Rep. Thomas Holbrook

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Makes a technical change in the short title Section.

Amends the Property Tax Code. In a Section concerning the returning veterans' homestead exemption, provides that the veteran may apply the exemption for the taxable year after he or she returns if (i) he or she first acquires a principal residence during the taxable year in which he or she returns, but after January 1 of that year, and (ii) if the property is owned and occupied as a principal residence by the veteran on January 1 of the next taxable year. Effective immediately.

Amends the Animal Control Act. Exempts accelerant detection dogs from regulation as vicious dogs if certain requirements are met. Amends the Humane Care for Animals Act. Makes it unlawful for any person to do any of the following to a canine used by a fire officer for arson investigations in the performance of his or her functions or while off duty: (i) to interfere or meddle with the canine, (ii) to willfully and maliciously taunt, torment, tease, beat, strike, or administer or subject any desensitizing drugs, chemicals, or substance to the canine, and (iii) to willfully or maliciously torture, mutilate, injure, disable, poison, or kill the canine. Effective immediately.

Amends the Railroad Police Act. Requires allegations of abuse of authority or misconduct by members of a railroad police force to be investigated by the Illinois State Police.

Amends the State Finance Act. Provides that federal moneys paid to the State for certain child welfare services provided by described community mental health providers shall be deposited into the DCFS Children's Services Fund and used to provide child welfare services. Effective immediately.

Amends the Home Repair and Remodeling Act. Provides that any person who suffers actual damage as a result of a violation of the Act may bring an action pursuant to the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Eliminates language making it unlawful for any person engaged in the business of home repairs and remodeling to remodel or make repairs or charge for remodeling or repair work before obtaining a signed contract or work order over $1,000 and before notifying and securing the consumer's signed acceptance or rejection of the binding arbitration clause and the jury trial waiver clause as required under the Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Credit Union Act. In provisions concerning the meeting of members, provides that a proxy may be revoked by a written statement to that effect, by execution of a subsequently-dated proxy, or by attendance at a meeting and voting in person. Effective immediately.

Amends the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act. Deletes a provision providing that the Governor shall establish an Assisted Living and Shared Housing Standards and Quality of Life Advisory Board. Repeals a provision concerning the composition of the Board. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Provides that if a student that is a child of active duty military personnel is (i) placed with a non-custodial parent and (ii) as a result of placement, must attend a different school district, then the student must not be charged the tuition of the school that student attends as a result of placement with the non-custodial parent. Creates the Military Children School Transfer Law to require the State Board of Education to review the initial rulemakings of the Interstate Commission on the Educational Opportunity for Military Children and the Interstate Commission on the Educational Opportunity for Military Children each year thereafter and recommend changes, if necessary, to Illinois law that shall support the removal of barriers to educational success for children of military families in the State. Contains provisions concerning a special power of attorney for children of active duty military personnel. Contains provisions concerning immunization requirements for out-of-State transfer students. With respect to all transfer students, adds provisions to the Code concerning (1) transfer of required courses, (2) pre-requisite courses required for current courses, (3) the transfer of credits, and (4) graduation requirements and accommodations to ensure graduation of a student. Amends the Illinois School Student Records Act to permit all out-of-State transfer students, including children of military personnel that transfer into this State, to use unofficial transcripts for admission to a school until official transcripts are obtained from his or her last school district. Effective immediately.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Makes a technical change in the short title Section.