Rep. Katherine Cloonen

Amends the Illinois Nuclear Facility Safety Act. Makes a technical change in a Section on legislative findings.

Amends the Limited Liability Company Act. Reduces the fee collected by the Secretary of State for the filing of articles of organization, applications for admission, and restated articles of organization from $500 to $39 and reduces those fees in connection with a limited liability company with ability to establish series from $750 to $59. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates a credit for each small business taxpayer in an amount equal to 50%, but in no event to exceed $100,000, of the amount paid by the small business taxpayer during the taxable year to an insolvent debtor or a trustee as a result of a recapture under Section 547(b) of the federal Bankruptcy Code. Provides that the term "small business taxpayer" means a business employing no more than 200 employees. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Provides that school board members may expend school district funds only for school purposes, including without limitation the conduct of business, operations, and education. Prohibits school board members from using district funds for entertainment expenses. Effective July 1, 2017.

Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities in Illinois. Requires the governing board of each public university to develop and maintain a written policy concerning the credits that the university will award for courses on a joint services transcript. Defines "joint services transcript". Effective January 1, 2017.

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 Environmental Protection Act. Provides that the Environmental Protection Agency shall not regulate slag generated by the production of steel, which is the beneficial and intended coproduct of the steel manufacturing process and is managed as an item of value in a controlled manner and not as a discarded material, except as may be required by federal law or regulation. Changes "slag" to "coal slag" in the definition of "coal combustion waste". Provides that a beneficial use determination is not required to use steelmaking slags for land reclamation purposes.

Amends the Cigarette Tax Act and the Tobacco Products Tax Act of 1995. Provides that a person who is both a licensed distributor and a licensed retailer shall be issued a single license number by the Department of Revenue. Provides that records may be kept electronically and may be kept at an out-of-state location so long as those records are made available upon reasonable notice for the purpose of investigation and control by the Department of Revenue. Amends the Prevention of Tobacco Use by Minors and Sale and Distribution of Tobacco Products Act. In provisions that provide for increased penalties for retailers that do not have training programs, provides that those training programs may be conducted electronically. Provides that, if a retailer has a training program in place prior to the effective date of the amendatory Act, has a training program approved by another state, or follows the guidelines set forth by the federal Food and Drug Administration, then that training program shall be deemed to meet the minimum standards in this State. Effective January 1, 2016.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that motorcycles may be equipped with a blue light or lights located on the rear of the motorcycle as a part of the motorcycle's rear stop lamp or lamps.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, subject to certain conditions, the homestead exemption for persons with disabilities, the homestead exemption for veterans with disabilities, the senior citizens homestead exemption, and the senior citizens assessment freeze homestead exemption apply even if the person granted the exemption becomes a resident of a Supportive Living Program facility. Effective immediately.