Rep. Thomas Holbrook

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Prohibits the court from entering an order for supervision of a defendant who has committed a Class A misdemeanor violation relating to the manufacture, sale, or possession of equipment used in dog fighting, or of a misdemeanor violation relating to failure to provide humane care or treatment of animals, animal fighting, animal cruelty, or depictions of animal cruelty. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975. Provides that, for purposes of the Act, the term "minor" means an individual under the age of 18 years rather than an individual under the age of 17 years.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that Environmental Management System Agreements may be executed with participants in the Federal Performance Track Program if the provisions of the Agreements are acceptable to the Environmental Protection Agency. Deletes provisions that require the Agency to adopt rules concerning Agreements if 6 or more Agreements are adopted. Provides that the Agency may terminate an Agreement if participation in the Federal Performance Track Program ceases. Effective immediately.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Specifies that the Board has the authority to require operators of sewage works to be certified as technically competent. Specifies that the Agency has the authority to administer the certification program and adopt technical standards for the certification of operators of sewage works. Specifies that the operator certification requirements may apply to pretreatment works as well as treatment works and collection systems. Authorizes the Agency to delegate portions of that authority to other agencies of State and local government. Preserves rules already in effect. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Prohibits installation on a motor vehicle of a traffic control signal preemption device, a device that changes a traffic control signal to a green light or extends the duration of a green light. Prohibits unauthorized operation of the device. Provides that the device may be installed on specified emergency vehicles or commuter buses. Specifies the conditions and circumstances under which a device installed on one of those vehicles may be operated. Provides that violation of the provision is a Class A misdemeanor. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Repeals provisions concerning the Reading Improvement Block Grant Program. Provides instead that the State Board of Education shall make reading improvement grants to school districts in order to improve the reading and study skills of students in kindergarten through twelfth grade (from a separate appropriation made for these purposes). Provides that the State Board may use up to 2% of the appropriation for the purpose of providing teacher training and retraining. Provides that of the remaining funds (i) up to the first $5,000,000 in new funds in the 2003-2004 school year shall be distributed to districts serving grades 7 through 12 and (ii) the remainder of the appropriation shall be distributed to districts serving kindergarten through grade 6. Includes provisions concerning application requirements, reporting assessment results, eligibility in the third or subsequent years, requirements for the use of grants, and reporting results to the General Assembly. Effective July 1, 2003.

Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Extends the partial exemption from the taxes imposed by these Acts on gasohol to December 31, 2013 (now ends on July 1, 2003), gradually reducing the partial exemption to zero after December 31, 2013. Partially exempts E85 blend fuel and bio-diesel blend fuel in the same amount and according to the same schedule as gasohol. Provides that if, at any time, the tax under these Acts on gasohol, E85 blend fuel, and bio-diesel blend fuel is imposed at 1.25%, then the partial exemption of the tax on those items does not apply during that time. Effective immediately.

Mourns the death of Frank H. Boyne of Belleville.