Creates the Illinois Conservation Corps Act to provide year-round conservation employment within the Department of Natural Resources for young adults in Illinois. Subject to appropriation, entitles enrollees in the Corps to a stipend of $500 per month and a maximum of $5,000 per year in education awards. Provides that no project of the Corps may displace individuals employed by or under contract with the Department. Creates the Illinois Conservation Corps Advisory Board to advise the Department concerning the Corps. Establishes the Illinois Conservation Corps Fund, a special fund in the State treasury. Authorizes the Department to use the moneys in the Fund only for the purposes of the Corps and provides that no more than 5% of the moneys in the Fund may be used for costs associated with the administration of the Corps. Authorizes the Fund to accept State and federal appropriations, gifts, grants, and private donations. Prohibits the Governor from making any transfers from the Fund. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Fund. Amends the State Finance Act to prohibit the Governor from making any transfers from the Illinois Conservation Corps Fund. Amends the Illinois Youth and Young Adult Employment Act of 1986 to rename the Illinois Conservation Corps as the Youth and Young Adult Conservation Employment Program. Makes corresponding changes. Amends the Personnel Code, the Department of Natural Resources (Conservation) Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, and the Illinois Pension Code to make corresponding changes. Effective immediately.
Sponsored bills
Amends the Telecommunications Excise Tax Act and the Mobile Telecommunications Sourcing Conformity Act. Provides that the terms "service address" and "primary place of use" include the 9-digit enhanced United States postal zip code. Effective immediately.
Amends the Economic Development Area Tax Increment Allocation Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Reinstates the exemption from the tax imposed by these Acts for certain oil field exploration, drilling, and production equipment. Reinstates the exemption from the tax imposed by these Acts for coal exploration, mining, offhighway hauling, processing, maintenance, and reclamation equipment. Effective immediately.
Amends the Public Community College Act. With respect to State grants to community college districts, provides that, beginning with the 2008 fiscal year, if the base operating grant amount that a community college district (other than the City Colleges of Chicago) receives from current fiscal year appropriations is less than the base operating grant amount that the district received from the previous fiscal year's appropriations, then the Illinois Community College Board shall make a supplemental payment to the district on or before June 30 of the current fiscal year in an amount equal to the difference between the base operating grant amount that the district received from current fiscal year appropriations and the base operating grant amount received from the previous fiscal year's appropriations. Also provides for supplemental payments on or before June 30, 2007 for base operating grants received from fiscal year 2006 and 2007 appropriations. Effective immediately.
Amends the Downstate Police Article of the Illinois Pension Code to increase the pensions of persons with over 20 years of service. Increases the maximum pension from 75% to 80% of salary. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.
Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that a prisoner serving a sentence for a felony, when the court has made and entered a finding that the conduct leading to conviction for the offense was committed in furtherance of gang-related activity, shall receive no more than 4.5 days of good conduct credit for each month of his or her sentence of imprisonment.
Amends the Illinois Enterprise Zone Act. Provides that, beginning in calendar year 2004 and until December 31, 2008, 2 additional enterprise zones (now, one additional enterprise zone) may be certified by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Requires the purchase or lease of motor vehicles assembled in Illinois if the cost is not more than 10% greater than the purchase or lease of motor vehicles that are not assembled in Illinois but otherwise meet contract specifications.
Amends the Electronic Fund Transfer Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the powers of the Commissioner of Banks and Real Estate.