly lead to sustainable employment opportunities in the job market. Provides that the Task Force shall meet on a periodic basis to examine and compile data regarding educational and job-training programs and resources as well as levels of benefits that recipients receive from the State's General Assistance program. Requires the Department of Human Services to maintain a database of information that tracks the overall trends of the 5-year plan and to provide quarterly updates to the public in both electronic and written formats. Contains provisions concerning Task Force membership and reporting requirements. Effective immediately.

Creates the Alternatives to Medical Malpractice Litigation Task Force. Provides that the task force shall study and report on alternative processes in which medical malpractice complaints may be pursued and presented in Illinois other than proceeding directly to litigation in the Illinois court system. Provides that an alternative process must adhere to the underlying principles of reducing health care costs by lessening the need for physicians to practice defensive medicine, increasing the number of physicians in Illinois by decreasing medical liability insurance rates, and providing patients with fair and timely compensation by avoiding the expense and delay of the court system. Provides that the task force shall develop an objective rating system by which alternative processes to medical malpractice litigation may be ranked by such factors as cost savings to physicians and patients, efficiency in procedures and timeliness, effectiveness in reducing unnecessary litigation, and ability to maintain or improve overall quality of medical care services in this State. Provides that the Department of Insurance shall provide staff and administrative support to the task force. Provides that the task force shall submit a final report of its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly and the Governor by January 1, 2013. Effective immediately.