Creates the Community Senior Services and Resources Act and amends the State Finance Act. Authorizes the Department on Aging to award grants to local community senior services and resource centers. Provides for a Community Senior Services and Resource Center Advisory Committee, with 12 voting members appointed by the Governor, to advise the Department on Aging on the administration of the Act. Creates the Community Senior Services and Resources Fund as a special fund in the State treasury, to be used by the Department on Aging for grant awards and for administering the Community Senior Services and Resources Act. Effective immediately.
Amends the Regulatory Sunset Act. Extends the repeal of the Veterinary Medicine and Surgery Practice Act of 1994 to January 1, 2014. Effective immediately.
Creates the Fireworks Displayer Licensing Act. Provides that a person may not engage in the business of publicly displaying fireworks unless licensed by the Office of the State Fire Marshal. Establishes qualifications for licenses, including an appropriate Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms license, general liability insurance of at least $2,000,000, workers' compensation insurance for personnel lighting the fireworks, and other qualifications. Establishes procedures for suspending or revoking licenses for non-compliance with the provisions of the Act. Amends the Illinois Explosives Act to exclude from the definition of explosives fixed ammunition for small arms, safety fuses, matches, fireworks, theatrical pyrotechnics, and model rocket fuel. Amends the Fireworks Use Act to require a licensed pyrotechnic displayer and pyrotechnic operator to handle public displays of fireworks. Effective immediately.
Amends the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Act. Provides that the Board, by a two-thirds vote of all its members, may transfer fund balances between its Working Cash Funds. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. Provides that the presence of a methamphetamine manufacturing chemical in a sealed, factory imprinted container at the time of seizure by law enforcement is prima facie evidence that the methamphetamine manufacturing chemical located within the container is in fact the chemical so described and in the amount and dosage listed on the container.
Amends the Simplified Municipal Telecommunications Tax Act. Establishes procedures for the Department of Revenue to certify an ordinance passed by a municipality to impose a tax under the Act or to amend or repeal a tax imposed under the Act and to notify telecommunications retailers of the certification of the ordinance by the Department (now, municipalities are required to file the ordinance with the Department pursuant to rules adopted by the Department). Imposes time frames for Department certification and notification of retailers. Effective immediately.
Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to establish in DuPage County 2 group homes, each housing 4 residents with similar diagnoses of mental illness and requiring similar intermittent care. Provides for rental of the homes to a third party who will provide necessary services to the residents of the homes.
Amends the Property Tax Code. Allows taxing districts to abate taxes on property of certain historical societies for assessment years 1998 through 2008 (now 1998 through 2003). Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the removal of a false or secret compartment from a motor vehicle, or the promise to do so, shall not be the basis for a defense to forfeiture of the motor vehicle under the Criminal Code of 1961 and shall not be the basis for the court to release the vehicle to the owner. Increases the penalty for owning or operating a motor vehicle with the knowledge that it contains a false or secret compartment from a Class C misdemeanor to a Class 4 felony.
Amends the Agricultural Areas Conservation and Protection Act. Provides that any agricultural area shall not be less than 350 acres in all counties with a population of less than 600,000 and not less than 100 acres in all counties with a population of 600,000 or more. Effective immediately.
Amends the Downstate Forest Preserve District Act. Provides that the affirmative vote of 6/7 of all the board members of a forest preserve district is required to vacate a street, roadway, or driveway if the board members are elected from a district whose boundaries are co-extensive with the boundaries of a county having a population of more than 800,000 but less than 3,000,000. Effective immediately.
Amends the Gang Crime Witness Protection Act. Extends the repeal date of the Act from July 1, 2004 to July 1, 2012. Effective immediately.
