Rep. Tim Butler

Amends the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act. Provides that in any 12-month period the Governor shall have the authority to issue only one proclamation per disaster and that any further proclamation for the disaster that triggered the original proclamation shall be in force only after a two-thirds vote of each chamber of the General Assembly approves a joint resolution containing the exact language of the proclamation and which the Governor must follow. Provides that the Governor shall have no authority to amend or change the language of the proclamation as approved by joint resolution.

Amends the Election Code. Provides for the issuance of Voter Identification Cards by the Secretary of State. Requires Voter Identification Cards for those who do not have an acceptable form of photo identification. Sets forth requirements and exemptions. Provides that any person desiring to vote shall present to the judges of election for verification of the person's identity a government-issued photo identification card or his or her Voter Identification Card.

Amends the Illinois Prescribed Burning Act. Removes a provision making a property owner and any person conducting a prescribed burn liable for actual damage or injury caused by the prescribed burn or resulting smoke upon proof of negligence. Provides instead that no landowner, agent of the landowner, or certified prescribed burn manager is liable for damage, injury, or loss caused by a prescribed burn or resulting smoke unless proven to be grossly negligent. Effective immediately.

Creates the Firearm Crime Charging and Sentencing Accountability and Transparency Act. Provides that in a criminal case, if a defendant is charged with an offense involving the illegal use or possession of a firearm and subsequently enters into a plea agreement in which in the charge will be reduced to a lesser offense or a non-weapons offense in exchange for a plea of guilty, at or before the time of sentencing, the State's Attorney shall file with the court a written statement of his or her reasons in support of the plea agreement, which shall specifically state why the offense or offenses of conviction resulting from the plea agreement do not include the originally charged weapons offense. Provides that in a criminal case in which the original charge is or was for an offense involving the illegal use or possession of a firearm, if a defendant pleads guilty or is found guilty of the original charge or lesser offense or a non-weapons offense, in imposing sentence, the judge shall set forth in a written sentencing order his or her reasons for imposing the sentence or accepting the plea agreement. Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides for adult prosecution of a minor who was at least 16 years of age at the time of the offense who is charged with armed robbery or aggravated vehicular hijacking while armed with a firearm. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012 to provide for enhanced penalties for committing various offenses with a firearm. Makes other changes concerning criminal procedure and law enforcement. Amends various other Acts to make conforming changes. Effective immediately as to specified provisions.

Amends the Reproductive Health Act. Provides that except in the case of a medical emergency, a health care professional shall not knowingly perform, induce, or attempt to perform an abortion upon a pregnant woman when the probable gestational age of her unborn child has been determined to be at least 20 weeks. Makes conforming changes.

Opposes a graduated income tax law in Illinois. Oppose the reconsideration by the Illinois General Assembly of any constitutional measure intended to yet again reopen the flat-rate income tax language of subsection (a) of Section 3 of Article IX of the Constitution of Illinois.

Creates the Seat of Government Commission Act. Creates the Seat of Government Commission. Provides for membership of the Commission and membership requirements. Provides for meetings of the Commission. Provides that the Office of the Governor shall provide administrative and other support to the Commission. Provides that it shall be the duty of the Commission to serve as a line of communication between the State and local officials in the seat of government, regarding property leases, ownership, and any other issues deemed relevant to interactions between the State government and the seat of government. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Provides that the 3 public members appointed to the Seat of Government Commission shall reside in Sangamon County, with one such member belonging to a nonprofit organization representing residents and businesses of downtown Springfield. Provides that the chairperson of the Commission shall be selected from among the 3 public members.

Amends the Prevention of Tobacco Use by Persons under 21 Years of Age and Sale and Distribution of Tobacco Products Act. Provides that a person under 21 years of age may not possess any tobacco product, electronic cigarette, or alternative nicotine product. Provides that a violation is a Class A misdemeanor.

Amends the Discontinuance of Township within Coterminous Municipality Division of the Township Code. In provisions allowing a township to discontinue and consolidate with a coterminous, or substantially coterminous, municipally, allows a county to initiate discontinuance of the township with the county taking control of the former township's operations. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 3 Deletes reference to: 60 ILCS 1/29-5 60 ILCS 1/29-10 60 ILCS 1/29-15 60 ILCS 1/29-20 60 ILCS 1/29-25 Adds reference to: 55 ILCS 5/5-1186 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Counties Code. Provides that, in addition to any other procedure available by law to discontinue a township, upon resolutions of the board of trustees of Capital Township in Sangamon County and the Sangamon County Board, and after referendum approval by the voters of the Township and County: (1) Capital Township in Sangamon County is discontinued; and (2) all the rights, powers, duties, assets, property, liabilities, obligations, and responsibilities of the Township are transferred to Sangamon County, including, but not limited to, the administration of the Capital Township's general assistance program. Provides that Capital Township and Sangamon County shall follow the same procedures that townships and municipalities must follow under Article 29 of the Township Code in order to dissolve the Township and transfer all the rights, powers, duties, assets, property, liabilities, obligations, and responsibilities of the Township to the County. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. Provides that in addition to other specified filings of economic interests, persons holding elective office in the Executive Branch of State government, persons serving as the head of a department of State government, and members of a Commission or Board created by the Illinois Constitution shall be required to file, on a quarterly basis, a statement regarding specified ownership interest in any entity doing business in the State of Illinois. Provides that such persons shall file the required statement on or before February 1, May 1, August 1, and November 1 of each year. Requires the Secretary of State to provide notice on or before January 1 of each year of the requirement to file the specified statement of economic interests on a quarterly basis. Makes other changes.