Rep. Jay Hoffman

Amends the State Universities Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that, if the final rate of earnings of an employee is $30,000 or below and the employee is not receiving benefits under any other Article of the Code, then any salary increase in excess of 6% for any academic year used to determine the final rate of earnings under the Article over his or her earnings with the same employer for the previous academic year is exempt from provisions requiring the participant's employer to pay the present value of the increase in benefits resulting from the portion of the increase in earnings that is in excess of 6%. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Highway Code. Makes a technical change in a Section regarding maintenance.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that the Illinois Commerce Commission shall adopt minimum standards for smart grid technology for electric service by rule and require electric utilities to comply with those standards.

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

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Allows an income tax credit for each individual taxpayer who is a teacher, instructor, counselor, principal, or aide who worked in a school in Illinois for at least 900 hours during the taxable year. Provides that the amount of the credit is equal to 25% of the eligible classroom expenses made by the taxpayer during the taxable year, but the credit may not exceed $250. Defines "eligible classroom expenses" as the aggregate amount of nonreimbursed classroom expenses made by the taxpayer during the taxable year less $250. Provides that the credit may not be carried forward or back and may not reduce the taxpayer's liability to less than zero. Effective immediately.

Amends the Wildlife Code. Requires the Department of Natural Resources to issue free deer hunting permits to veterans who, according to the determination of the Veterans' Administration, as certified by the Department of Veterans' Affairs, are at least 30% disabled with service-related disabilities or in receipt of total disability pensions. Effective immediately.

Amends the Toll Highway Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the penalty for violations of the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority's rules.

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 Eminent Domain Act. Provides that as to the exercise of power of eminent domain under the O'Hare Modernization Act, Illinois Aeronautics Act, or the Illinois Highway Code's provisions concerning the relocation of a railroad or public utility for a State highway, or for the development or redevelopment of a publicly owned airport (instead of the O'Hare Modernization Act), (1) certain provisions of the Eminent Domain Act concerning the acquisition or damaging of property do not apply to acquisitions of property for public ownership and control or to acquisitions of property for private ownership and control for a public purpose, to eliminate blight, to create a low income residential area, or to create a specific type of use that benefits the public; (2) a condemning authority may exercise the power for any purpose as provided for by law in effect prior to the effective date of the Act; (3) the valuation date shall be the date of the filing of the complaint to condemn; and (4) the portions of the Act concerning the sale of property acquired by condemnation and offers of settlement, attorney's fees, and litigation expenses do not apply to the acquisition of property. Effective immediately.