Sen. Ram Villivalam

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the examination of an applicant 79 years (instead of 75 years) or older for a driver's license or a permit or the renewal of a driver's license shall include an actual demonstration of the applicant's ability to exercise ordinary and reasonable control of the operation of a motor vehicle. Makes other changes concerning references to licensed medical professionals.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that all the corporations, wherever incorporated or domiciled, that are members of a unitary business shall file a combined return as a combined group. Makes changes to the definition of "unitary business". Contains provisions concerning a water's edge election. Provides that, with respect to unitary business groups, "United States" means the 50 states of the United States, the District of Columbia, and United States' territories and possessions.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit for taxpayers who employ individuals working within the engineering sector who graduated from an accredited institution of higher learning with a Bachelor's degree or higher. Provides that the credit shall be equal to 10% of the compensation paid for the first through fifth years of employment in the engineering sector if the qualified employee graduated from an institution located in Illinois or 5% of the compensation paid for the first through fifth years of employment in the engineering sector if the qualified employee graduated from an institution not located in Illinois. Effective immediately.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that an election authority shall provide a trackable return envelope to return a vote by mail ballot, including absentee ballots for voters in military or naval service. Requires each election authority to provide online access to the vote by mail ballot list and corresponding dates to when the ballot was requested, received, and returned to the election authority and to update the online vote by mail status list daily. Effective immediately.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Makes it unlawful for any person to knowingly possess an assault weapon 300 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act, except possession of weapons registered with the Illinois State Police in the time provided. Provides exemptions and penalties. Effective immediately.

Amends the Chicago School District Article of the School Code. Provides that a local school council shall be established for each public small school, contract school, and military school within the school district. Provides that in each attendance center enrolling students in 7th or 8th grade, one full-time student member shall be appointed, although no attendance center shall have more than one student member. Requires a supermajority of 8 votes by the local school council to veto any action proposed or approved regarding certain schools placed on probation and intervention actions by the Chicago Schools Academic Accountability Council. Makes other changes. Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Deletes reference to: 105 ILCS 5/34-8.4 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Chicago School District Article of the School Code. Provides that a local school council shall be established for each public small school within the school district. Provides that in each attendance center enrolling students in 7th or 8th grade, one full-time student member shall be appointed, although no attendance center shall have more than one student member. With respect to the appointment of teacher members to local schools councils by the Chicago Board of Education, requires the Board to make public the vetting process of teacher candidates. Allows any member of the school community to make an inquiry to the Board to determine if the Board may challenge a teacher's candidacy. Provides for binding elections (rather than non-binding, advisory polls) for the appointment of student members to local school councils. Allows the Board to establish criteria for students to be considered eligible to serve as a student member. Makes changes concerning limitations upon applicability and remediation and probation of attendance centers. Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Requires the Chicago Board of Education to make public the vetting process of staff member candidates (rather than teacher candidates). Allows any member of the school community to inquire if the Board may challenge a staff member's (rather than a teacher's) candidacy; requires an inquiry to be made in writing in accordance with Board rules. Specifies that a local school council retains the right to reject or modify any school improvement plan or implementation thereof, as long as the rejection or modification of the school improvement plan or implementation thereof is consistent with State and federal requirements.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that an individual taxpayer age 65 or older is entitled to the earned income tax credit without regard to the requirement under the federal Internal Revenue Code that an individual taxpayer without a qualifying child has not attained age 65. Provides that an individual taxpayer age 18 to 24 is entitled to the earned income tax credit without regard to the requirement under the federal Internal Revenue Code that an individual taxpayer without a qualifying child has attained the age of 25. Provides that certain taxpayers using individual tax identification numbers are entitled to the earned income tax credit. Creates the eligible dependent tax credit. Provides that the total amount of credits between the eligible dependent tax credit and the earned income tax credit may not be less than $600. Amends the Earned Income Tax Credit Information Act to delete certain provisions concerning dependent children. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Requires each school board to provide for a program by which halal food options are offered in public school cafeterias by request. Provides further requirements concerning the provision of halal food in public schools. Defines "halal". Amends the Halal Food Act. Provides that any State-owned or State-operated facility that provides food services or cafeteria services for which food products are provided or offered for sale shall, upon request provided with reasonable notice, also offer halal food options at such facility. Provides that any halal food product offered shall be certified as halal by a State-approved organization or purchased from a State-approved halal-certified vendor. Provides that any person, organization, or vender falsely representing a food product it provides as halal or falsely representing itself as a halal-certified vendor shall be subject to penalty under the Act. Provides for the adoption of rules.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Contains provisions concerning a deduction for income included in the taxpayer's federal adjusted gross income and deemed received under Section 951A (GILTI) or Section 952 (Subpart F) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that a warning must be displayed when an interactive digital entertainment product utilizes a loot box in its operations. Sets forth the contents of the warning. Provides that a failure to display the required warning is an unlawful practice. Defines terms.