Appropriates $7,638,700 from the General Revenue Fund to the Board of Higher Education for formula implementation grants. Effective July 1, 2004.
Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Grants a credit against the tax imposed by the Act in the amount of expenditures during the taxable year for the care of an individual 65 years of age or older who is claimed as a dependent on the taxpayer's federal income tax return. Provides that the amount of the credit for the taxable year may be no more than $1,000 or the taxpayer's tax liability for the year, whichever is less. Allows an excess credit to be carried forward to the tax liability of 2 succeeding taxable years. Exempts the credit from the Act's sunset requirement. Effective immediately.
Amends the Economic Development for a Growing Economy Tax Credit Act. Provides that the duration of the credit may not exceed 15 (now, 10) taxable years. In provisions setting forth requirements for applicants for the credit, provides that for projects determined to be eligible because they meet the investment and new employee criteria established by the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs, the Department shall approve those that will provide a return on the State's investment. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act to make the commensurate change extending the duration of the credit to 15 years. Effective immediately.
Appropriates $4,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Agriculture for the purposes of the Food and Agriculture Research Act. Effective July 1, 2004.
Amends the Unemployment Insurance Act. Provides that none of the amount received by an individual as primary social security old age and disability retirement benefits shall constitute disqualifying income.
Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. For taxable years ending on or after December 31, 2004, provides for a deduction from adjusted gross income of up to $5,000 paid by an individual taxpayer for dependent care provided for a child, disabled spouse, or other dependent adult during the taxable year. Provides that the amount may not be deducted unless certain information identifying the person providing the services is included on the return. Excepts the deduction from the sunset requirements. Effective immediately.
Amends the Open Meetings Act. Provides that, in the case of a civil action brought to enforce the Act, the court shall (now, may) conduct an in camera examination of the verbatim record of a closed meeting (now, as it finds appropriate) in order to determine whether there has been a violation of the Act and, in the case of a criminal proceeding, shall (now, may) conduct an in camera examination of the verbatim record of a closed meeting in order to determine what portions, if any, must be made available to the parties for use as evidence in the prosecution. Effective January 1, 2004.
Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Limits the recovery of non-economic damages on account of death, bodily injury, or physical damage to property based on negligence, or on account of product liability based on any theory or doctrine, to $750,000 per plaintiff. Provides for liability limit increases and decreases based upon the percentage change in the consumer price index published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor. Provides that there shall be no recovery for hedonic damages.
Amends the Compensation Review Act. Provides that the Board must file a separate report concerning the salaries of judges. Provides that the recommendations of the Board concerning salaries of judges do not take effect unless approved by record vote of a majority of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly within 30 session days after the report is filed. Effective immediately.
Amends the Property Tax Code. Awards a homestead exemption in the amount of $5,000 to disabled persons who meet certain requirements, including having an adjusted gross income of less than $16,000. Makes corresponding changes to cross-references in the provisions concerning certification, certificate of errors, and delinquency notices. Amends the Economic Development Area Tax Increment Allocation Act, the County Economic Development Project Area Property Tax Allocation Act, the County Economic Development Project Area Tax Increment Allocation Act of 1991, the Economic Development Project Area Tax Increment Allocation Act of 1995, and the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act and the Industrial Jobs Recovery Law of the Illinois Municipal Code. Deducts the exemption from assessed value calculations for entities that have adopted tax increment allocation financing under these provisions. Amends the Criminal Code of 1961 to provide that an individual under a deportation order is ineligible for the disabled persons homestead exemption. Preempts home rule. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.
