Rep. Ron Stephens

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that all nurses registered or licensed under the Nursing and Advanced Practice Nursing Act performing services for the Department of Corrections on a contractual basis as of the effective date of this amendatory Act shall become employees of the Department on the date immediately following the effective date of this amendatory Act.

Amends the Municipal Code. Provides that, in the case of a violation of a Section of the Vehicle Code that prohibits parking in a handicapped parking spot without a valid plate or decal, a municipal code hearing officer may not impose a monetary sanction that is less than the amount set forth in the Vehicle Code. Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Increases the amount of the earned income tax credit from 5% of the federal credit to: (i) 7.5% of the federal tax credit for taxable years ending in calendar year 2007; and (ii) 10% of the federal tax credit for taxable years ending in calendar year 2008 or thereafter. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Veterans Affairs Act. Creates the Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom Fund. Authorizes the payment of bonuses to qualifying military personnel or their survivors. Sets forth requirements and conditions. Provides that there is no rulemaking authority under the amendatory Act, but that the Governor may suggest rules by filing them with the General Assembly and requesting that the General Assembly authorize such rulemaking by law, enact the suggested rules into law, or take other appropriate action in the General Assembly's discretion. Effective July 1, 2008.

Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that in actions arising out of bodily injury, death, or damage to property based on negligence or product liability based on strict tort liability there will not be joint and several liability, rather when more than one defendant is found to be liable, a defendant will only be liable for that percentage of the plaintiff's damages, found by the trier of fact, that the defendant's percentage of contributory fault, found by the trier of fact, represents. Amends the Joint Tortfeasor Contribution Act requiring, in the event that the obligation of one or more tortfeasors is uncollectible, the remaining tortfeasors to share, pro rata, the unpaid portion. Repeals Section stating that a plaintiff's right to recover the full amount of his or her tort judgment from any one or more defendants is unaffected by the Contribution Act.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Requires the county clerk to abate a percentage of the property taxes levied on each parcel of property that is owned and used exclusively as a home by a disabled veteran, or the spouse or unmarried surviving spouse of the veteran. Provides that the percentage of taxes to be abated is equal to the percentage of disability of the veteran. Effective immediately.

Amends the Charter Schools Law of the School Code. Under specified circumstances, allows for a maximum of 5 additional charter schools exclusively for truants or dropouts in Chicago if the limit on the number of charter schools that may operate at any one time in the rest of the State has not been reached. Provides that if any of the additional charter schools are not used exclusively for truants or dropouts, then the State Board of Education shall withhold and the charter school shall forfeit all State funding designated for that school.

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. With respect to the Illinois Veteran Grant program, provides that assistance (which is an entitlement that a public university or community college must honor) must include reimbursement for 50% of the costs of textbooks required to be purchased for courses taken at the university or community college. Effective immediately.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Reenacts the provision of P.A. 89-203 that requires the court to impose a sentence of natural life imprisonment, when the death penalty is not imposed, on a defendant who had attained the age of 17 or more and is found guilty of murdering an individual under 12 years of age; which was held unconstitutional by the Illinois Supreme Court in People v. Wooters as violating the single subject clause of the Illinois Constitution.

Amends the State Police Act. Provides that a requirement that a State Police applicant have certain collegiate educational requirements is deemed to be satisfied if the applicant has been honorably discharged and has an Afghan or Iraqi campaign medal awarded after September 11, 2001 by one of the United States armed forces. Effective immediately.