Honors Jerry Sloan on this very special occasion of recognizing his life-long pursuit of excellence in the sport of basketball and outstanding record of achievement in that great pastime.
Amends the Public Utilities Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning delivery services implementation plans.
Urges the President to take emergency action to ensure water levels do not fall below a level needed by commercial navigation on the Mississippi River and to direct the Army Corps of Engineers to avert potential economic disaster on this vital avenue. Urges the Army Corps of Engineers to expedite and fully implement alternative emergency measures to remedy this situation and to deviate from planned operations outlined in the Missouri River Master Water Control Manual and exercise its authority to address situations when appropriate.
Congratulates Dr. Penelope Tippy for receiving the 2012 Rural Physician of Excellence Award from the Illinois Rural Health Association.
Recognizes VFW Post 1301 on "Our Time is Now" week.
Amends the Surface Coal Mining Land Conservation and Reclamation Act. Provides that the Department of Natural Resources shall issue its written decision modifying, granting, or denying (now, granting or denying) a permit in whole or in part and state the reasons for the Department's decision. Provides that no party to a formal adjudicatory hearing may seek judicial review of the Department's final decision on the permit application until after the issuance of the hearing officer's written decision modifying, granting, or denying (now, granting or denying) the permit.
Amends the School Code. Provides that if a petition is filed for the consolidation of Christopher Unit School District 99 and Zeigler-Royalton Community Unit School District 188, the change is granted and approved at election, and no appeal is taken, then the change shall become effective after one or both of the school districts have been awarded school construction grants under the School Construction Law (instead of after the time for appeal has run for the purpose of all elections). Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Provides that the procurement compliance monitors and each chief procurement officer may access and review records necessary to determine whether a contract, purchase, or other expenditure is or is not subject to the provisions of the Code. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Increases the amount of the credit for wages paid by the taxpayer to a qualified veteran to 20%, but in no event to exceed $5,000, of the gross wages paid by the taxpayer to a qualified veteran if the veteran (A) was hired by the taxpayer on or after January 1, 2012 and (B) was unemployed at the time he or she was hired by the taxpayer. Exempts the credit from the Act's automatic sunset provisions. Effective immediately.
Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Enhances to aggravated assault or aggravated battery the assault or battery of a letter carrier or postal worker while that individual is performing his or her duties delivering mail for the United States Postal Service. Provides that the robbery of a letter carrier or postal worker while that individual is performing his or her duties delivering mail for the United States Postal Service is a Class 1 (rather than a Class 2) felony.
