Sen. Daniel Biss

Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Provides that the Capital Development Board may (rather than shall) draw specifications to permit independent bidding by prime bidders for each of the 5 subdivisions of work. Provides that the Board may draw specifications for a single prime bidder. Provides that a successful single prime bidder shall identify the name of the subcontractor and proposal costs for each of the 5 subdivisions of work, and that no identified subcontractor may be terminated without the written consent of the Board. Deletes provisions relating to the pilot program for single prime bidders and to the Capitol Building HVAC upgrade project. Effective immediately.

Amends the Legislative Commission Reorganization Act of 1984. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that online voter registration shall be open for no more than 36 nor less than 7 days before such election. Effective immediately.

Amends the Use Tax Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that subject to federal approval if required, a household that includes an elderly, blind, or disabled person shall be considered categorically eligible for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits if the gross income of such household is at or below 200% of the nonfarm income poverty guidelines updated periodically in the Federal Register by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under the authority of 42 U.S.C. 9902(2); and a household that does not include an elderly, blind, or disabled person shall be considered categorically eligible for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits if the gross income of such household is at or below 165% of those nonfarm income poverty guidelines. Effective January 1, 2016.

Amends the Illinois Exotic Weed Act. Adds exotic bush honeysuckles (Lonicera maackii, Lonicera tatarica, Lonicera morrowii, and Lonicera fragrantissima), exotic olives (Elaeagnus umbellata, Elaeagnus pungens, Elaeagnus angustifolia), salt cedar (all members of the Tamarix genus), poison hemlock (Conium maculatum), giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum), Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus), and lesser celandine (Ficaria verna), teasel (all members of the Dipsacus genus), and Japanese, giant, and Bohemian knotweed (Fallopia japonica, syn. Polygonum cuspidatum; Fallopia sachalinensis; and Fallopia x bohemica, resp.) to designated exotic weeds.

Amends Public Acts 98-679, 98-680, and 98-681. Adds supplemental appropriations to various agencies for personal services and State contributions to Social Security. Effective immediately.

Urges the Teachers' Retirement System and the State Universities Retirement System to pursue an Internal Revenue Service ruling on the compliance of Tier 2 with safe harbor provisions under Section 3121(b)(7)(F) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

Designates the month of May in 2015 as "Mental Health Awareness Month" in the State of Illinois.

Mourns the death of civil rights activist Alice Tregay.