Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Requires the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to establish and administer a Teaching Fellows Program to provide scholarship loans of $6,500 per person per year to top college juniors and seniors in this State interested in preparing to teach in the public schools in this State. Provides for the termination and forgiveness of scholarship loans. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Teaching Fellows Revolving Fund.
Amends the Conveyances Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the Act's short title.
Amends the State aid formula provisions of the School Code by increasing the foundation level of support, changing the amount of and how a supplemental general State aid grant is calculated, and providing that the supplementary grants in aid provisions are no longer applicable. Amends the State Aid Continuing Appropriation Law to make the Law applicable to fiscal year 2004 and each fiscal year thereafter and to provide for an irrevocable and continuing appropriation sufficient to fund general State aid and supplemental general State aid. Amends the School Code, the School Construction Law, and the Election Code to make changes concerning the reorganization of school districts, including the conduct of feasibility studies, the removal of a referendum requirement, the establishment of community unit school districts, and the provision of supplementary State aid, State funds for construction, and implementation grants. Amends the State Finance Act, the Illinois Income Tax Act, and the Property Tax Code. Beginning on July 1, 2003, increases income taxes and provides that two-thirds of the increased revenue shall be deposited into the School District Property Tax Relief Fund to fund property tax abatements and that one-third of the increased revenue shall be deposited into the Common School Fund. Provides a mechanism for property tax abatements and provides for a deduction (up to $1,200) for income tax purposes, for 5 years, equal to 15% of rent paid annually for a taxpayer's principal residence. Amends the School Code concerning certain categorical funding, including the establishment of several block grant programs and changes to the way State transportation reimbursement is calculated. Amends the School Code and the IMRF and Social Security Enabling Act Articles of the Illinois Pension Code to make changes concerning school districts other than the Chicago school district with respect to the purposes for which a district may levy taxes and the maximum rates of those taxes, a newly formed district's authority to levy taxes for certain purposes, interfund transfers, and working cash funds. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Some parts effective immediately; other parts effective July 1, 2003.
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
Amends the Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption provisions in the Property Tax Code. Provides that "income" does not include Social Security benefits. Increases the ceiling for household income eligibility, for taxable years 2004 and thereafter, from $40,000 per year to $45,000 per year. Amends the Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption provisions and the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement from the State. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning State policy.
Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that no person shall sell or issue a gift certificate that is subject to an expiration date. Provides that no gift certificate or any agreement with respect to the gift certificate may contain language suggesting that an expiration date may apply. Provides that fees and penalties shall not be imposed for inactivity with respect to a gift certificate. Provides that the value of a gift certificate that is not redeemed within 3 years is presumed abandoned. Provides that any person who sells a gift certificate shall obtain the address of the owner of the gift certificate and maintain a record of such address. Provides that any person who sells a gift certificate subject to an expiration date shall be fined not more than $500 per occurrence. Defines gift certificate.
Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Court of Claims for expenses. Effective July 1, 2003.
Amends the General Assembly Staff Assistants Act. Adds a caption to a Section concerning the number of staff.
Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the purpose of the "Medicaid" Article.
Amends the Property Tax Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the tax exemption for property used for religious purposes.
Amends the Veterans' Employment Act. Adds a caption to a Section concerning Vietnam veterans.
