Amends the Wildlife Code. Eliminates the hunting license fee for veterans and active-duty military members who hold a Firearm Owner's Identification Card.
Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Increases the amount of the earned income tax credit from 5% of the federal credit to: (i) 7.5% of the federal tax credit for taxable years ending in calendar year 2007; and (ii) 10% of the federal tax credit for taxable years ending in calendar year 2008 or thereafter. Effective immediately.
Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning NPDES discharge fees.
Amends the Illinois Enterprise Zone Act. Provides that during the period ending one year after the effective date of this amendatory Act, the Jackson County-Carbondale-Murphysboro Enterprise Zone may expand the boundaries of the current Enterprise Zone for a one-time, multiple property expansion to attract and retain regional business. Provides that the City of Carbondale shall have full authority to approve an expansion for property inside the city limits of the City of Carbondale. Provides that the City of Murphysboro shall have full authority to approve an expansion for property inside the city limits of the City of Murphysboro. Provides that the termination date of the Jackson County-Carbondale-Murphysboro Enterprise Zone shall be extended until January 1, 2020. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that a fire department foreign fire insurance board in a municipality with fewer than 500,000 (now, 250,000) inhabitants shall have 7 trustees, including the fire chief and 6 members of the fire department (now, the Board is established by ordinances of the corporate authorities). Provides for an annual election of board officers. Provides that the annual municipal audit shall include funds appropriated to the board and shall determine whether the funds have been expended by the board only for the maintenance, use, and benefit of the department. Amends the Fire Protection District Act. Provides that in each fire protection district that has an organized fire department there shall be a foreign fire insurance board. Provides that the board shall have 7 trustees, including the fire chief and 6 members of the fire department. Provides that officers shall be elected annually. Authorizes the board to make rules. Provides that the treasurer must give a bond to the board. Provides that the board shall develop and maintain a list of items that are appropriate expenditures. Provides that the annual fire protection district audit shall include funds appropriated to the board and shall determine whether the funds have been expended by the board only for the maintenance, use, and benefit of the department. Makes other changes. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that the credit for wages paid to qualified veterans also applies to wages paid to employees who are currently a member of the Illinois National Guard or a member of any reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States. Effective immediately.
Amends the Election Code. Eliminates in-person absentee voting. Provides that early voting extends through the Monday (now, the 5th day) before an election.
Amends the Private Sewage Disposal Licensing Act. Provides that if the Environmental Protection Agency requires persons exempt from licensing under the Act to obtain a permit, under the Clean Water Act, for the discharge of waste from a private sewage disposal system, the Agency shall: (1) implement and administer the private sewage disposal system permitting program; (2) perform any necessary sampling and inspection of the disposal systems; and (3) for each permit issued by the Agency, provide, subject to appropriation, the permit holder with a $500 grant to cover the costs of sampling and maintaining the private sewage disposal systems covered by the permit. Provides that the Agency may enter into an agreement with the Department of Public Health to reimburse any local authorities for the costs of implementing the provisions of this Section. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that, commencing with the 2009 registration year, the registration fee paid by any vehicle owner who is a member of the armed forces of the United States on active duty shall be reduced by 50% of the fee otherwise provided in this Code for passenger cars displaying standard multi-year registration plates. Provides that widows, widowers, and parents of a deceased member of the armed forces of the United States, who was killed while on active duty, shall also be entitled to this reduced registration fee for the registration year in which the deceased member of the armed forces of the United States was eligible and for a period of 5 years thereafter. Effective July 1, 2008.
Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates a credit, for taxable years ending on or after December 31, 2008, for taxpayers who operate a clean-coal-energy project in the State. Provides that the amount of the credit is an amount equal to the costs of that operation, but not to exceed $50,000. Defines "clean-coal-energy project" to include any project that employs the use of clean-coal technology, any coal-gasification project, and any project to provide pollution-control technology for existing coal plants. Provides that the credit may be carried forward for 5 years. Exempts the credit from the Act's sunset provisions. Effective immediately.
