Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Provides that the Code does not apply to contracts between the Department of Agriculture and a non-profit service organization for the purpose of providing goods or services on the Illinois State Fairgrounds during the Illinois State Fair or on the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds during the DuQuoin State Fair. Effective immediately.
Amends the Soil and Water Conservation Districts Act. Provides that a person who petitions a municipality or county agency for relief from a zoning ordinance may, at his or her discretion, furnish a copy to the Soil and Water Conservation District to obtain its written opinion concerning the matter. Effective immediately.
Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Provides that a settlement agreement that is funded in whole or part by public moneys or that releases a claim against a public body shall not require or impose any condition on any party to keep allegations, evidence, settlement amounts, or any other information confidential, except that which is necessary to protect a trade secret, proprietary information, or information that is otherwise exempt from disclosure under the Act. Provides that a severance agreement that is funded in whole or part by public moneys or that releases a claim against a public body shall not require or impose any condition on any party to keep allegations, evidence, settlement amounts, or any other information confidential, except that which is necessary to protect a trade secret, proprietary information, or information that is otherwise exempt from disclosure under the Act. Defines "settlement agreement" and "severance agreement".
Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Requires the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, by rule, to determine standards for awarding Monetary Award Program grants and renewals based on financial need and academic qualifications. Provides that these rules must be adopted on or before January 1, 2015. Makes related changes concerning the eligibility of applicants. Provides that if grant assistance covers the cost of a course at an institution of higher learning and the student withdraws from or otherwise fails to complete the course prior to the end of the course, then the Commission shall proportionally reduce the amount of the grant awarded to the student or the Commission shall require the student to repay an equivalent amount to the Commission. Effective immediately.
Congratulates the Providence Catholic High School Football Team on winning the 2014 IHSA Class 7A Football Championship.
Amends the Unemployment Insurance Act. Provides for the creation of a program of shared work benefits, under which an individual is deemed unemployed in any week if the individual works less than his or her normal hours or number of days in a week for the individual's regular employer and the Director of Employment Security finds that the regular employer has reduced or restricted the individual's hours or days of work or has rehired an individual previously laid off and reduced that individual's hours or days of work from those previously worked as the result of a plan by the regular employer to reduce unemployment and stabilize the work force through a program of sharing the work remaining after a reduction in total hours of work and a corresponding reduction in wages, among not less than 10% of the employer's regular permanent work force involved in the affected work unit or units. Provides for: computation of benefits; limits on benefits; determinations; reduction of benefits; payments; submission of forms and certifications; requirements; administration; creation of a Shared Work Benefits Fund; and other matters. Effective July 1, 2013.
Amends the Condominium Property Act. Deletes language providing that a lien for nonpayment of common expenses by a unit owner is subordinate to encumbrances on the interest of the unit owner recorded prior to the date of the failure or refusal which by law would be a lien thereon prior to subsequently recorded encumbrances. Deletes language providing that a purchaser of a condominium unit at a judicial foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, who takes possession of a condominium unit pursuant to a court order or a purchaser who acquires title from a mortgagee shall have the duty to pay the proportionate share, if any, of the common expenses for the unit which would have become due in the absence of any assessment acceleration during the 6 months immediately preceding institution of an action to enforce the collection of assessments, and which remain unpaid by the owner during whose possession the assessments accrued. Makes corresponding changes.
Amends the Toll Highway Act. Requires signs at every toll collection station notifying toll highway users, including electronic toll collection system users, of the tolls charged.
Congratulates Marc Laino on the occasion of his retirement as Executive Director of the Illinois Racing Board.
Amends the Emergency Telephone System Act. Provides that an entity that installs or operates a private business switch service shall install and operate that service such that when a user dials the digits "9-1-1" the emergency call can be connected to the 9-1-1 system without first dialing any number or set of numbers. Sets forth penalties for failing to comply with the requirements of this amendatory Act. Effective immediately.
