Rep. John D. Cavaletto

Amends the Riverboat Gambling Act. Provides that, on the first day of every month, the Comptroller must certify to the Board the mean delay in payment of valid reimbursement claims of health service providers. Requires the Illinois Gaming Board to delay payments to units of local government from privilege tax receipts by the length of time certified by the Comptroller. Provides that any interest on moneys held by the Illinois Gaming Board shall be transferred to the General Revenue Fund.

Creates the Soldiers to Farmers Program Act. Provides that the Department of Veterans' Affairs shall implement and administer the Soldiers to Farmers Program to provide financial and instructional assistance to Illinois veterans interested in starting a career in the farming and agriculture industries. Provides that from appropriations made for the purposes of the Act, the Department shall award a $10,000 stipend to program participants to go towards the purchase of land or farming equipment. Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act, and the Motor Fuel Tax Law by providing up to a 5-year exemption to program participants for tangible personal property used in a farming or agricultural business operated by the veteran that is not otherwise exempt and claims for undyed diesel fuel used in a farming or agricultural business operated by the veteran for which claims may not otherwise be made.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that, beginning with taxable years ending on or after December 31, 2012 and ending with taxable years ending on or before December 31, 2017, an amount equal to 50% of the amount of expenses incurred by the taxpayer during a taxable year for the construction of a greenhouse or rehabilitation of a current facility to be used for greenhouse purposes may be deducted from the taxpayer's adjusted gross income. Provides that the taxpayer may elect to deduct 25% of the amount of these expenses in the taxable year in which they were incurred and to deduct the remaining 25% of the amount of these expenses in the next taxable year.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Decreases the age limit to qualify for the Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption from 65 years of age to 55 years of age. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Requires an association of school boards to offer professional development and training to school board members on topics that include without limitation basics of school finance, financial oversight and accountability, labor law and collective bargaining, ethics, duties and responsibilities of a school board member, and board governance principles. Requires every school board member to receive at least 4 hours of professional development and training per year.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the court may impose an extended term sentence upon a defendant when the defendant is convicted of a felony and the court finds that the defendant used a position of trust or supervision including, but not limited to, family member, teacher, scout leader, baby sitter, or day care worker, in relation to a victim under 18 years of age, to commit the offense against the victim.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Decreases the age limit to qualify for the Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption from 65 years of age to 55 years of age. Effective immediately.

Congratulates the Mueller family on 100 years of publishing the Ramsey News-Journal.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning delivery services implementation plans.

Amends the Smoke Free Illinois Act and the Right to Privacy in the Workplace Act to exempt from certain prohibitions against discrimination any employer that, as its primary purposes or objectives, provides medical or hospital treatment to patients who have a cancerous condition.