Sen. Daniel Biss

Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning State universities.

Amends the Illinois Oil and Gas Act. Provides that the Director of Natural Resources shall adopt rules that require, prior to such hydraulic fracturing, the owner or operator to perform a suitable mechanical integrity test of the casing or of the casing-tubing annulus or other mechanical integrity test methods using procedures that are established by administrative rule. Provides that each owner or operator that begins extracting natural gas from shale shall report to the Department specified information within 30 days after the completion of all stages of the hydraulic fracturing stimulation. Requires that the owner or operator shall post the chemical disclosure information on certain specified websites. Provides that the owner or operator shall provide information to the Director as to the amounts, handling, and, if necessary, disposal at an identified appropriate disposal facility, or reuse of the well stimulation fluid load recovered during flow back, swabbing, or recovery from production facility vessels. Provides that the storage of the well stimulation fluid load shall be protective of an underground source of drinking water by the use of either tanks or lined pits. Provides that nothing in the provision shall be construed to require or allow disclosure of trade secrets or commercial information that is exempt from inspection or copying when provided to the Department together with a claim made pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act that such information is proprietary, privileged, or confidential and that disclosure may cause competitive harm to the person or business. Provides that the provision only applies to the extraction of natural gas from shale.

Urges the Illinois Senate and the Illinois House of Representatives to create a joint legislative cancer caucus, to be known as the Illinois Legislative Cancer Caucus, to provide a forum for discussing and evaluating public policies affecting cancer research, treatment, education, and prevention efforts.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Removes a requirement that taxpayers in a county with 3,000,000 inhabitants must reapply for the Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption on an annual basis.

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the members of the State Board of Education.

Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning downstate teachers.

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. In order to qualify for an Illinois Veteran grant, requires any assistance a person is eligible to receive under the federal Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 or the federal Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvements Act of 2010 to be exhausted. Effective July 1, 2013.

Amends the Cemetery Oversight Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Provides that any business entity whose contracts with State agencies annually total more than $50,000 is prohibited from making any contributions to any political committees established to promote the candidacy of any State Senator or Representative in the General Assembly or any declared candidate for State Senator or Representative in the General Assembly for a certain period of time. Provides that any business entity whose aggregate bids and proposals on State contracts total more than $50,000 is prohibited from making any contributions to any political committee established to promote the candidacy of any State Senator or Representative in the General Assembly or any declared candidate for State Senator or Representative in the General Assembly during the period between the invitation for bids or request for proposals is issued and the day after the date the contract is awarded. Effective January 1, 2013.

Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning State universities.