Amends the Public Utilities Act. Adds a caption to a Section concerning the issuance of subpoenas.
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that beginning on September 15, and through November 30, of each calendar year, State Police officers may not use portable scales to weigh vehicles transporting commodities or goods of production agriculture on non-interstate highways. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning definitions.
Amends the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975. Makes technical changes in a Section concerning the short title.
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a person who drives around lowered railroad crossing gates shall be fined $500 and shall have his or her driving privileges suspended for 3 months. Provides that a second violation shall result in a $1,000 fine and a 6 month suspension. Provides that a third or subsequent violation shall result in a $1,000 fine and a one year suspension. Provides that 75% of the moneys collected from fines imposed for these violations shall be deposited in the Grade Crossing Protection Fund and used for signs at grade crossings informing motorists of the penalties for these violations. Effective immediately.
Amends the Counties Code, the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority Act, the Park District Code, the North Shore Sanitary District Act, the Sanitary District Act of 1917, the Regional Transportation Authority Act, the School Code, and the Public Community College Act. Removes contracts for telecommunications and data processing equipment and services from exemptions from competitive or public bidding.
Amends the Property Tax Code with respect to the valuation of open space land. Provides that, in determining the historic nature of land for which an application has been submitted for special valuation as open space land because it preserves historic sites, the chief county assessment officer may consider the land's inclusion in or consistency with a federal, State, regional, or local government policy or plan for the preservation of historic sites. Provides that a parcel of land is not considered used for open space purposes if the outside boundaries of the parcel completely enclose a separate parcel used for residential or commercial purposes.
Amends the Downstate Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that a teacher who (i) has been receiving a disability, occupational disability, or disability retirement benefit for at least one year and (ii) remains unable to resume regular full-time teaching due to disability, but is able to engage in limited or part-time employment as a teacher, may engage in such limited or part-time employment as a teacher without loss of the disability, occupational disability, or disability retirement benefit, provided that the teacher's earnings for that limited or part-time employment, when added to the amount of the benefit, do not exceed 100% of the salary rate upon which the benefit is based. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.
Amends the Public Utilities Revenue Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
Creates the Loan Assumption for Teachers Act. Provides that a person who is enrolled in a postsecondary education institution is eligible to enter into an agreement for loan assumption upon becoming employed as a teacher if he or she is judged to have outstanding ability and agrees to teach full time in a public school in this State for at least 4 consecutive school years after obtaining a teaching certificate (i) in a subject area that is designated as a current or projected shortage area by the State Superintendent of Education or (ii) at a school that at the time that the teacher is hired serves a large population of pupils from low-income families or is a low-performing school. Effective immediately.
Amends the Township Code. Provides that an officer of the township is authorized to serve a stop order upon any person that the officer has reasonable grounds to believe is guilty of a violation of a zoning code or building code requiring that person to cease construction until a release is obtained from the county building and zoning commission. Provides that a copy of the stop order must be forwarded to the building and zoning commission that has jurisdiction over the township where the violation is alleged to have been committed. Provides that the officer has the same power and authority within the township as an inspector of building codes and zoning, as authorized by the township board and the zoning authority that has jurisdiction over the township. Effective immediately.
Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Prohibits the Department of Corrections and the Attorney General from instituting an action to recover the costs of incarceration of a person committed to the Department of Corrections unless the person's assets (excluding the value of the person's residence and a motor vehicle) exceed $200,000. In determining the conditions of parole or mandatory supervised release, prohibits the Prisoner Review Board from taking into consideration the prisoner's assets or the prisoner's ability or inability to pay for the costs of his or her incarceration. Excludes from the definition of "assets of a committed person", a motor vehicle or residence owned by the committed person.
