Sen. William R. Haine

Amends the Real Estate License Act of 2000. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the School Code and the Interscholastic Athletic Organization Act. Provides that provisions allowing part-time attendance in the regular education program of a school district by pupils enrolled in nonpublic schools shall include allowing resident pupils who are enrolled in nonpublic schools to participate in those school-sponsored or school-supported athletic or extracurricular activities that are not selective with respect to who may join or participate. Requires an association or other entity that has as one of its purposes promoting, sponsoring, regulating, or in any manner providing for interscholastic athletics or any form of athletic competition among elementary or secondary schools and students within this State to report, on or before July 1, 2016, to the General Assembly on the association's or entity's efforts to communicate its rules to public and nonpublic schools in this State. Effective immediately.

Amends the Security Deposit Return Act. Provides that certain lessors may not withhold any part of the security deposit without providing, among other things, the paid receipts for the depreciated value of damage if the damage is beyond repair and not replaced. Defines "the date that the lessee vacated the premises" as the date on which the lessee's right to possess and occupy the premises expires, either under provisions of the lease or under other applicable law. Provides that the Section concerning the requirements a lessor must meet in order to withhold part of the security deposit does not apply to a tenancy at sufferance or if a lease has been terminated for cause by the lessor.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that if a defendant is under 18 years of age at the time of the commission of a felony offense for which the defendant must be sentenced to a period of incarceration, the court shall determine if the defendant should be classified as having diminished culpability based upon the court's consideration of specified mitigating factors. Provides that the defendant shall submit to psychological or other medical evaluations upon request of the State, the results of which shall be admissible solely for the purpose of determining whether the defendant has diminished culpability. Provides that the defendant is permitted to submit his or her own psychological or medical evaluations. Provides that if the court finds that the defendant has diminished culpability, it may sentence the defendant to any authorized disposition for each base offense not otherwise enhanced by any other sentence, except for certain first degree murders. Provides that if the court does not find that the defendant has diminished culpability, it shall sentence the defendant as if the defendant had attained the age of 18 years at the time of the commission of the offense, up to a term of natural life imprisonment, if the court determines that natural life imprisonment is the appropriate sentence based upon the totality of the circumstances.

Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971. Provides that the failure of the State to make any payment to a provider for a period of 6 months may be considered by the provider to be a material breach of the contract by the State. Provides that a provider who has entered into a contract to provide services under the Act and who has not received any payment for services for a period of 6 months (1) may consider the contract null and void; (2) may opt out of the obligation to provide services under the terms and conditions of the contract; and (3) shall, upon providing notice to the State department, be deemed an out-of-network provider. Effective immediately.

Amends the Consumer Installment Loan Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning a license required to engage in the business of making loans of money in a principal amount not exceeding $40,000.

Creates the Non-Recourse Consumer Lawsuit Funding Act. Provides that all contracts for non-recourse consumer lawsuit funding shall be written, provide the total funding amount to the customer, itemize one-time fees, allow the customer to cancel contract within 10 business days following receipt of the funding amount without penalty or further obligation, and other specified criteria. Provides that any attorney's fee or medical lien takes priority over any lien of the non-recourse consumer lawsuit funding company. Contains a provision concerning standards and practices of non-recourse consumer lawsuit funding companies. Provides criteria for non-recourse consumer lawsuit funding companies to receive and retain licenses, the closing of its business or surrendering of the license, and prohibited acts. Contains provisions for enforcement, rulemaking, bonding, and judicial review. Provides that the total amount of financing provided by a non-recourse consumer lawsuit funding company per consumer per legal claim shall not exceed $40,000. Provides that under no circumstances shall the total amount of charges, interest, fees, or any other charges, when taken together, exceed 80% of the proceeds from the legal claim. Amends the Regulatory Sunset Act to provide for the repeal of the Non-Recourse Consumer Lawsuit Funding Act on May 31, 2016. Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act to provide that a person who knowingly violates the Non-Recourse Consumer Lawsuit Funding Act commits an unlawful practice. Amends the Consumer Installment Loan Act. Provides that no licensee shall engage in the business of providing non-recourse consumer lawsuit funding, except in compliance with that Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Collection Agency Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that orders for possession for housing authorities with no police force or for privately owned housing may be executed by peace officers and private detectives.

Urges the President of the United States and Congress to only use American made steel in any national infrastructure plan that may be signed into law.