Rep. Chad Hays

Amends the Firearm Concealed Carry Act. Provides that notwithstanding whether the laws of the state or territory where the non-resident resides related to firearm ownership, possession, and carrying, are substantially similar to the requirements to obtain a license under the Act, the Department of State Police shall by rule allow for a non-resident license application if the applicant is an active duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States stationed in this State or the spouse of an active duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States stationed in this State. Provides that the applicant shall pay the resident license or renewal fees (rather than the non-resident fees). Effective immediately.

Creates the Chicago Casino Development Authority Act. Provides for the creation of the Chicago Casino Development Authority, whose duties include promotion and maintenance of a casino. Amends the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975 and the Riverboat Gambling Act to authorize electronic gaming at race tracks (and makes conforming changes in various Acts). Further amends the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975. Makes various changes concerning Board members. Contains provisions concerning testing of horses at county fairs and standardbred horses. Provides that the Illinois Racing Board shall submit a report to the General Assembly on or before December 31, 2018 that examines the feasibility of conducting electronic gaming at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. Further amends the Riverboat Gambling Act. Changes the short title to the Illinois Gambling Act and changes corresponding references to the Act. Adds additional owners licenses, one of which authorizes the conduct of casino gambling in the City of Chicago. Makes changes in provisions concerning the admission tax and privilege tax. Amends the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975, the Riverboat Gambling Act, and the Video Gaming Act to prohibit political contributions from certain licensees. Makes other changes. Contains a severability provision. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. In a Section granting a natural disaster homestead exemption, removes language providing that the square footage of the rebuilt residential structure may not be more than 110% of the square footage of the original residential structure as it existed immediately prior to the natural disaster. Removes provisions providing that the taxpayer's initial application for a natural disaster homestead exemption must be made no later than the first taxable year after the residential structure is rebuilt. Provides that, if the square footage of the rebuilt structure exceeds 110% of the square footage of the original residential structure as it existed immediately prior to the natural disaster, then the amount of the natural disaster homestead exemption is the equalized assessed value per square foot of the rebuilt structure multiplied by 110% of the square footage of the original residential structure as it existed immediately prior to the natural disaster minus the base amount. Provides that the amendatory Act is retroactive to the 2012 taxable year. Sets forth provisions concerning the valuation of farm improvements that have been rebuilt following a natural disaster. Effective immediately.

Amends the Riverboat Gambling Act. Provides that, in determining whether to grant an owners license to an applicant, the Illinois Gaming Board shall consider the extent to which the ownership of the applicant includes veterans of service in the armed forces of the United States, and the good faith affirmative action plan of each applicant to recruit, train, and upgrade veterans of service in the armed forces of the United States in all employment classifications. Requires the Board, by rule, to establish goals for the award of contracts by each owners licensee to businesses owned by veterans of service in the armed forces of the United States, expressed as percentages of an owners licensee's total dollar amount of contracts awarded during each calendar year. Provides criteria for the Board to consider when setting the goals. Requires each owners licensee to file with the Board an annual report of its utilization of veteran-owned businesses during the preceding calendar year, which shall include a self-evaluation of the efforts of the owners licensee to meet the goals.

Amends the University Credit and Retail Sales Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning enforcing the Act.

Amends the Property Tax Code. In a Section granting a natural disaster homestead exemption, removes language providing that the square footage of the rebuilt residential structure may not be more than 110% of the square footage of the original residential structure as it existed immediately prior to the natural disaster. Removes provisions providing that the taxpayer's initial application for a natural disaster homestead exemption must be made no later than the first taxable year after the residential structure is rebuilt. Provides that, if the square footage of the rebuilt structure exceeds 110% of the square footage of the original residential structure as it existed immediately prior to the natural disaster, then the amount of the natural disaster homestead exemption is the equalized assessed value per square foot of the rebuilt structure multiplied by 110% of the square footage of the original residential structure as it existed immediately prior to the natural disaster minus the base amount. Provides that the amendatory Act is retroactive to the 2012 taxable year. Effective immediately.

Amends the Downstate Police and State Universities Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. In the Downstate Police Article, provides that a police officer who previously participated in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) for service as a member of the police department of a municipality and was transferred to that municipality's police pension fund upon its creation under the Downstate Police Article shall, for the purposes of determining the applicable tier of benefits under that Article, be deemed to have become a police officer and member of that municipality's police pension fund on the date that he or she first participated in IMRF as a member of the police department of that municipality, notwithstanding whether that start date was before January 1, 2011. In the State Universities Article, provides that a Tier 2 member who has at least 20 years of service in the System as a police officer or firefighter is entitled to a retirement annuity on or after the attainment of age 60, if a specified rule applies to that participant. Makes a conforming change. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Public Building Commission Act. Makes a technical change to a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Illinois Streetgang Terrorism Omnibus Prevention Act. Deletes the definition of "streetgang" or "gang" or "organized gang". Provides instead that "streetgang" or "gang" or "organized gang" or "criminal street gang" means an ongoing group, club, organization, or association of 3 or more persons that has as one of its primary purposes the commission of criminal offenses and the members of which engage, or have engaged within the past 5 years, in a course or pattern of criminal activity.

Amends the Law Enforcement Officer-Worn Body Camera Act. Provides that recordings made with the use of an officer-worn body camera are not subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, unless the State’s Attorney has determined in writing, that the recording is not and shall not be used as evidence at trial, and (1) if the subject of the encounter has a reasonable expectation of privacy, at the time of the recording, any recording which is flagged, due to the filing of a complaint, discharge of a firearm, use of force, arrest or detention, or resulting death or bodily harm, shall be disclosed in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act if: (i) the subject of the encounter captured on the recording is a victim or witness; and (ii) the law enforcement agency obtains written permission of the subject or the subject's legal representative; (2) any recording which is flagged due to the filing of a complaint, discharge of a firearm, use of force, arrest or detention, or resulting death or bodily harm shall be disclosed in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act; and (3) upon request, the law enforcement agency shall disclose, in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, the recording to the subject of the encounter captured on the recording or to the subject's attorney, or the officer or his or her legal representative.