Sen. Dale A. Righter

Amends the School Code. Provides that, beginning with Fiscal Year 2015, appropriations for the purposes of the State aid formula provisions must be prioritized so that general State aid for school districts is fully funded at 100% of the statutory Foundation Level first, with any remaining funds being used for the other purposes of the State aid formula provisions. Effective July 1, 2014.

Designates April 2, 2014 as World Autism Awareness Day in the State of Illinois. Congratulates the members of The Autism Program of Illinois (TAP) and its many partners on the occasion of its 10th anniversary and pledges our continuing support to Illinois families impacted by autism.

Amends the Firearm Concealed Carry Act. Provides that a person licensed under the Act has standing to bring an action in circuit court against a unit of local government challenging the validity of an ordinance or regulation of that unit of local government that purports to regulate any activities under the Act that are declared exclusive powers and functions of the State under the Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning creation of the Board.

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Provides that the funding for the allocations to public institutions of higher education based upon performance metrics for Fiscal Year 2015 must be at least 0.5% above Fiscal year 2014's funding and, for each of Fiscal Years 2016 through 2019, must be at least 1% above the previous fiscal year's funding. Effective immediately.

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. In provision on obtaining a search warrant by oral testimony, deletes use of telephone, fax, or other appropriate means to communicate sworn testimony supporting a search warrant request on a terrorism or terrorism-related offense to a judge when the circumstances make it reasonable to dispense with a sworn affidavit. Replaces the deleted provision with a general provision applicable to any offense allowing a search warrant request to be made by electronic means that has a simultaneous video and audio transmission between the requestor and a judge. The judge may issue a search warrant based upon sworn testimony communicated in the transmission. Deletes provision that made search warrant upon oral testimony subsection inoperative on January 1, 2005 and the savings clause for admissibility of evidence obtained by a search warrant issued under the subsection prior to it becoming inoperative.

Amends the Firearm Concealed Carry Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Provides that it is a civil rights violation for an employer participating in the E-Verify Program, as authorized by 8 U.S.C. 1324a, (instead of "8 U.S.C. 1324a, Notes, Pilot Programs for Employment Eligibility Confirmation (enacted by PL 104-208, div. C title IV, subtitle A)") to take certain actions while knowingly failing to follow the procedures under the E-Verify Program. Amends the Right to Privacy in the Workplace Act. Adds the scienter of "knowingly" to elements of certain violations of the Act. Replaces references to the Basic Pilot Program with references to any federal Electronic Employment Verification System in order to conform to changes made by federal Public Law 111-83, Title V, Sec. 551. Provides that an employer's responsibility under the Section concerning the E-Verify Program is limited to the most current federal statute and federal regulations in effect at the time of the alleged violation.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the unlawful use of weapons.

Amends the Transportation Article of the School Code. Provides that any 2 or more school districts that share the same boundaries may combine transportation activities to achieve savings to these school districts as well as this State. Provides that for any school districts electing to combine such transportation, the State Board of Education shall reimburse the school districts in an amount in addition to any other transportation reimbursement or other moneys owed to the school districts. Sets forth provisions concerning calculating the reimbursement, dividing the reimbursement, entering into contracts, and applying for reimbursement. Effective July 1, 2013.