Amends the Counties Code. Makes technical changes in a Section concerning notice of an election on a petition to transfer territory.
Appropriates $5,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Transportation for grants to the City of Centreville for street repair and construction. Effective July 1, 2003.
Amends the Unemployment Insurance Act. In provisions making an individual ineligible for benefits for leaving work voluntarily without good cause, creates an exception if the individual left work to protect his or her children or himself or herself from domestic violence.
Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
Creates the Community Scholarship Foundation Program Act and amends the State Finance Act. Establishes the Community Scholarship Foundation Program, to be administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, to encourage local communities to develop scholarship programs that assist their residents in obtaining a higher education. Requires the Commission to award a foundation $2,000 upon demonstration to the Commission that the foundation has raised $2,000 for scholarships or the creation of an endowment for scholarships. Creates the Community Scholarship Foundation Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Repeals the Act on June 30, 2007. Effective July 1, 2004.
Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Defines "economic loss" or "economic damages", "non-economic loss" or "non-economic damages", and "compensatory damages" or "actual damages". Distinguishes between economic and non-economic damages in verdicts.
Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that, if a grocery store offers a reduced price on an item to consumers who present discount cards, it must also offer the same reduced price on that item to a consumer who does not present a discount card but pays for the item with a Link Card or other access device issued by a government agency to recipients of food stamp benefits or other assistance. Provides that a violation is an unlawful practice within the meaning of the Act. Effective immediately.
Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. Makes a technical change to a Section concerning the Self-Insurers Advisory Board.
Creates the Illinois Africa-America Peace Brigade Act. Provides that qualified citizens of the State may be enrolled in the Illinois Africa-America Peace Brigade for service in African nations and in urban inner-city schools in this State. Sets the terms and conditions of the volunteers' service. Allows the Director of the Illinois Africa-America Peace Brigade to provide training to volunteers and applicants for enrollment as volunteers. Requires the approval of the United States' Secretary of State for the programs and activities of the Peace Brigade in foreign nations. Creates the Illinois Africa-America Peace Brigade Advisory Council. Provides for the appointment of members to the Council by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. Provides that the Council shall review the programs and activities of the Peace Brigade and shall make recommendations to the Governor and the Director. Requires the Governor to report to the General Assembly on the programs and activities of the Peace Brigade. Contains other provisions. Amends the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois to create the Illinois Africa-America Peace Brigade. Amends the Department of State Police Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois to allow the Department of State Police to conduct background checks of applicants for enrollment as volunteers in the Illinois Africa-America Peace Brigade.
Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Makes technical changes in a Section concerning bail bonds.
Amends the Supreme Court Act. Adds a caption to a Section concerning the powers of the Court.
Creates the Open Space Financing Act. Authorizes the Department of Natural Resources to issue revenue bonds secured by real estate transfer tax receipts collected and deposited into the Open Space Bond Repayment Fund and the Natural Areas Bond Repayment Fund. Sets forth procedures for issuing the bonds and distributing the bond proceeds. Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that for fiscal year 2005 only, after deposit of 50% of the moneys collected under the Real Estate Transfer Tax Law into the Illinois Affordable Housing Trust Fund, of the remaining 50%, the first $30,000,000 shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund and, thereafter, 35% shall be deposited into the OSLAD Fund, and 15% shall be deposited into the NAA Fund. Amends the Illinois Natural Areas Preservation Act. Provides that the Department of Natural Resources shall determine the manner and extent to which property under consideration for acquisition would assist in storm water management, water supply and quality assurance, or other infrastructure needs, but this determination shall not prevent the Department from acquiring property. Amends the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Act. Provides that grants for green infrastructure projects made before December 31, 2008 to units of local government may be conditioned upon the State providing assistance on a 60/40 matching basis. Sets forth additional requirements for grants for green infrastructure projects. Provides that, in considering applications for certain grants, the Department shall give scoring points to the applicants that demonstrate the greatest potential for improving water supply and quality or for reducing the capital, operating, or maintenance costs of meeting water-related infrastructure requirements. Creates the Open Space Bond Repayment Fund and the Natural Areas Bond Repayment Fund. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.
