Rep. Travis Weaver

Creates the Taxpayers' Fiscal Charter Act. Provides for a discretionary spending freeze for fiscal years 2024 and 2025. Sets forth requirements to increase discretionary spending beginning in fiscal year 2026. Requires any new spending proposed by the General Assembly in addition to existing obligations to be accompanied by a proposed source of revenue to pay for the proposed spending or specified cuts necessary to offset the proposed spending. Prohibits unfunded mandates. Requires the publishing of certain information before voting on or enacting an appropriations bill. Effective immediately.

Honors and thanks State Representative Frances Ann Hurley for her years of dedicated service. Wishes her the best on her future success.

Creates the Metro East Development Act. Sets forth legislative findings concerning the need for a Metro East Development Authority. Provides for creation of the Authority. Allows the Authority to hire an executive director. Lists the rights, powers, and duties of the Authority, including the power to borrow money and to issue bonds. Provides that the Authority shall perform an initial study and survey to determine what areas will be considered a depressed area that contain a blighted area. Provides for requirements related to meetings, public hearings, and administrative and judicial review of Authority projects. Provides for limitations on the Authority's powers. Describes procedures for procurement of debt and bonds, execution of deeds, demolition and removal of buildings, purchase of property, contracts, and costs of projects. Gives the Authority the power to investigate the conditions of any project in which it has an interest. Effective immediately.

Amends the Prevailing Wage Act. Provides that the definition of "public works" does not include a construction project with a cost not exceeding $100,000 that is performed in a county with a population of 15,000 or less.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that during harvest season, trucks used for farming purposes, including the hauling of harvested farm products, may exceed the maximum weight of a vehicle allowed on the road surface by an addition 1,600 pounds.

Amends the Illinois Pension Code. With respect to the 5 State-funded Retirement Systems: requires each System to implement a Tier 3 plan by July 1, 2024 that aggregates State and employee contributions in individual participant accounts which are used for payouts after retirement. Provides that a person who becomes a participant of a System on or after July 1, 2024 shall participate in the Tier 3 plan instead of the defined benefit plan. Authorizes a Tier 1 or Tier 2 participant to elect to participate in the Tier 3 plan instead of the defined benefit plan and to also elect to terminate all participation in the defined benefit plan and to have a specified amount credited to his or her account. Makes related changes in the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that each property tax bill shall contain a separate statement for each of the taxing districts setting forth the dollar amount of tax due that will be used by the taxing district to pick up or otherwise pay its employees' contributions to a public pension fund. Provides that each taxing district that picks up or otherwise pays its employees' contributions to a public pension fund must certify this information to the county clerk on or before the last Tuesday in December. Effective immediately.

Recognizes Mark and Karen DeDecker and family on being named the 2023 Family of the Year by the Illinois Pork Producers Association (IPPA). Thanks the family for their hard work and dedication to their community and the pork industry.

Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that a neglected minor includes any minor under the age of 12 (rather than 14) years whose parent or other person responsible for the minor's welfare leaves the minor without supervision for an unreasonable period of time without regard for the mental or physical health, safety, or welfare of that minor. Provides that neglect does not include permitting a child, whose basic needs are met and who is of sufficient age and maturity to avoid harm or unreasonable risk of harm, to engage in independent activities, including: (1) traveling to and from school, including by walking, running, or bicycling; (2) traveling to and from nearby commercial or recreational activities; (3) engaging in outdoor play; (4) remaining in a vehicle unattended, except as otherwise provided by law; (5) remaining at home unattended; or (6) engaging in a similar independent activity. Provides that whether the minor's basic needs are met and the minor is of sufficient age and maturity level to avoid harm and unreasonable risk of harm shall be determined by considering specified factors in addition to any other relevant considerations. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person commits child abandonment when he or she, as a parent, guardian, or other person having physical custody or control of a child, without regard for the mental or physical health, safety, or welfare of that child, knowingly leaves that child who is under the age of 12 (rather than 13) without supervision by a responsible person over the age of 14 for a period of 24 hours or more.