Rep. Jay Hoffman

Amends the Downstate Police Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Allows payment of a survivor's pension to the surviving spouse and children of a marriage occurring after retirement, if the surviving spouse and the deceased police officer were married for at least one year immediately preceding the date of death. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Sets forth language that must be included on a notice of proposed property tax increases, which describes the difference in the equalized assessed value and in the total tax rate between the preceding and current year. Effective immediately.

Amends the General Obligation Bond Act. Makes technical changes in a Section concerning the short title of the Act.

Amends numerous Acts in relation to State boards and commissions. Eliminates salaries and per diem payments for most boards. Permits payment of reimbursement for expenses and provides for payment of a hardship allowance in appropriate cases. Reduces the membership of certain boards and replaces current members with new appointees. Provides for certain chairmen and executive directors to be appointed by the Governor. Eliminates the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board and the Miners' Examination Board. Changes the name of the Advisory Council on Spinal Cord and Head Injuries. Repeals the Small Business Utility Advocate Act. Makes other substantive and technical changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Prevailing Wage Act. Deletes the provisions allowing public bodies other than the Illinois Department of Labor to establish prevailing wage rates.

Amends the Department of Veterans Affairs Act. Requires the Department to reimburse veterans service organizations for services provided by veterans service officers in processing and adjudicating claims and other benefits for veterans and their spouses or other beneficiaries residing in Illinois. Requires reimbursement at the rate of $0.005 for each dollar of benefits obtained for veterans or their spouses or other beneficiaries. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Finance Authority Act. Makes technical changes to a Section concerning definitions.

Amends the Election Code. Requires any person engaging in push-polling to (i) inform the person contacted that the call is being made on behalf of, in support of, or in opposition to a particular candidate or public question, (ii) identify that candidate by name or that public question, and (iii) provide the telephone number of the place from which the push-polling is conducted. Defines "push-polling".

Amends the Downstate Teachers Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Extends the deadline for application for early retirement without discount from June 30, 2005 to June 30, 2010; also reduces the required contribution for some members. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Surface-Mined Land Conservation and Reclamation Act. Makes technical changes to the statement of policy.