Sen. Paul Schimpf

Amends the Missing Persons Identification Act. Provides that the definition of "high-risk missing person" includes a person who is a veteran or active duty member of the United States Armed Forces, the National Guard, or any reserve component of the United States Armed Forces who is believed to have a physical or mental health condition that is related to his or her service.

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Makes changes to provisions concerning the licensure powers of the State Board of Education, the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board (including adding 2 members), types of licenses (including removing and adding certain endorsements on an educator license with stipulations), endorsements on professional educator licenses, educator testing, the minimum requirements for educators trained in other states or countries, application fees, license renewal, the Alternative Educator Licensure Program for Teachers, alternative route to superintendent endorsement programs, and the approval of educator preparation institutions. Effective July 1, 2018.

Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that the exemption for coal and aggregate exploration, mining, off-highway hauling, processing, maintenance, and reclamation equipment sunsets on June 30, 2023 (currently, the exemption is subject to the Acts' automatic sunset provisions). Effective immediately.

Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that a consumer reporting agency may not impose a charge on a consumer for placing a freeze, removing a freeze, or temporarily lifting a freeze. Makes corresponding changes. Effective immediately.

Urges the Illinois Office of Tourism to do a feasibility study on linking together the Annbriar Golf Course in Waterloo, Gateway National in Madison, Governors Run in Carlyle, Kokopelli in Marion, Rend Lake Golf Resort in Whittington, Stone Creek Golf Club in Urbana, and Stonewolf Golf Club in Fairview Heights into the Abraham Lincoln Golf Trail.

Creates the Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) Task Force Act. Creates the FGD Task Force to study the cost benefits of and make recommendations for the construction of new stacks at coal-fired power plants with flue gas desulfurization scrubber technology and the conversion of existing stacks at coal-fired power plants to flue gas desulfurization scrubber technology for the purpose of safely burning more Illinois-mined coal. Provides for the membership of the Task Force and provides that members shall serve without compensation. Requires the Task Force to report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly by December 31, 2017. Requires the Department of Natural Resources and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to provide administrative and other support to the Task Force. Repeals the Act on January 1, 2019. Effective immediately.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that a person who voluntarily self-discloses non-compliance to the Agency, of which the Agency had been unaware, is entitled to a 100% reduction in the portion of the penalty that is not based on the economic benefit of non-compliance if the regulated entity is a small entity as defined by a specified provision of the federal Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996. Effective immediately.

Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Provides that an action for a violation of the Act shall be commenced by the State Commission within 2 years after the date of the violation. Provides that any notice issued by the State Commission to a licensee for a violation of the Act or any notice with respect to a settlement or offer in compromise shall include the field report, photographs, and any other supporting documentation necessary to reasonably inform the licensee of the nature and extent of the violation or the conduct alleged to have occurred. Effective immediately.

Amends the Flag Display Act. Provides that in lieu of notice being provided by the Department of Veterans' Affairs, any other State or federal entity, agency, or person holding such information may notify the Governor of the death by hostile fire of an Illinois resident member of the United States armed forces. Provides that if such notice is provided to the Governor by an entity, agency, or person other than the Department of Veterans' Affairs, then the obligation to notify the Governor of an Illinois resident soldier's death shall be considered fulfilled.

Amends the General Assembly Compensation Act. Establishes the fiscal year 2018 mileage reimbursement rate and allowance for lodging and meals. Amends the Compensation Review Act. Prohibits cost-of-living adjustments for or during the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2017 for State government legislative and executive elected officers and appointees in positions for which the Compensation Review Board previously recommended or determined compensation. Effective immediately.