Sen. Kyle McCarter

Creates the Religious Freedom Defense Act. Prohibits the State and local governments from taking discriminatory action against a person if the person believes or acts under a religious belief or moral conviction that marriage is only between one man and one woman, or that sexual relations are properly reserved to such a marriage. Allows a person to assert a claim or defense under the Act in a judicial or administrative proceeding for damages, injunctive relief, declaratory relief, or other appropriate relief against the State or local government. Also allows the Attorney General to seek enforcement of the Act. Defines "discriminatory action", "person", "State benefit program", and "State".

Amends the Veterans Burial Places Act. Provides that when a headstone or memorial marker is provided for a United States War Veteran pursuant to specified federal law by the federal government, the Department of Veterans' Affairs shall pay an amount not to exceed $300 (currently, $100) to the next of kin or cemetery official responsible for the cost of transporting and erecting the headstone or memorial. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. Adds 3,4-Dichloro-N-[2-(dimethylamino)cyclohexyl]-N-methylbenzamide (some trade or other name: U-47700) as a Schedule I controlled substance. Effective immediately.

Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. Provides that an employee who is required to travel in connection with his or her employment and who suffers an injury while in travel status is eligible for benefits only if the injury arises out of and in the course of employment while he or she is actively engaged in the duties of employment. Adds definitions of "accident" and "injury". Provides that an injury is a condition that arises out of and in the course of employment, and adds provisions concerning establishment of an injury. Establishes the manner of computing compensation for partial disability, with a maximum cumulative compensation of 500 weeks. Provides that injuries to the shoulder and hip are deemed to be injuries to the arm and leg respectively. Provides for the computation of compensation when there are multiple employers and when there is less than full-time work. Provides that no employer shall be required to pay temporary partial disability benefits to an employee who has been discharged for cause. Provides that, following a hearing, the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission may reinstate the temporary partial benefits and retroactively restore any benefits the employer should have paid if it finds the employer's discharge of the employee was not for cause. Effective immediately.

Amends the General Assembly Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Restricts participation in the General Assembly Retirement System to persons who became participants before the effective date of the amendatory Act. Beginning in fiscal year 2018, makes funding changes. Requires the Board to recalculate and recertify the amount of the State's required contribution for fiscal year 2018. Establishes a voluntary defined contribution plan for certain Tier 1 members and makes conforming changes in the Retirement Systems Reciprocal Act (Article 20 of the Code). Repeals provisions concerning a defined contribution plan added by Public Act 98-599, which has been held unconstitutional. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that as a condition of initial eligibility for medical assistance benefits provided under the State's Medical Assistance program or, subject to federal approval, benefits provided under the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), an applicant must pass a drug screening. Provides that as a condition of continued eligibility for such benefits, a recipient must pass random drug screenings as prescribed by the Department of Human Services. Requires the Department to adopt rules requiring applicants for TANF benefits or SNAP benefits to actively seek work in order to qualify for such benefits. Provides that the rules adopted by the Department shall be in compliance with those rules under the Unemployment Insurance Act and adopted by the Department of Employment Security requiring unemployed individuals to actively seek employment in order to qualify for unemployment insurance benefits. Requires the Department to adopt rules that allow recipients of TANF benefits or SNAP benefits to experience a gradual reduction in benefits as earnings increase. Increases the penalties for using another person's cash assistance benefits or SNAP benefits. Contains provisions requiring photo identification when using a LINK card to obtain SNAP benefits or cash. Provides that no recipient of TANF benefits shall use his or her benefits to purchase lottery tickets or to patronize any casino or licensed establishment that operates video gaming terminals for the purpose of engaging in gambling or video gaming activities.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Defines "secondary vehicle" as a motor vehicle of the first division or motor vehicle of the second division weighing 8,000 pounds or less that is used less than 5,000 miles per registration year. Provides that an owner of a secondary vehicle may register the vehicle as a secondary vehicle and shall complete at the time of registration and at any subsequent annual registrations an odometer certification verifying the vehicle's mileage use. Provides that a vehicle registered as a secondary vehicle is not required to display a front license plate on the secondary vehicle. Effective immediately.

Repeals the Illinois TRUST Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that as a condition of initial eligibility for medical assistance benefits provided under the State's Medical Assistance program or, subject to federal approval, benefits provided under the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), an applicant must pass a drug screening. Provides that as a condition of continued eligibility for such benefits, a recipient must pass random drug screenings as prescribed by the Department of Human Services. Requires the Department to (i) provide notice of drug testing to each applicant at the time of application; (ii) advise each applicant, before the test is conducted, that the applicant may, but shall not be required to, advise the agent administering the test of any prescription or over-the-counter medication the applicant is taking; (iii) ensure each applicant being tested a reasonable degree of dignity while producing and submitting a sample for drug testing, consistent with the need of the State to ensure the reliability of the sample; (iii) provide any applicant who tests positive with a list of licensed substance abuse treatment providers; and other matters. Provides that an applicant who tests positive and is denied medical assistance benefits or SNAP benefits as a result may reapply for those benefits after 6 months if the applicant verifies the successful completion of a substance abuse treatment program. Exempts persons with children in the assistance unit, persons with disabilities, persons who are 65 year of age or older, or persons who reside at a facility licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act or the ID/DD Community Care Act from the drug testing requirements.

Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. Provides that no medical provider shall be reimbursed for a supply of prescriptions filled outside of a licensed pharmacy except when there exists no licensed pharmacy within 5 miles of the prescribing physician's practice. Provides that, if there exists no licensed pharmacy within 5 miles of the prescribing physician's practice, no medical provider shall be reimbursed for a prescription, the supply of which lasts for longer than 72 hours from the date of injury or 24 hours from the date of first referral to the medical service provider, whichever is greater, filled and dispensed outside of a licensed pharmacy. Provides that the limitations on filling and dispensing prescriptions do not apply if there exists a pre-arranged agreement between the medical provider and a preferred provider program regarding the filling of prescriptions outside a licensed pharmacy.