Rep. Thomas Holbrook

Creates the Home Construction and Repair Fraud Act. Contains a short title provision only.

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. Deletes provisions concerning the Coordinating Committee of State Agencies Serving Older Persons.

Amends the Open Meetings Act. Provides that tourism boards and convention or civic center boards (now tourism boards and convention or civic center boards located in counties that are contiguous to the Mississippi River with populations of more than 250,000 but less than 300,000) are public bodies for purposes of the Act. Provides that a tourism board or a convention or civic center board may hold closed meetings to consider convention contracts or convention contract proposals.

Amends the Illinois Promotion Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning grants to counties, municipalities, and local promotion groups.

Amends the Tri-City Regional Port District Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the powers of the District to apply for and accept certain grants, loans, and appropriations and to make certain improvements and changes.

Appropriates $1 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs for tourism programs. Effective July 1, 2003.

Amends the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning local tourism grants.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Authorizes a municipality carrying out a business district development or redevelopment plan to impose a tax on the retail sale of tangible personal property and the sale or charge for a sleeping room, not to exceed 1% of the selling price of the tangible personal property or the charge for the sleeping room and only to be imposed in 0.25% increments. Requires a municipality imposing these taxes to follow certain additional procedures in applying for designation as a business district and approval of a business district development or redevelopment plan. Requires that the revenue generated by the tax be deposited into the municipality's Business District Tax Allocation Fund. Authorizes a municipality to issue obligations in one or more series bearing interest at rates determined by the corporate authorities of the municipality by ordinance and secured by the Business District Tax Allocation Fund. Requires the ordinance (i) to pledge any amounts in and to be deposited into the Business District Tax Allocation Fund for the payment of business district costs and obligations and (ii) to contain certain recitals. Authorizes the public or private sale of the obligations and the issuance of obligations to refund previously issued obligations. Upon payment of all business district costs, requires all surplus funds to be deposited into the general corporate fund. Requires the corporate authorities of the municipality to adopt an ordinance immediately rescinding the tax when all business district costs and obligations have been paid. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Fire Marshal Act. Provides that the Office of the State Fire Marshal shall administer a hazardous materials equipment grant program to provide grants for the purchase of equipment for handling hazardous materials by units of local government. Provides that the Office shall determine eligibility for the grants based on need, as determined by the Office, and that the grants, subject to appropriation, shall be paid out of moneys appropriated to the Office for that purpose. Provides that the Office shall adopt rules to administer the grant program. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Historic Preservation Act. Creates the Historic Preservation Advisory Council, appointed by the Governor, to assist the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency in protecting and preserving historic sites. Requires the Council to establish priorities and criteria for such protection and preservation and to review and evaluate proposals for grants administered by the Agency.